Daily globe., 1879-09-28

uOl utlp luIu OUT OI IL. 30, you see the
surgeon must always rely mainly upon
his own knowledge and skill"
RASCALLY INGENUITY.
Some Of the Devices Of Thieves.
It is not often that what is known al
"shop. lifting" brings much ingenuity tc
the fore, yet there are sometimes rather
remarkable exceptions. One of these
may be instanced in the female shop.lift
er not long since arrested for committing
robberies from drapery establishments in
q somewhat singular manner. When set,
ting out for her predatory expeditions
she wore large, fiat shoes, and had the
toe part Of her stocking cut off to form 8
sort of mitten: and being very dexterous
for prehensory uses, she was able to pick
up articles from the floor and secrete
them in her slipper. In looking over
some pieces of lace in shop, she had,
while the assistants attention was direct.
ed elsewhere, dropped one or two and
adroitly secreted them as described. s
AS bright an example Of perverted in
genulty was developed in Paris during
the time of'the Exhibition. Three per:
sons, it seems, are necessary to carry out
the trick, the naodus operands of which is
as follows: A man, accompanied appar.
emily by his wife and daughter, enters q
shop in which the articles lie about a
little carelessly, and the gentleman al
once goes up to the head assistant behind
the counter and makes aconidential com
munication: II must warn you," he
says, "that my wife is afflicted with
kleptomania. Be so good as to watch
her, but do not say anything TO her which
might make her think you have any sus-
pic1ons." The elder lady is consequently
watched with great care, all the shop
being on the alert. Some article is pilfer.
ed in due course, and the theft noticed
and the gentleman on going out quietly
and promptly pays for what has been
taken. While the shopkeepcr is congratu-
lating himself on the honesty of the hus.
band, the trio are making og with val
liable booty secured by the younger lady,
whose 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 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 we'll 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 un-
noticed on a form. On examining it, a
watch, some rings, and other missing ar
I1C1SS "SIo u1Spldyeo 10 Tue aSLOn1SloO
spectators, 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 a half opened umbrella in his
hand. Innocent as that useful article ap-
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 immeasurably 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 LEI
bosom. =, When, therefore, in the middle
Of a prayer lady felt somebody's hand
in her pocket, it required some nerve to
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
The Bill Skies fraternity. in followins
out their profession of house breaking,
sometimes gives evidence Of an amount
of ingenuity worthy Of 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. "Its only one of the dogs"
was the sleepy answer, and. swapping
his fingers, he called by its name one of
his favorites which was supposed to be
present. The thief's presence, of mind
did not desert him though on the brink
Of discovery; for, divining the situation
at once, he Immediately licked the e1-
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.
A ell-known Bostonian was trying a
horse one day, in company with the own
er, professional "jockey." Having driv-
en- him mile OF two, the gentleman,
who noticed thathe pulled pretty hard
and showed a.good deal of spirit. requir-