Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1875-03-12
From our New York Correspondent.
ONE CLASS OF THIEVES.

ONE CLASS OF THIEVES.
The ingenuity employed by the thieves
of this city is something miraculous.
Were the same talent and energy expen-
ded upon legitimate pursuits, it would
make every one of them independently
rich and of some use to the world. 1t is
one of the mysteries of human nature
why a man capable Of putting up
scheme equal in point of Yastness with
the best of Tom Seotts railroad plans,
and involving infinitely more labor
should devote himself to the making of
small sums illegally, and taking all
chances that such operations carry.
With the small ones it is the same as
with the large ones. The faVorite dodge
this winter is peddling. A woman ap-
pears at an area door with a satchel of
small goods. pins, needles, or what not.
By hooks or crooks she gets up stairs IN
to the main hall, and then her object is
accomplished. She tries hard to sell, for
she she wants all the time possible
Nothing escapes her eye. She takes the
measure of the hall SO accurately that she
could walk blindfolded to any given spot
She takes in the position of th doors,
the kind of fastenings inside, and If left
moment to herself she gets On impression
in wax of the key holes. The position of
bolts or other fasbeaings are observed-in
short, she comes away with an accurate
photograph in her mind of just as much
of that house as her eyes have beheld.
All this may be for the purpose Of plum
der to the amount of . $25 overcoat or
it may be for general rade upon the
house. If the house contains Valuables
enough to make it worth while, the in
formation is impaired to professional
burglars, who, with the information
thus obtained are enabled to get into
the house, there are at least oVercoats,
umbrellas and oyer shoes in the hall
to be captured, and sneak thieves
make use of the knowledge. In the latter
case the time and talent of the woman
and of the thief who operates with
her. are employed for days and days on
| the mere chance of plunder to the amount
of S25 or $50, which, from every circum-
| stance of the case must be sold for one
1 fourth its value. The parties interested
do not make fair days wages at their bu-
! siness. There is no class so poorly pald
as the thief, and yet once in they never
| get out. There is fascination in II mat
| holds them forever. Send one TO olng
| Sinp-make him labor hard for hVe years
1 and discharge him. and in a week ne Is
| hack again at his old trade, knowing tne
/ chances he takes for detection and the
1 certain penalty that will follow. IL Is an
| exciting life, and once embraced is sell
dom relinquished.
NICE OPERATION.
There are great many ways of making
1 money besides stealing 1t, but the way q
/ Mr.. Nelson, of Brooklyn, got capital to
4 90 into business Is about the Eeatest for
an honest one. Mr.. Nelson went to a
Mr. Herring aud purchased block of
1 lots for $45, 1000. When the deed wss be-
ing made be requested that the price
should be stated at 100000, and as
there could be no objection to It 1t was
so done. The papers were perfected and
| placed in the hands of third party till
Mr.. Nelson should pay the $45, 900. Then
i Mr.. Nelson went to life insurance com.
1 pany and said he wanted to borrow sew
enty thousand dollars on block OF lots
In Brooklyn which he had purchased oil
Mr.. Herring. The insurance compSny
investigated to the case and iouho lhAs
the deed represented q consideration OF
100000. They had the properly ap-
praised, and were willing to take loan
of seventy thousand on 1t, and instructor
their lawyers to draw up the papers.
mortgage Of the property was assigned
TO the company. Mr.. Nelson received
seventy thousand. He paid Mr.. Herring
$40 900 and had $4,000 to use In his
4 business, which he needed. Mr.. Nelson
ought to be immediately made Secretary