Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1879-10-09
Swell Thieves In Summer.

"Tell me something about the habits o
swell thieves in summer timct" said re-
porter To detective.
"rhey devote the summer to rccreative
and prospective work-that is, studying
the bearings and acquainting themselves
with the resources of the places which they
propose TO attack when II favorable oppor-
tunity presents itself They seldom stop
long in one place They can be met one
day at Saratoga and the next at Newport,
Long Branch, ape May, or doing the
eve to business and spending their leisure
moments in the gambling dens.
''rhe swell pickpockets migrate with
consistent regularity at the approach of
summer To the watcring-placcs, put up at
the most fashionable hotels and carry ON
business as opportunity affords. The
swell pickpocket seldom gets caugnt. He
generally travels with II companion to whom
he passes whatever he snatches, and should
the finger of suspicion be pointed at him hc
assumes an air of virtuous innocence and
wounded dignity which is amusing to be-
hold, and offers, it may be i'll the most
plausible manner possible, TO show up if
necessary. Even if he is searched nothing
is found on him, and unless he is really
caught in the act he cannot be held. The
ght-tingered gentry are always in swarms
at horse races, fairs, conventions and camp
meetings, and indeed wherever there is a
big crowd They ply their trade with n
persistency and and an energy worthy of II
better cause"
"What do they do with their spoilsl'
"All property besides cash which they
manage To lay 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 watering-place in the sum-
mer They live in grand style, drink the
most expensive wines, smoke the most cX-
pensive cigars and drive in the gayest
available coaches. Groups of them may be
seen nightly in the corridors of the Saratoga
hotels. They are easily recognized, but
not 50 easily gotten rid of. Their restless
manner gives them away, but the hotel de-
tectives as long rs 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
pretty hard time they have of ii. In day
the thieves find out all about the guests,
how much money or jewelry they are
likely to have in their rooms, and when
they 30 toe their meals they invade their
apartments and carry away whatever of
value they can lay their hands on. The
banco, faro or three-card-monte men spend
their summer travelling on the cars trying
- rope in countrymen. They reap u
rich harvest, for the countryman is the cas-
lest being in the world to impose upon.
The sneak thieves remain in the city during
the summer and so do the low class of burg
lars looking Tor a favorable opportunity TO
get into vacant house.
Your swell thief is generally an edu-
Gated, well-dressed, respectable-looking
high-toned gentleman lie lives well,
spends money lavishly when he has it and
industriously cultivates the friendship of
the wealthy and refined His demeanor is
50 pleasing, his outward code of morals so
apparently strict, and the dealing with his
fellow-men when it suits HIM 50 seemingly
straightforward that to the uninitiated he
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 u crime and their tracks
are so skilfully covered that after perpetra-
ton of crime it 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
cesSities require. In the summer they 20
to the watering places-everywhcrS in fact
where there is u probability of there being a
crowd. They may be classified as follows
Burglars, ,pickpockets, contidence-operators,
banco-steerers, faro and three -card-moDte
men, hotel and boarding house thieves and
sneak thieves.
''Neary all the first class burglars belong
to the swell class Education is neccs-
sary to make really good, reliable, level
headed and effective burglar. Take the
most famous burglars now in prison and at
large in this country-the Hopes, Brady,
Dobbs, Leary, 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 are regarded as tirst-class men by the
thieving fraternity; they are cool, daring
and merciless when any one crosses their
path while they are cracking bank safe or
plundering a house. In the summer time
the swell burglars cease from active labor.
The darkness of night is an essential ele-
ment 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 commi! their depredations