The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-12-20
THIEVES AND THIEyING.
Tho skirmishers Of the Regular Army
Of Thieves-Adr0it Tricks Of Profes-
SIGNALS = Hiding Stolen Property =
KIeutoruauia-Co,ut uuctaeuta

SIGNALS - Hiding Stolen Property =.
Klept0maniazComic Incidentt.
A large number of thieves are mere
ly skirmishers, or auxiliaries asst were,
on the TANKS of the regular army.
These .auxiliaries doinot live wholly by
crime, but have some ostensible occu-
patton which they follow. At the same
time, they never loss a good opportu-
nifty of stealing. In all large towns
the cinder-gatherer may be seen. Late
at night and early in the morning she
goes through the streets and lanes,
probing with long knife the depths
and, Swallows 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,
OF an unsecured back door give access
to q green where clothes lie bleaching,
her ideas of nleunl and tutm becomes
straightway rather hazy, and the
chances are thatA theftk reported next
morning. A large number Of thefts of
umbrellas and great coats from Hobbies
are the work. of peddlers, beggars, or
old-clothesmcn, who loaf around and
watch their chance. A smart l'profes-
sionaf' of our acquaintance, who is at
present i'm penal servitude, was an adept
at stealing great coats. He had a
piece of wire with q sort of hook on
one end. with which he could snatch
them from lobby-pegs without making
his own appearance. Each profess.
ionap' has his own particular style of
thieving in which he has graduated.
These soon become known to the de-
tectives, who, on learning .thd nodus
0perGndi of theft, are often able to
.-pounce on tho person wanted, even
when 90 description can be supplied. :,
One class of theft was very pfevalent
in Glasgow and neighborhood some
time ago. A man addressed like 4 trades
man called at a number of houses where
the owners happened to be absent. COZ
course the operator satisfied himself on
that point first He represented that
he had been sent by some we'll known
firm of upholsterers to measure a room
for 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 the
s'pigeon'' trick His method is to look
out for an open window, ring the bell
and say that a pigeon has just flown,
away from him on the street and
fluttered in at the. window. Would
they kindly search for it, or permit HIM
to do so? Once in. ten to oneIbut the
,lovoy fbsof n, N n froc - <,,>,x, ~, "a :. xL,f
before he goes out lamenting the loss
of his bird, which, of course, cad not be
A decrepit youth usedto go about the
city In which the writer lives. This
lads legs were useless, so he had fat
boards fastened with straps below his
knees, and, assisted by short crutches,
he crept along the pavement. HE was
a dextrous' thief. If a lady STOPPED to
look in at a shop window, he cduld Just
reach her handbag or pocket and if
she was linwary, she was minus her
purse.in q few. seconds while the in
significant appearance of the thief dis
armed suspicion. ,~v4
Thieves sometimes quarrel In their
cups, and if detective HAPPENS, to
meet them before the Aeat of aiger has
passed off spitefulDess often induces
them to give him. valuable information.
Criminals are almost always prdiigaliin
spending their ill-gotten gains, and the
old proverb, mLightiy come, lightly
go,s' seems .specially applicable to
them.S II in 4uutis, they share freely
with their fneedy brethreh, probably
with an eye 30 receiving similar help
when out>at--tha.-kpees and elbows
Stolen property is often slowed away
In very curious hfdihg places. la lame
: man was convicted at Seeds assizes
last year Of passing base. coin. When
apprshenderlsait Was hound he had res
ceptacle in his woodes leg, in vhichn
considerable stock ,of the bad money
sometimes Seen d c56siderable pile Of
ooias-aasasthsi-frS1f the voluminous
folds. Of a. ragged coat yrouters or
vest. Bank notes, for obvious reasons.
are capable of being slowed away in
little spaoo: and thieyas oftaa hida