The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-10-07
Swell Thieves IN Summer.

"Tcll me something about the habits o
swell thieves in summer timc2" said u re-
porter to a detective.
"Thcy devote tho summer to recrcalivc
and prospective work-tlMt is, studying
the bearings and acquainting themselves
with the resources Of the places which they
propose to attack when Il favorable oppor-
tunity presents itself They seldom stop
long in one place They can he met one
day at Saratoga and the next at Newport,
Long Branch. ape May, Or doing the
Canadian tour, all the time having their
eye to business and spending their leisure
moments in the gambling dcns.
"Thc swell pickpockcts migrate with
consistent regularity at The approach OF
summer to the watering places, put up at
the most fashionable ho'cls and carry on
business rs opportunity affords. The
swell pickpockct seldom gets caught. lie
generally travels with Il companion to whom
he passes whatever he snatchcs, and should
the 1ingcr OF suspicion be pointed at him he
assumes an air Of virtuous innocence and
wounded dignity which is amusing to be-
hold, and offers, it may be in the most
plausible manner possible, to SHOW up if
necessary. Even if he is searched nothing
is found on him, and unless hc is really
caught in the net he cannot be held. The
light-fingcred gentry are always in swarms
at horse races, fairs, conventions and camp
meetings, and indeed wherever there is Il
big crowd They ply their trade with
pcrsistcncy and and an energy worthy of Il
better cause"
'What do they do with their spoils2"
"All property besides cash which they
manage to Icy their hands on they send to
the city. where agents receive it and con
vert it into cash the best way they can.
The hotel and boarding. house thieves who
make their headquarters in the city are the
dread OF every watcring-placc III the sum-
mer. They live i'll grand style, drink the
most expensive wines, smoke the most cx-
pcnsivc cigars and drive in the gayest
available coaches. Groups of them may be
seen nightly in the corridors OF the Saratoga
hotels They arc easily recognized, but
not 50 easily gotten rid Of Their restless
manner gives them away, but The hotel de-
tcctivcs as long as they have nothing against
them and they have no certainty beyond
appearances they are crooked, and cannot
very safely Interfere with them. They are
watched. The detective forces at the ho-
tells in watering places have to be reinforced
in summer to watch these guests, and a
IL.
the thieves find out all about the guests,
how much money or jcwclry they are
likely to have in their rooms, and when
they go to their meals they invade their
apartments and carry away whatever of
value they can lay their hands on. The
banco, faro or three card-mo men spend
thcr summer travelling on the cars trying
to rope in countrymcn. They reap a
rich harvest, for the countryman is the ems
lest being in the world to impose upon
The sneaktnlcvCs remain III tho city during
the summer and so do the low class of burg
lars, looking ior a favorable opportunity to
get into vacant house.
"Iour swell thief is generally an edu-
Gated, wcll-dresscd, rcspectable-loolling
high-toncd gentleman lie lives well,
spends money lavisfly when he has it and
industriOusly cultivates the friendship of
the wealthy and refined. His dcmcanor is
so pleasing, his outward code of morals 80
apparently strict, and the dealing with his
fellOw-mcn when it'suits HIM so seemingly
straightforward that to the uninitiatcd ne
appears t. be the very paragon of honesty
and the embodiment OF all that is noble
and virtuous in manhood. That class Of
thieves are the most dangerous in the COM
munity. They are hardest to detect in the
act of committing crime and their tracks
arc so skilfully covered that after Dcrpetra-
tion of crime il is difficult either to catch
them or to trace any Of the stolen property
The swell thieves live in style during the
winter, dong an occasional job as their ne
ccssitics require. In the summer they 90
to the watering places-cvcrywhcr in fact
where there is probability OF there being a
crowd. They may be classified as follows:
Burglars, pickpockets, confidence operators,
banco- -stccrers, faro and three card-moDtc
men, hotel and boarding house thieves and
sneak-thicvcs
"Nearly all the first class burglars belong
to the swell class Education is ncccs-
sary to make really good, reliable, level
headed and effective burglar. Take the
most famous burglars now in prison and at
large in this Countrywide Hopes, Brady,
Dobbs, Lcary, Irving and Porter, for in
stance. They are all men of brains, who
would have probably succeeded at any
trade or profession they might have chosen
They arc regarded as first class men by the
thieving fraternity they arc cool, daring
and mcrcilcss when any one crosses their
path while they arc cracking bank safe or
plundering house. In the summer time
the swell burglars cease from active labor.
The darkness Of night is an essential ele-
mcnt of success in their profession. 1t is
during the long, dark winter nights that
they prowl about with all their vigor and
misguided enthusiasm, and under cover of
night commit their dcprcdations.
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