St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1884-11-15
THIEVES AND THIEvING.
The SkIrmIshers of the Regular Army
Of Thieyes-AdrOit Tricks Of Prafes-

The SkIrmIshers of the Regular Army
Of Thieves-AdrOit Tricks Of Prafes-
sionals Hiding Stolen Property -
KleptOmania-ComtcI Incidents.
A large number of thieves are mere
ly skirmishers, or auxiliaries as it were,
on the flanks of the regular army.
These auxiliaries do not live wholly by
crime, but have some ostensible occu-
patton which they follow. At the same
time, they never loss good opportu-
nity of stealing. In all large towns
the cinder-gatherer may be seen. Late
1T night and early in the morning she
goes through the streets and lanes.
probing with long knife the depths
and shadows of every dust-heap, and
rescuing therefrom every scrap that
will sell. Papers, rags, bones. cinders,
and old boots are transferred with
marvellous celebrity into the depths of
the capacious bag which she carries.
Should stray door-mat be lying handy,
or an unsecured back-door give access
to q green where clothes lie bleaching.
her ideas of meun, and tuum becomes
straightway rather hazy, and the
chances are that theft is reported next
morning. A large number Of thefts of
umbrellas and great coats from lobbies
are the work of peddlers, beggars, or
old-clotheSmen, who loaf around and
watch their chance. A smart ''profes-
sional'' of our acquaintance, who is at
present in penal servitude, was an adept
at stealing great coats. He had
piece of wire with sort of hook on
one end, with which he could snatch
them from lobby-pegs without making
his own appearance. Each "profess-
ional' has his own particular style Of
thieving ia which he has graduated
These soon become known to the de-
tectives, who, on learning the maoduS
operdndi of a theft, are often able to
pounce on the person wanted, even
when no description can be supplied.
One class of theft was very prevalent
in Glasgow and neighborhood. some
time ago. A man dressed like a trades
man called at a number of houses where
the owners happened to be absent (Oi
course the operator satisfied himself or
that point first.) He represented thai
he had been sent by some well-knowr
firm of upholsterers to measure room
for q new carpet, or by joiner to re
pair the windows. In various instances
he got into houses and generally
found an opportunity to steal. Another
thief well known in Dundee does tht
.'pigeon" trick. His method is to looi
out for an open window, ring the bel
and say that pigeon has just flowr
away from him on the street anG
fiuttered in at the window. Woulc
they kindly search for it, or permit hin
to do so? Once in. ten to one but th'
clever thief manages to commit thief
before he goes out lamenting the los
of his bird, which, of course, can not b.
found.
A decrepit youth used to go about th'
city in which the writer lives. Thi
lads legs were useless, so he had fla
boards fastened with straps below hi
knees, and, assisted by short crutches
he crept along the pavement. He wa
: dextrous thief If lady stopped t.
look in at a shop window. he could jus
reach her. handbag or pocket; and
ehe u swary. she was minus ne
nurse III q few seconds, while the In
Sieuificant appearance OF the thief dis
armed suspicion.
Thieves sometimes quarrel IN fhel
eups, and if . detective happens t
.eet them before the heat of anger ha
nessed of, spitefulness often induce
hem to give him valuable information
C;m;nais are almost always prodigal i
cnending their ill-gotten gains. and tn
IA proverb, Lightly come, light
90" seems specially applicable t
Yf IN finds they share freol
w;th 9TH their needy brethren, probabl
With IN eye to receiving similar hel
vhen out at the knees and eloo"
Stolen property is often slowed ava
n very curious hiding-places: A lam
sen Eas convicted at Leeds assize
III ysas Of paesisg base coin. Whs