West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1885-06-19
LIGHT-FINGERED GENTRY
Characteristics OF the Profession
al Pickpockets.
a Weakness for Fine CIothes-They Pre-
fer to DO Their Work I'm the Midst
of Large Crowds-Young Girls
I'm the Business.

-" The most dangerous of all criminal.
Is 'he professional pickpockct," said a
detective to Daily Ne1OS reporter the
other day. HE comes upon YOU in
such unexpected places, under such n
pleasant guise and has such insinuating
ways that you fall a victim to his artistic
skiil while gazing upon the beauty of his
race ana figure. or admiring the elegant
twlrl of his jet-died mustache. As tbcv
are the most dangerous, so are they the
most numerous of our public deproda.
TORS and although we have done, and
are doing, our best to drive them out of
chicago, yet they increase almost ms
fast rs we catch them and send them
OH They are mostly young men. their
ages varying from fifteen TO Twenty-Five
years many of them have been street
Migrants from their infancy, uncarcd
Tor by parent or friend. forced from
Dabyhood TO supply their own wants.
early acquire "A knowledge of the world.
oi men and things, and degree of
Smartness' and deXterity which renders
them expert thieves and dangerous
neighbors in mixed assembly.
lhey are by nature and educa-
ton opposed TO honest labor.
and would reject with scorn any
oller calculated to subject them TO toll.
There are Others who, we'll educated
ana reared, have become tempted be-
yond their strength. But, having once
become members of tho profe, sion. they
SINK to the level of their companionS.
adopting their manners and habit.
their superior advantages having no
other effect upon them than TO make
them more hardened and depraved than
their fellows. knew OF "A remarkable
instance of this kind once. 1t was in the
person OF son of respectable. well-to-
do parents, and eight years ago he was
a book-keeper in this city. He was a
handsome young man, of good address.
and enjoyed the utmost confidence of
ms employer. Fast companions by de-
grees introduced him TO their vices. and
he soon became frequentcr of billiard
saloons, gambling houses and places
where ho was required TO spend more
money than his salary warranted Then
came the old, old story. Getting into
debt, he yielded TO temptation and stole
$4,000 from his employer He was de-
tected, but, in consideration Of his
parents and his evidently sincere re-
pentance. he was not prosecuted. He
went to New Orleans and obtained an
excellent situation, and hal resolved
20 lead an honest life i'm future. One
day he met on the street an nc.
quaintance who knew Of his fall He
was one Of those Internal busybodies
who are never happy unless they
are interfering with other peoples
business, so he Immediately informed
the employer of the young man of the
affair, and the Consequence was that no
was discharged. Turned friendless into
the street. his reputation blasted. he
became reckless, and Immediately
adopted the profession Of a pickpock-
ct, and is now known as one OF the
most expert He speaks with great bit
terness of the acquaintance who gave
him away in New Orleans, and saws
that but for him he would have re-
deemed himself and lived an honest life
instead OF being a candidate for State
prison.
professional pickpockcts," contin-
ued the detective, "have a weakness for
tinc clothes, but their taste leads them
70 adopt rather the loud and flash
styles of dress than the quiet and re-
spectacle. They rejoice in ncatly-ft-
ting suits Of var.ed hues. spotless linen.
gaudy ncck-ties, sparkling pins and or
naments, and often wear plug hats
Numbers Of them may be seen any day
gathered in little knots at their favor.to
corners, 1nashing.' The external ap-
pearance of the professional pickpocket
is similar 70 that of the professional
gambler and they are often seen TO-
gether in familiar conversation. Time
was when our most skillful pickpockcts
were Englishmen; and those individu-
ais, fresh from European cities used to
look with scorn and contempt on Uir
native-born bunglers; but it is different
now.
"Pickpockets usually work in gangs
Of three or four, although a few of the
most expert usually prefer to work
without partner These gangs Oppr-
ate in crowds. assisting one another i'm
such manner as circumstances NAV re-
quire. Where people conereQats I'm
largo numbers. there look ont for PICK
pockets. A procession is their delight.
q large fire "A thing Of iOy. a popular
wedding or q funeral a godssnd No
place or occasion is so sacred as 10 in
spire them with reverence. Alta camp
meeting near here, once, rever, nd
gentleman, while on his knees exhortng
sinners TO repent, was robbed of his
wallet by an iTeverent professional,
while q weeping sister on the anxious
seat was deprived Of the means II dry
ing her eyes by folonious sccflcr At
diamond wedding two of the brides
maids aud many of the spectator. were
TClieYcd of their watch, and ornaments