Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-09-10
REAPS HIS REWARD.
A PICKPOCKET ARRESTED ON THF. FAIR
GROUNDS YESTERDAY
And is Almost Killed in Attempting 10 Escape-A
Number Of People "DOns For Yesterday
on the Grounds.

1t is very natural to suppose that the
sharpers and pick-pockets would not allow
the brilliant opportunity afforded by the
State Fair to get in their fine work to escape,
and that they have not is fully demon
strated by the fact that number of peo-
pie have been relieved of their surplus
cash by the light-ingered gentry in the past
two days. All efforts of the police, how
ever, failed to bring to light any of the
thieves rs they did their work SO we'll that
the people robbed could give no clue to the
guilty parties.
But wrong-dOers are bound TO be discov-
cred sooner or later, and yesterday one met
his fate, and in tact almost his death. Mr..
John X. Botsford was standing near the
upper end of the Grand Stand in
the rear about $3.50 o'clock among small
crowd, when he felt somethingin his peck
ct that felt like hand, and as he knew it
was not his own, he Immediately inyeSti-
gated the ma tier and found that his peck
etboOk was missing He attempted to fol-
low the pocketbook, which resulted in his
suspicion resting upon young man stand
ing beside him, whom he seized and ac-
cused of the theft.
HE Is ARRESTED.
! The fellow, of course, Immediately COM
menced giving Mr.. BOtstord the usual
game of talk TO keep him from making any
disturbance over the loss, and he would
probably have succeeded, as Mr.. Il. was
not exactly sure of his man, when Mr..
Chas. IIancher stepped up and informed
Mr. BOtSiord that lie had seen the fellow
put his hand in Mr. BOtSiord'S pocket,
bring out the book and pass it to con-
federate. In the meantime, however the
second man seeing trouble approaching
slipped the pocket-book back into side
pocket in Mr. Botsford's coat and skipped
to avoid being mixed up in the affair.
When Mr.. Hancher asserted that he had
seen the whole transaction and was sure of
the man, Officer LnkenS, who was near,
took the picGpocket in charge and started
for the city with him, allowing him to
walk along by himself to prevent attract
ing the attention of the crowd. When
they had almost reached the gate the chap
saw chance and made
A BREAK FOR LIBERTY
toward the back river Officer Lukens
gave chase, followed by Officer Bell, who
was near at the time The fellow got over
the fence into field and was some
distance ahead when the officers pulled their
pops and began to blaze away mt the fugi-
tive, who kept up his nerve and pace until
Bell had emptied his revolver and Lukens
had sent three shots after him. The last
shot tore up stone which struck the pur-
sued man and he Immediately weakened,
no doubt thinking he had been shot.
He fell to his knees, but finding himself
unhurt got up again and was climbing
across fence when Il man from the coun'
try who had Joined in the chase seized
him, saying rs he did 50:
ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE
you're the -- that done me up for
sixty-eight dollars. I'm glad got you. "
While the officers were returning with
their prisoner another chap from the
rural districts came up and said the fell
low had done him uptor titty-tour dollars.
! The prisoner is Il rather handsome, well
dressed young man and carried silk UNI
brella, but his cOuntcnanCc bears the dis
! tnguiShiDg marks of 4 Swindler and pick
pocket. He refused to give his name but
claimed that he was innocent, and thought
the police were too hard on him. He
was placed in 4 cell at the Jail.
As before stated, Mr.. BatSiord recovered
| his pockct-bOOk, which contained no money
at all, and the fellow got into trouble on q
water-haul The book contained only
several stock certificates which are valu-
able only TO the owner.
OTHER LOSERS.
A number of other people had thcil
pockets picked yesterday, losing various
amounts. Mr.. Geo w. Sawtelle had so
in bills sticking in his vest pocket and
when hc felt for them they had mys-
teriously disappeared.
A gentleman named T. 4. Basnctt, OF
Warrington, went through Machinery
Hall some time during the afternoon. lie
went in with pocket book containing
twenty dollars in gold and about forty
dollars in bills, besides some notes and
several receipts When he got out he
didn't even have the gum which was
around the pocket book, and he had no
idea of how or just at what time he had
been relieved of the burden.
A lady sat in the grand stand all after
noon and enjoyed the races. When she
left she was minus eighteen dollars in solid
cash, and she didn't lose it betting on the
races, either. Such is life at large fair
Take just enough money TO see you
through, leave your diamonds at home and
carry your watch in yOur boot These are
friendly little pointers.