The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-02
CHARACTERISTICS OF CROOKS.
Pen-Pictures of Their Peeuliarities Picked
Up Behind the Scenes.

pose, negative, and all the good he ever &C
composites is in a reflex way. The law and the
gospel are due to his existence, and if it were
not for him court-houses churches, iails and
penitentiaries would not abound. The exist
enee of the crook makes the profession of the
minister, judge, lawyer and policeman possible.
Were it not for him they might all exelaim, in
the language of the jealous Moor, "othello's
occupation s gone"
Some wise philosopher has said, ''There is a
natural affinity in opposites." What the AFFINITY
Is between right and wrong the writer has
never been able TO determine; but he has had
splendid opportunity to Uncle Sam
to study the crook, and has at last come
to the conclusion that nature made
him for an allwIse purpose tangible
something on which to hang contrast. have
also noticed that the poor crook gets little or no
thanks for this great service to society. On the
contrary, he is severely punished by the very in
situation he raises. Society derides HIM, attor-
neys denounce him, judges frown on him, and
ministers are eternally punching him up with the
spear of morality.
The crook is unfortunate in more ways per
haps, than any other class of people. As a rule,
omy than q child and hence he cannot under
stand why he should suffer so much for so little,
As an Illustration, win pick out ten prisoners,
now in this jail awaiting transportation to the
penitentiary, whose aggregate charges would not
net 800
Here is an example: Ten men steal property
to the value of $780, or, in other words, $40 each.
Those ten men are sentenced to prison for terms
aggregating twenty years, or two years each.
How much does each man received have fig
ured it out, and the result is, about S. per year
and two ''cattings' per man. A bootblack or
newsboy can make more money than that, and
if he is enterprising he can get 'catted" every
night. 1 asked an equine abduetor, the
other day. how much he would
give and not do his tbree-year term.
He replied: 81 would not go there for 500, 600
1 would give that before would 90. if had it,"
Think of man hazarding what he regards as
priceless for a few dollars II the practical side
OF the business was shown up instead of the
moral our penal institutions would soon be de-
populated Educate the crook to properly esti-
mate the value Of the qualification Of desire to
steal and he won't pay the price l believe a
placard in every house and store bearing the
legend: The penalty for burglarizing these
premises is five raars in prison" would effectual
similar inscription on goods would stop shop
lifting.
The crooks, at least those who have come un-
der my observation. are compounds of eceen-
tricities not the least striking of which is their
language. will give an Illustration, followed
by an appendix, which will, in measure, make
the jargon Ineligible to the average reader.
Here it is:
A fresh fish came in yesterday He recog-
nized an old friend, and the greeting was:
Hpll VIII crat taPfr A14a
About two weeks ago When did you get
pincheda"
Let's see; on the 18th, think, was down
here at Mikes boozing ken when fly eopp
it was no go. A bloak' lost yellow super and
said touched him."
Have they got you dead-to-rightss"
mo; they may do me up on my rep 1 un-
derstand the collars are going to rap pretty
hard What have they got you onf
oh nothing much. A mark lost his leather
and a twistes' said l got it 1 guess he won't
beef very hard. think he is hot because he
didn't get bit If, l can't square old
guy may get two stretches. hate to go
back to the same old 'sterr.' for I told all the
'sere"vs' whom they turned me up that would
give tho State the shake. That is a dandy suit
of top you have. Where did you get that over
Benz"
Il made q half sneak for the ben and
Rugged dummy for the kicks and gerald
but the skates l got on the dead square. [
traded for the dice with an old chum who went
over the road for Pete's work. Poor devil, he is
playing in hard luck: he is now doing his third
bit By the way Jim, you knew Spider the
'pennyweighter, he is up in Mich. on the shoe
contract. He fell on ticket His partner
shaded him and then peached'"
''Say amt 1t about time to 'peckf I haynt
'chened to-day"
'Sfhe grub hole won't be open until o'clock
If you want to 'doss awhile YOU can 90 in INV
cell No. pounded my ear all night over here
in the city quay. Who is his nibs over there by
the stove mean tn one with the blue skin
l think am onto him.
'Ch, that is an old Cincinnati mol bazzer.'
That party with the silk wipe around his neck
is one Of the fyest dipps' in the country. Every
other man in here is an 'ex-fn9er' tell Won
Norton Is knocking them out In two-four time
n heard they were about to 'croak' man in
here"
Eyes, poor Korner would have had his neck
cracked yesterday but he got respite. There
are four or five coniackers in here now |
saw sample of their queer and it is H. e l
expect stiff to day with samoleon' OF two,
and if 1t comes we will feast the eve. How about
that plant put you onto while we were in 'sterr,
did you ever raise itl'
''No Mike weeden 80 raw There Is stool
pigeon anu know It,"
The key to all this slang is as follows.
Coat, benjamin" or ''ben:r overc0at, 'oyer
benz vest gerald" pocket, poke" or ely"
gold watch ..'yellow super silver watch, white
SUPER WdJcn-Cudlui super sang, ptntS, KICKS
shirt, skim shoes, skates" police, "oopp,"
collar or fatty detective. fly copp;;"
saloon, "boozihg KEN" house of llfatne 'eastIe;"
pickpocket, "dipp' or 'wire" one who picks Ia
dies pockets, "fnoll 5uzzer;" handkerchief,
''wipe;' letter, "stiff;" dead body same; to die
or kill, croak;T pententiary, grand sterr;" Jail
or station house, .'sterr" or 'quay;" house that
is locked up and the tenant away, 'siough;'
nix, don't" to hit man from behind. string
up" to garrotte, hold ap;' key, "a screw" a
burglar might worker. railroad train, "a rat
tler:h conductor. "a COM brakeman, IA twsterie
e s greent orr. "elqak marx ,sgayF gray
''ieatber" or 'book," pocket book; ''togs,h
clothes; ''set of toes," suit of clothes;
'eonioaeker." coanteffeiter; queer" counter
felt money; 'pinehed" 'eollared. ''sneezed, ar
plant" hiding place; ''swag." stolen property;
raw" loud; Crush, 60 break; ''to peck" to