The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-10-03
HANGING POCKETS.

Capture OF n Sneak Thief who Picked Mrs
Minnock's Pocket-A Boy illustrating
the Ease of Picking Outside Hanging
Pockets.
Shortly after eleven o'clock Saturday
folenoon, says the Detroit Free Press Of
a recent date, Mrs. Mil mock and her lit
tie daughter entered the Central Market.
The lady had purchased and paid for
some fruit and had placed her pocket
book, containing $12 cash, back in her
pocket, when her little girl asked her to
buy q peach, and Mrs. Minnock put her
hand toward her pocket for the money.
In doing so she touched the hand of
Ernest Myers, who was just taking it
away from the pockets and had the pocket
book in his grasp. Of course Myers
Immediately ran and Mrs. Minnock fol-
lowed, shouting: "Stop thief !" The
thief ran almost into the arms of Officer
Sheppard, who had lodged around the
market to head him off, but before his
arrest he threw the money on the
ground, where it was found. Myers was
arraigned at the police court in the after
noon and was remanded for examination
next Tuesday.
"That was awful clumsy work." re-
marked q boy about twelve years old,
who saw Myers attempt and detection
while picking the pocket. Among those
who heard the boy was q prominent law
yer of this city. After the excitement
had subsidized somewhat, the attorney,
who had kept sight of the boy, asked
him what he meant when he called
Myers work "clumsy."
"Jest what I said," answered the
boy. "When q prize is placed under
your nose, you'd be clumsy if you failed
to nip it."
And when his interlocutor continued
the boy proceeded with great earnest
ness to explain what ga big thing them
outside hanging pockets is y how he
wouldn't blame anybody for going
through 'em." "Why," says he,
"they're the biggest temptation on
deck, and must have been invented to
tease fellers who are hard up"
Deeply interested, the lawyer went on
with his inquiries, which at last led to
IN exhibition by the boy on the promise
that he should not get into trouble. He
strolled through the market with his in
quisitive companion, and on the way
took four silk handkerchiefs and o diary
from the pockets Of five different ladies
and put them back again without being
observed by any person beside the law
yer. Then they walked up Michigan
Grand avenue to the Russell House cor
ner, and on the way the boy "nipped,"
as he called it, o pocket-book from the
pocket of u young lady and handed it to
the lawyer, who courteously lifted his
hat and returned it the owner, rs if it
had fallen from her pocket.
Near the Russell House cornerthe boy
attempted to "nip" a silk handkerchief
from one Of these "outside hanging
baskets" as he termed the pocket, but
the article would not come out, and the
young expert turned to his companion
with "It's pinned! Now watch me
do a good job" CHANGING hastily
around, the boy took o position just
back of the lady-who was waiting for
a Garland to all appearances was busily
engaged in looking Mt a lightning calcu-
lator, who was lecturing to a street
audience a few feet away. He stood
there about half a minute, when he
sauntured carelessly taward the lawyer,
slyly exhibiting the handkerchief. Not
satisfied with his work, the boy winked
and again tookhis position near the lady.
In 8 few seconds he attracted the atten-
ton of the lawyer and exhibited thu
handkerchief partially in the pocket, as
though it had been pulled nearly out.
At the boys request the gentleman ac-
costed the lady with
"Madam, are you losing your hand
kerchief."
"Thank you, but it won't fall entirely
out" answered tho lady, as she pulled
upon it to show hat she had taken the
p%recaution to pin it into her pocket.
Thus ended the experimental trip,
made in the most public part Of the city,
and in broad daylight and as the boy re-
ceived for his reward q silver quarter, he
shufled off in the direction of the city
hall, saying to his late companion :
"Them pockets is the easiest thing in
the world to strip, and I hope the fash
ion will hang on forever.