River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-10-02
RASCALLY INGENUITY.
Some of the Devices Of Thieves.

1t is not often that what is known as
'shop- lifting" brings much ingenuity to
the fore, yet there are sometimes rather |
exceptions. One of these |
may be instanced in the female shop-lift- |
er not long since arrested for committing |
robberies from drapery establishments in |
u somewhat singular manner. When set |
ting out for her predatory expeditions
she wore large, flat shoes, and had the |
toe part of her stocking cut off to form q |
sort of mitten: and beng very dexterous
for prehensory uses, she was able to pick !
up articles from the floor and secreie I
them in her slipper. In looking ov6I
some pieces of lace in a shop, she hao,
while the assistants attention was direct
ed elsewhere, dropped one or two and
adroitly secreted them as described.
AS bright an example of perverted in
genuity was developed in Paris during
the time of the Exhibition. Three per-
sons, it seems, are necessary to carry out
the trick, the modus operdndi OF which is
as follows: A man, accompanied appar-
emily by his wife and daughter, enters a
shop in which the articles lie about a
little careIessly, and the gentleman at
once goes up to the head assistant behind
the counter and makes acontidentlal COM
munication: II must warn you" he
says, .sthat my wife is afflicted with
kleptomania Be so good as to watch
her, but do not say anything to herwhich
might make her think you have any sus-
piclons" The elder lady is consequently
watched with great care, all the shop
being on the alert. Some article lspilfer-
ed in due course, and the theft noticed,
and the gentleman on going out quietly
and promptly pays tor what has been
taken. While the shopkeeper is congratu-
lating himself on the honesty of the hus-
band, the trio are making og with val
uable booty secured by the younger lady,
vheso movements had not been watched
But the best part of the stratagem re
mains to be told. In case the disappear
ance of the articles really stolen should
be perceived a little too soon, and the
party be followed by the indignant shop
keepers, nothing is easier than to express
regret and surprise that there should
have been other mistakes, and to return
the articles with profuse apologies By
this ruse considerable degree of safety
is insured, even if the swindlers are
baked of their booty; the scheme pro-
vides for escape as well as for success.
A German in Paris lately adopted a
plan which was successful in despoiling
shopkeepers of their goods. Provided
with loaf of bread, which he carried
unconcernedly under one arm, he would
walk up and down in front of the shopwin-
dows, till, watching his opportunity, he
would sieze some small article exposed
outside, or otherwise within his reach,
and secrete it in his loaf. Suspected, and
at last arrested, he was subjected to a
strict search, and was on the point of be
| ing released, when some one thought OF
| the loaf, which the accused had laid I'M
noticed on form. On examining it, a
watch, some rings, and other missing ar
ticles were displayed to the astonished
| sp, ctators, and another swindling dodge
| thus exposed.
Equally successful for time was an
other system of robbery practiced not
long since in the streets of London. A
man dressed like clergyman would
walk about the crowded thorOughfares
carrying half opened umbrella in his
hand. Innocent as that useful article APP
peared, it was acting all the time as a
convenient receptacle for sundry articles
of value dexterously slipped within Its
folds by two or three female pickpockets,
who were active in their depredations
among the foot passengers, but were cap
tured, together with their respectable
looking accomplice.
| Thefts by means of any kinds of ruse
are bad enough, but when they are com
mitted under the cloak of religion they
are UNNECESSARILY worse. A Sister of
Charity called on family in Paris to en-
list their sympathies for the poor; she
was most pleasant and attractive in her
manner. Eventually she induced those
present to join with her in an act of de-
votion, and the party knelt side by side
| in the drawing-room while the sister OF
| fered "a prayer. From the time OF her
entering the house, and during this act,
she had kept her hands crossed upon ler
bosom. When, therefore, in the middle
of a prayer lady felt somebody's hand
in her pocket, 1t required some nerve to
seize the sister and accuse her of the
THEFT This she nevertheless did, and
| the mystery was solved. The crossed
arms were of wax, and, being partially
| hidden under the sleeves, seemed real,
while the actual hands were at liberty to
enable the lady to pursue her fraudulent
calling.
The Bill Skies fraternity, in following
out their profession of house-breaking,
sometimes gives evidence OF an amount
of ingenuity worthy of a better cause. A
burglar concealed under the bed of a
married couple by some incautious move
ment almost betrayed his presence the
noise he made being sufficient to make
the wife call her husbands attention to
the sound. ats only one of the dogs, y
was the sleepy answer, and, swapping
his fingers, he called by its name one OF
his favorites which was supposed to be
present. The thiefs presence, of mind
did not desert him though on the brink
of discovery; for, divining the situation
at once, he Immediately licked the ex-
tended hand in hope of confirming the
gentleman's surmlse. This clever ruse
was not, however, we believe, successful,
though one might say it deserved to be
| for its boldness and ingenuity.