The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1882-11-29
Thieves Slang.

Slang, winch 1Or the past gWo decades
has become SO prevalent among aB
classes of American society, as to be re-
garded by foreigners as a national trait,
probably originated among thieves and
the lower strata of the community,
being handed from one class to another,
until one viii frequently hear ladies Of
undoubted responsibility expressing
themselves in the language of a class
with whom they would not deign to
associate. Although slang found its
origin among thieves, professionals over
thirty wears of age, except under certain
circumstances, rarely express themselves
through that medium, although perfectly
familiar with all the technical" terms
Its use is chiefly confined to pickpockets,
sneak-thieves and younger criminals,
who seem to take great delight in mas
tering the language of their elders, and
familiarizing themselves with its use
The current slang is fully understood by
all thieves. and a professional would
have no difficulty in conversing with
one of his craft, before third and un-
initiated person in manner totally
unintelligible to the listener.
A .snight-worker'' is house-breaker,
gopher man" is a safe robber OF
burglar; a sswire," ''tool' or "dip'' is q
pickpocket; a ssmoll-wire'' is a person
who robs women, only; and a ssbloke.
buzzer'' is a thief who robs persons
while engaging them in conversation
The term .sbloke' means male thief,
.smoll'' afemale thief, and s.kid'' small
child who is an adept in .sthe tricks Of
the traden
One of the most significant of aB
thieves slang terms, is the 50 staH as
the persons designated by that term are
the most dangerous of all who obtain
livelihood by preying upon the credulous
and unsophisticated. The 'sstalp' is
either well dressed man or woman
seemingly above suspicion, who works
most clever robberies alone, or diyerts
attention while other '' PROFESSIONAL
ladies or gentlemen are at work. The
lady faints in a crowd, or the gentleman
| loudly declares that he has been robbed,
under the same circumstances and dur
ing the excitement, oceasioned by these
demonstrations the regular thieves
:. work" or pick the pockets of then
| victims.
A ''plant'' is hidden plunder; spring
i ing the plant is to dispose of stolen
property after officers have abandoned
the case, by selling it to % fencen OF
| 1CCC1NCL VI ooOAOh SOONo- AAAC AA-eAa1
guy has tumbled'' means that the Tecog-
nized leader of party of country visitors
has become aware that thieves are fol-
lowing them. 50 Stag his nibs" means
{. look at him;'' :. cady'' is the term for
hat, and to '.tip or dash his cady' means
to jam the hat down over the victims
head, and while he is adjusting his holt,
to pick his pockets. g Nixy weeden
cull' means to stop talking thieves
slang, as detectives are about and will
overhear.
The .'head worker of gang Of
thieves is often an apparently respect.
able citizen, of good standing in social
and commercial circles, who ascertains
where large sums of money are kept,
plans robbery, informs the sssecond
man. who instructs the thieves, and al
the successful termination of the job re-
ceives his share of the proceeds. Cases
of this nature have been brought to
light during the past few years by detect
ives, many discoveries proving remark
able in themselves. because of the high
standing of the detected persons. Ii
would require book as large as a school
dictionary, and as carefully compiled, to
convey an adequate idea of the wonder
full progress which this Language has
attained, and the ease with which
one of the ..light-fngered gentry can
convey his ideas aud instructions to 9
confederate, without fear of being be-
trayed by being overheard is simply won.
derful. If these people would study as
faithfully to attain an educ 1tion, where
/ by they might live honestly, as they dc
to understand .sthe trick of the trade, !"
their lives would be much happier. and
certainly more useful to themselves and
their fellow-men. But this, it would ap-
pear, is almost too much to expect, as
from time unknown, classes that live by
'sways that are dark have preyed upon
the law-abiding element of society, Sc
curing by strategy or force, the susie
nance for which they are too lazy or in
different to work. Boston Star.