The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1878-05-07
A GRAB.
A Short Run, and then Several
Grabs,
Was the Fate Of Q Pickpocket
Yesterday.

The railroad trains and the depOfs Prov
the richest fields for the pickpockeis an,
thieves, who are almost certain % be foun.
there. Their daring snd success has he
come source of great annoyance to tn,
police, and resulted in serious LOSSES e
many OF the unwary and unfortunate
Yesterday morning however, one OF the-,
gentry came Ia grief at the Garrison Hous,
platform under the following circumstan.
ces:
Mrs. Gallagher, wife Of Mr.. Samuel Gal.
lagher, was on the platform, and in her
dress pocket at the side, upon tie top Of
her handkerchief, in plain view, wa. hel
pocket-book. In the crowd che suddenly
felt witch at her dress, and turning
around saw a man rapidly walking of with
her pocket book. She instantly gave chase
and the fellow broke into run passing
into the main entrance of the Garrison
House, through the Office and into the east
hall, where he was collsred by Mersrs. Chs..
Lyon and Harry Heniken.
The thief gave Mrs. Gallagher her peck.
et-book and said that he had picked it mp
on the platform.
Marshal Kelly and Officer Turner arrest
ed the msn and conveyed him to the csaa-
boose. On being searched, chisel and
small piece Of plate glass wxs found
upon his person. The chisel had no handle
but its socket. which was about four inches
in length. 1t vas about three quarters Of
an inch in width, and very sharp.
The affair created considerable excite.
ment ard large throng Was on the platform.
Mr.. Gala CHER repeatedly told her story
and was compIimented upon her quickne.s
and nerve.
After the man was locked up, he was in.
terviewed by two reporters and the follow.
ing Is his account Of himself:
At first he denied stealing the pocket
book, but declared he picked 1t up on the
platform, but seeing that this was too thin.
he confessed that he saw II in the lady's
pocket and he stole 1t, heing in,pelled to
the act by starvation.
He said his name was John Wilson, tha,
he was % years of age, having been born in
in 1850. He was raised in
Kentucky, and for the last year has been in
Texas, where he worked in different places,
from San Antonio to Denison, ss common
laborer, having no trade. After that he
said he at one time was head sawyer in q
saw mill.
When asked what motive sctuated him
to do tn. deed, he replied that he did not
know-he saw the pocket book exposed-l
he had had nothing to eat for some time
had been sick with the chills-and upon
the impulse Of the moment seized the pock
etbook. He said he never did anything Of
The kind before, and that il was his first
,ffense.
In reply to the question rs to how long
ne had been in the city, he replied two days
that he came in yesterday, and last night
lept in box car.
The man has not bad coun:enance.
nd while relating his story vept frequent
y. He might have been rendered desper-
lie by hunger, and seeing the opportunity
it. But the possession of the
hisel and piece Of glaes makes things look
ather suspicious.
At ii o'clock he was taken before Justice
lark and pleaded guilty, stating that
unger drove him to the act. The Justice
Did him it was serious crime, and sen-
need him To $40 fine and 80 day. in the
,unty Jail.