New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-02
HOW CRIMINALS ARE TRACKED.
IMPORTANCE OF THE ROGUES' GALLERY.
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES OF EVERY KIND KNOWN AT
SIGHT BY DETECTIVES.

4
The photographs in the Rogues' Gallery at
ierest Usually the face Of rogue Is index to his
character there being sinister expression OF counte-
Siouth, other mark Of vlainoue life. But
there are some exceptions. face Is found here and
there In the collection which might be taken for that of
clergyman One of the portraits, In fact, bears
striking resemblance to that of Edgar Allan Poe. Some
hung near the door in order trat the detectives they
pass in aud out may become familiar with them and be
able to pick out the faces IN crowd
Each phSoaph has history attached ,ena 70 ia S Sea
his height color OF eyes hair and beard and the class
OF he has engaged In far it has become known
to the police An examination is made also for birth
aAre pictures taken only Of criminals who live in this
city 2"
OF the country send for his photograph In order that
We may know him. should he come to New York. and he
means men are caught by our detectives Who have
escaped the vigilance Of the police in the places where
~ the photograph OF every thief who falls into you
hands taken ."
No. the gallery includes only the photographs OF pro-
How are thieves classified by the Detective Bureau 7"
matter OF fact such classification may be easily made
There who bold enough and cunning enough
universal genius nre rare A man VINO has become
skul in HOUSEKEEPING any form OF burglary usually
break into house successfully lie il well aware that
II he should attempt to steal by some other method he
trap SO you the burglar does not often get In the
way OF the sneak thief or the pickpocketn
{" How does a sneak thief get HIS booty 7"
His method OF operating Is TO get In by the hail door
Of house or an office pick up what be may ma ana ges
much to do work Of this kind as to commit burg
meeting S Violent Ss death As rule the sneak thief
mean eowardy, slippery fellow as his maine implies p
easy taser otherwise he would excite suspicion at
once. one OF these slippery men engages the paying
teller In versaon about money drafts while an
other deyOtes himself 10 throwing the cashier on his
guard. They are known stalls and they must be
very sharp and quick During the conversation third
mai-sonetmes it's boy, In this it's an adyant
to be OF small stature creeps In and gets hold OF
the or bov goes his hands and knees. The pick
pocket IL different kind OF ANIMAL" continued the
day and said watch had been taken from his
pocket In reply to my questions he said that he was
leave the tie ring o. bis watch rolled down upon the
lady on side aud pale faced man with soft hat
ana a dropping black mustache Oh the other lie sat
that was next to the man who was robbed-and when
lac sat down he seemed somewhat rude In allowing to
lie was ono OF the most expert pickpockets the city
One OF my went out TO look for him and found him
coat on his arm and placed IL in the positonIhe did in
order that he might use his hand IN lifting the watch
out attracting the attent OF his victim or OF the other
Passeagers ~ the car Very often Pespoekst Is able
paper which he allows partly to cover the body OF his
Are thcre many thieves of this eass inquired the
reporter. 81, o,,o. .,o.. .,,,,,,. ,ooau.o thor.
many opportunities for plying this art and com
paratlvely slight amount OF risk Of being caught They
operate eyerywhere-on the crowded thoroughfare In
strce-cars, steaTboats and ferry-b0ats, In omn-
buses In theatre Hobbies and In all places OF amusement
They usually work in groups-four five persons IN
group Each tor woinan) has his specific part 70
play and the OF the operation depends AS much
the skill OF tho aecompces upon the one who does
the principal work-that OF taking watch pocket
book. Sometimes man and woman work together or
"a and two women. Where women alone combine
together picking pockets their victims women"
Do female criminals usually engage in this class OF
Yes both in picking pockets and in shoplifting,
Some OF them become very expert rs they are better at
usual shrewdness TO he able 10 succeed at shopftng
nowadays she has to work under the OF the floor
walkers aud OF all the employees IN the store Then
there Ii the bouse-seryant who engages herself as
servant In the houses OF tue better classes
vauahes she get hold OF aud makes her way out of
easily she does stay longer than day"
Are there many who engage rs louse-seryants In
Very few. The risk Of detection Is too great"
Are you able to identify criminals by means OF the
n the person from whom theft has been made has
any remembrance Of the face Of the erson suspected
women are much more likely to Identity thieves than
they naturally Look at people more eO Sc asS
perhaps they have only had M sIlmps,e;;"
decidedly. There is much less crime now than there
ten years ago There would he still less II the
the force S' not largo enough thief may commit
robbery and get away easily while the policeman on that
beat Is in another street New-Iork is IA hard city TO
protect Criminals here from all parts OF the
world. A. q thief comes into the city FROM
Europe any foreign country his Identity Is lost No
matter what his life has BEEN he escapes the eye OF the
police he consors with thieves whom know or
unless he II detected In some crime. VIII, we once
know professional thief keep the lookout for
him In fact the modern method OF detecting crime Is To
know at sight professional thieves OF every class: To
know lwhero they i've the places hep frequent and to
watch closely all their actions. BY doing this tho police
able quickly 10 get the track OF criminals when
crime has been committed. "
what proportion OF criminals in NewYork are
foreigners 4"
Nearly all criminals from abroad. when they come to
this country, TO this city America To them means
NewYork Some or the most expert thieves are Eng
lshmen. They form perhaps one third OF tne whoie
number Most OF them come from ondon ana Liverpool
There also few French thieves The criminals VINO
come from Germany chiefly forgers.
What has becono OF the burglars and other thieves
Who successful In many of their operations in this
city some years ago "
"some OF them are I'm PRISON. others pursuing their
nnfarous business IN ether cities and towns Ono |
every day in the OF burgares being
As the Inspector finished his remarks went ont
with his wrist loo ied to that OF detective who walked
his side The two,were going 10 photograph gallery.
The rogue not suky ard rebellious. many crni
nails when they forced 20 face the camera but
smile as II he had peasurble ancipations Of the
distinction about TO be conferred upon him.
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