Omaha daily bee., 1885-09-23

policemen. "My name" said he, "s
Richard Preston and l was raised in
Poll sdelphia OF E0gllsh parents. have
worked Lincoln easier than any place ]
ever was In before, and would find no
trouble to operate here for any length OF
time l might wish to stsy."
Giving the glst Of Preston's story 1t
was about as follows: During his early
| childhood In Philadelphia he became &C.
| uuainted with several notorious crooks
there who have always been clssssd as
the finest workmen of their kind In the
| United States. Under the tuition OF
these expert tutors Preston soon became
proficient in the art of tightening pockets
| and did not conine his operations to
| Philadelphia, but travelled all over the
country. In 1875 he went to St. Louis,
and for nearly q year was succestsful In
his operations among loungers In theatres
and other public rerorts. He was finally
caught In that city, but no specific evil
denos being brought against him he was
released after q short term In the work
house for vsgrancy. Since that time
Preston ssys he has travelled through
New York, Maryland, Pennsylvania,
Illinois, Iowa aud the fairs OF Nebraska
and the west. In company with
q confederate he will go
on board o train, sits down In q car d.
rectly in front of the man he wants to
work, and Just before the train Is to
leave will give a sign to his partner, who
will get up and walk out on the platform.
During the time he has seated himself
beside his intended victim, he has learned
where tina. individual Is going to. He
whispers the information to his confede-
rate as he walks through the car TO the
platform. The confed crate suddenly ap-
pears at the door of the car and yelis,
GAN passengers change cars for Omaha"
or some other place as he feels disposed,
aud in accordance with the des.
t~inatiop OF the person whom
they intend to vlcdmize. OF course,
upon haarlng that be Is 10 the wrong car,
the victim grabs his gripsack and makes
for the door. Mr.. Preston 10 right
after him, and VIXEN he gets to the door
the confederate gives the man o push back
and ns this is done Preston deity goes
through the mans pockets. A few years
ago Preston says that while In Chicago
the chief of police, who conBIdered him
self pretty fly, invited him
out to ride to Lincoln park. The chief
knew that he was crooked, and Preston
told him that his work was so slick that
no Chicago police could catch him. The
chief denied this, and satd that he could
find any man at any time or place who
was crooked. Preston, In a spirit of
banter, told tho chief that he could take
his watch away from him before they got
to North Clark street, and he did 1t
Notwithstanding the chief had been
notified.
Preston says his forte Is In working
hotels with "outsiders' and other devices
to get at the rooms of guests. He Is nos
quito old, and he told the reporter that
he would soon have to give up the
business as he found that he could no
longer get around sufficiently to meat the
requirements OF his crooked trade,
CITY ITEMS.
Yesterday morning q farmer, whose
name could MOI be learned, had hls leg
broken by the team which he was driv-
ing running away on o street. The man
WAS taken to the hospital.
James Kelley, with his wife and
nephew, left yesterday for a three weeks
visit to Iowa.
Late Monday night Capt. Post, of the
police force, with q special officer, went
to the corner of Twenty.6rat and P
streets upon q telephone call, They
caught John Sharp and q woman called
Miliie Leonard 10 l4grantl dellctu, and
arrested them. Sharp was fined yester.
day for disorderly conduct, while the
fair Mile was placed In the calaboose to
work out her fine.
Hon. o. P. Mason delivered a very
effective and scholarly address on med
ical jurisprudence laut Saturday before
the medical class a. the university.
A number of gentlemen desire to
know why work has been stopped on
the new city building on the market
square.
A ARRIVALS.
j. D. LaCourse, Omaha; Miss e. Lam
ham, Crete; L. 81. Smith. Kearney; G..
w. Shldlsr and wife, York; d. Wand,
Crete; G.. e Marston, York; E Shell
den, Nebraska City; Judge S. Mcdowell,
Beatrice; Gao. e. Taylor, Clay Centre;
Albert johnson, Sutton; A. Alice,
Omaha; Walt. NJ. Seely, Bennett; w.
X Beans and wife, Bea'rict; j. w. Nc.
Loud, David Oily: W. FL. Vance, Weep.
ing Water; r. Gallagher, Champaign; J..
w. Stewart, Nebraska City; o. M. Gar
ter, Ashland; S, Ell. Stewart, Omaha;
A. @. Crossthwaite and wife, David City;
r. M. Esterbrook, Auburn; L j. Britt,
York; g. S. Alexander aud wife, SYRIA.
cuse; E. A. Russell, Ord; ). Gere
Walker, Greenwood; A. S. Mansfslder,
III. D., Ashland.