Morning journal and courier., 1884-06-20
Circus Satellites.
Thieves nn6 SWindlers-Ho~ the Detec
 tive Works.


 tive Works.
 From the Philadelphia Prossl There are two classes of people who mak 1 living by following the circus'' On
 class is composed of persons who are know1 1 to the police as "crooks' and who are, tt
 speak plainly, thieves, burglars and swin, dlers. In the other class arc embraced 1 tramLs, would-be-thieves, vendors of lemon l ade, prize packages, patent scalp soap anG 1 toy balloons. In the gead old days, wher ! the pRrsphernalia of the most stupendously ! mammoth aggreeations embraced little more than one elephant and band wagon, the 1 crooks frequently 'stood in'' with the pre- prietor of the circus. and from them he de- rived considerable proportion of his prof. it's. This statement, although 1t is strictly true, only refers to those of the old-time showmen who are dead and who left no fam files to bring libel suit.
 Still there are host of people who still follow the show, the very method of whose operations is matter of profound mystery to the thousands who push and howl and swear in their efforts to get closer to the ticket wagon. There are the pickpockets the three-card monte men, the dies throwers, the rnanipulators of ring-boards, air-guns and striking and weighing machines, the sell. CTS of prize-packages lemonade, brass jewell " and pocketbooks.
 The pickpocket is regularly established follower of the circus. He is not there any more with the consent of the proprietor of the show, but he is there, despite the detec- tiVes and myriads of special officers. His operations, however, are greatly limited, and every day his occupation is fraught with 9ore danger. Pocket picking is su art. ;.a ;noo,,1,:"s ,11,S:SAst does not contine himself to welcomes the visitors to town. When he is s'at work" upon the show grounds he is gen orally in the vicinity of the ticket wagon. He very seldom goes deep into the crowd, but works on the outskirts. People on the outskirts of 8 crowd are ever the most des- perately anxious to get closer to the wagon. The pickpocket appreciates this feeling upon their part and relieves them of those heavy valuables, like watches and silver coin, which may weigh them down and impede their prog ress It is usual for the detective to stand upon the top of the wagon. He does not expect to catch thief by looking at his hands, for he cannot see them He watches his face. When he sees man looking first in front of him, then behind him, hs singles him out for pickpocket, end watches him until he secures his booty. Then he jumps down and dives into the crowd after him. To catch him is not difficult, because the fel- low does not imagine that he has been seen. lie does not, GQ6E0IOI0, HtISi1pt IO obSdP0'
 The "drop case" Is another interesting game An honest, plainly dressed, straight forward looking man stands by glass case partitioned off like an egg crate. In the compartments are money and dazzling jewel ry Each compartment is numbered. The victim throws dice for the article in the case i; certain throws entitls him to the money and certain other throws to the jewelry. The latter is worth about fifty cents gross. The throyer has no chance of winning the money, because the young man who operates the game always counts the dice himself, and he counts them one below or ore above the lucky number.
 The s.sawdust poodle" game is rapidly dy- ing out but it still attends many of the smaller road shows which go into the towns and villages. The method of operation is very simple. The proprietor of the alleged poodle, or counterfeit money, arranges to sell it to his victim sacrifice. He shows him n sample package of good money. A confederate engages the momentary attention of the victim, while the sharp changes the package and substitutes one containing white paper or sawdust Sometimes good note is put upon the top of the package and the confederate pretends to be a detective. The sharp says to the victim, ttHush, 1 don't like the looks of that fellow. I believe he's watching us. Hurry and take the boodle and skip" He sklps.
  Their methods are well known. Very fre- quently a gang of burglars will follow g show during an entire seascn- They enter the houses while their occupants are out upon the streets gazing with open mouths at the elephant and the rest of the parade Then there is the peg and ball: ball Is suspended by string from frame. upon which is @ peg The entire device is erected unon board When the board is level and the ball is swung around it will strike the reg and knock it out When the board IS not level the ball eanpot strike the peg. When the victim spins the ball the board IS slightly tilted. When the "eapper" Is spin ming the ball the board Is not tilted. That Is 1 the whole difference.
 To catch all or any of these gentry Is a | somewhat difficult task With tue idea in view, however, the detective who accompa- | nies the show first goes to the incoming trains l and watches for pickpoekets. While the pa rade is in progress he is driving around the 1 outskirts of the place looking for house breakers. In the afternoon and night he keeps near the show ground. 10 fr1ghten 1 and make an example of these people, and i thus deter them from further attempting to ply their vocation, is the great object of the detective This was accomplished in novel and brilliant way last summer by William Henderson, the expert detective wE9 vas l with the Forepaugh show,
 One day, when the ahzW WAS exh'i it1ing in Vermont. piakpoeket was :canybt by Hen estso4 opeIases eD ...e show ground. The aetee.aFs- , had the reputation of being of the shre wdest men in the business lad the crook into the ring, and there, ln the
 presence of ten thousand spectators: ne wal | proclaimed 8 thief and plckpocket; ne was led around the ring three times whiie tne
 played the Rogussb bna Ma[si bs;no bad nn 1 tbe world in bis true celors can be better i'm | aeined than described
 1 So salutary was the example that the shov was not after wards troubled with pickpock | cts.