The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1879-10-02
RASCALLY INGENUITY.
Some Of the Devices Of Thieves.

RASCALLY INGENUITY.
Some Of the Devices Of Thieves.
Chambers Journal.
1t is not often that what is known a.
"shop.l .lifting'' brings much ingenuity to
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
Il 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 mittcn: and being very dexterous
for prehensory uses, she was able to pick
up articles from the floor and secre,e
them in her slipper. In looking ovt1
some pieces of lace in a shop, she hao,
while the assistants attention was direct
cd elsewhere, dropped one or two and
adroitly secreted them as described.
AS bright an example Of perverted in
gcnuity was developed in Paris during
the time of the Exhibition. Three per-
sons, it seems, are necessary to carry out
the trick, the ,nodus operandi 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 carelessly, and the gentleman at
once goes up to the head assistant behind
the counter and makes acontidential 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-
piclons." The elder lady is consequently
watched with great care, all the shop
| being on the alert. Some article is pilfer-
cd 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 Oh 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 tho best part Of the stratagcm 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
balkcd 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 despoilinE
shopkccpcrs of their goods. Provided
with a loaf of bread, which he carried
unconccrncdly 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 sccrete it in his Loaf. Suspected, and
at last arrested, he was sub bjcctcd to
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,
watch, some rings, and other missing ar
ticles were displayed to the astonished
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 half opened umbrella in his
hand. Innocent as that useful article ap-
pcared, it was acting all the time as
convenient receptacle for sundry articles
of value dextcrously slipped within its
folds by two or three female pickpockets,
who were active in their depredations
! among the foot passengers, but were cap
turcd, together with their respectable
! looking accomp!icc.
The1ts by means of any kinds of ruse
! arc bad eEough, but when they are COM
! mittctl under the cloak Of religion they
arc immcasurably worse. A Sister Of
Charity called ON family in Paris to en-
list their sympathics 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 Il 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-b breaking,
; sometimes gives evidence OF an amount
! of ingenuity werthy of better cause. A
, burglar concealed under the bed of
married couple by some incautious move
mcnt almost betrayed his presence the
noise he made being sufficient to make
the wife call her husbands attention to
the sound. "It's 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 ex-
tended hand in hope Of confirming the
gcntlcman's surmlsc. This clever .ruse
was not, however, VIC believe, successful,
though one might say it deserved to be
for its boldness and ingenuity.
The Girls and Weddings.