Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-26

How "Jimmy" Clark Gave the Mar.
shal's Officers the Sin.

Jimmy" Clark, the negro pickpocket vbo
escaped from the custody Of the marshal's
| officers Saturday afternoon, as published in
Saturdays SrAR, has not yet been captured,
Before his arrest some weeks ago Clarke gave
the police considerable trouble. He worked
about the Center market stealing pocket
books, principally from females. Every day
or two complaint would be made that another
pocketbook had been stolen. In one case s75
was secured, but in the other cases the
amounts were smaller, varying from 50 to s12
Detectives Carter and Mahon were assigned to
look up these thefts, and they made an investi-
CATION Of each of them. Information was
obtained showing that every time pocketbook
was stolen Jimmy" was about in the market
The police considered Jimmy one of the
best IN his line of business He never had a
pal, Dut always worked alone, so that there
was no one who could give him away. The
only thing that could be done was to catch
him IN the act When starting out for a day
work he would carry with him
GooD-sIzED MARKET-BAsKET.
When he reached the market he would pur-
chase few vegetables and would then walk
through the crowd looking for fat pocket-books.
He would walk behind woman and appear to
be carrying her basket. When she would make
purchase he would get look at the inside of
her Pocket-book, and if it was worth taking he
would notice what pocket she put 1t in Then,
1t Is alleged, he would push through the crowd
put the basket over the pocket and secure the
purse. He preferred, it is stated, pockets that
were placed well behind, as he could get at
them with less chance of being discovered
Several pocket-books had been taken, and, as
already stated, it was found that Jimmy" hap
pened to be near the victim on each occasion.
One day when he secured pocket-book some
OF the old colored women who sell herbs saw
him. They were so astonished at his boldness
that they could not make an outcry and he
escaped. Then he remained away from the
market for several days, but when his money
was gone he returned for another supply.
HE COMES TO GRIEF.
He happened to get near the same old col
ored woman. Mrs. Barbara Scroggins came
along, made some purchases, and returned her
pocketbook to her pocket. Her hand was
hardly out of her pocket before his hand was
in it. He secured her pocketbook, but an out
cry was made and he dropped it ON the side
walk before he could get away. He was fol-
lowed in the market and was arrested, the old
colored woman identifying him. He was then
taken to the Police Court and held in 81, 900
bail for the action of the grand jury. He was
indicted and convicted Saturday morning he
was brought up for sentence and was given
four years at Albany. He was then handcuffed
to another prisoner and marched to the
cage in the basement. 1t was after
o'clock when the procession of prisoners
started from the cage to the prison van in
which they were to be driven back to jail Two
females headed the procession. In going the
80 or 40 feet through the corridor the prisoner
slipped his handouts and marched to within
or feet of the van. He then turned through
a side door and went upstairs toward the mar
shal's office. In going up the steps he slipped
and fell. This did not attract any ones atten-
ton, and Jimmy" walked through the entire
length Of the building unnoticed. He got out
of the building and disappeared.
LOOKING FOR HIM.
When his absence was discovered all Of the
marshals officers started out to look for him.
The detectives were notified and the city
searched, but the missing prisoner was not to
be found. 1t was learned that he had female
friend in South Washington, where he was
likely to go, but upon investigation it was
found that she had gone to Albany, intending
to meet him on his arrival there.