Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-10-11

Recent RObberies.

From the ST Louis Republican.
The amazing dexterity OF thieves Is becoming
one OF the curiosities of the day-and q very
serious one, too. We boast Of human skill In
turning the forces Of nature-light heat, cleo
tricity and waterfalls-to human service and
profit, and we point with unbounded compla-
cency to what intelligent men can accomplish In
the production OF wealth with the aid Of ma
chimes propelled by steam. And vet it is ques-
ton whether thieves, who toll not and spin
not and gather not into barns-who are neither
professional chemists nor philosophers; who do
not attend polytechnic Institutes and never lis
ten 70 course Of scientific lectures-tt Is a
question whether these estimable persons do
not, after all. make more effective use of the
laws winch other people discover and the in
struments which other people invent than the
dlscoVerers and inventors themselves. An eX-
pert modern thief actually seems to possess the
power OF rendering himself invisible for few
moments; at any rate, he&oes possess the fac
uity OF affecting such a matter-of-cOurse demea-
nor as to escape attention. One day last week a
Well-pred thief walked into room in Baltimore
where bank clerk was clipping coupons from q
pile OF bonds before him, and while engaging
MIN IN conversation slipped out twelve bonds
OF 81, oOO each and made off without being
detected. Two wel-bred thieves entered q
LOUISVILLE Jewelry store, and while one con-
the showcase Of S5, 900 worth of diamonds
Two thieves entered the jewelry department of
the cincinnati exposition, and, without any at
tempt TO avoid observation. marched boldly up
TO showcase. unlocked it, deliberately took
out $1,000 worth of diamonds and as deliber-
atey walked off with their booty The
clerk OF a st. Louis business house went into a
Dank, drew 50, 700 and laid it down by his side
LOT moment; when he turned to take it up it
was gone; ar invisible or unseen thief had en-
tered and taken the money off In that single
moment OF tOrgetfulness on the part of the
Clerk. These things are of almost daily occur
renee. They force bank officers, cashiers, mes
sengers, jewellers and business men to re-
double their vigilance and take unusual precau-
tions against suspicious characters; but the mod
eIn tne1 who is never suspicious character
whose chief art consists in diverting suspicion
manages to ply his vocation successfully in what
would be supposed the most unfavOrable and
dangerous places, in spite Of the redoubled vigil
lance and precautiOn taken to battle him. In
TACT the thief who makes it business to prev
upon the fruits of other peoples labor is the
most dexterous of practical nagicians. He
possesses arts that are not suspected till
they are put in operation. His fertility Of re-
source is unbOunded He has a new trick for
every difficult occasion, and 80 manages to get
In his work at moment and point when and
where he is not looked for. He is person Of
ample leisure, and spends nine-tenths of his
time IN devising plans for getting away with
SOMEBODY else's property and the other tenth in
putting them in execution Others may TOLL
sweat. think, buy, sell and barter. He will have
nothing to do with such vulgar vOcatiOns. His
duty is to wait patiently while Others by toll,
sweat, thought and exchange, mass the fruits
OF their labor in a compact, portable FORM and
IN one instant Of railty and fOrgetfulness trans
fer them to his own pocket; and it must be ad-
mltted that he performs the difficulty task with
success that excites increasing admiration and
horror.