The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1888-07-07

knock the intended victims hat off or
pull it down over his ears. In either
case he is surprised, and while recover
ing himself his money is taken. He
calls thief. but not being able to pick
out the right man from the crowd. and
fearing that he will pick the wrong one.
he walks quietly away. and afterward
looks to the Fair Committee for his
money.
Il remember. continued" the detect
i've. that at country fair country
man was seen putting his hand on his
hip-pocket every few minutes. The
thieves thought he had something, and
one of them knocked his hat off. The
countryman stopped over to pick it up,
and while STOPPING over two of the
gang found it convenient to shake
hands across his back. When the coun-
tryman started to get up be was held
down until his pocket-book was taken
out Of his hip-pocket
''Some years ago at a country fair in
West Virginia the thieves reaped har-
vest, but found no convenient place to
throw the empty pockst-books, There
was a politician speaking from small
stand, in front of which stood coun-
tryman with green cotton umbrella.
One by one the empty books were
dropped into the old mans umbrella.
Finally shower came up. and when
the old man hoisted his umbrella there
was shower of pocket-books. Through
the fair ground was a gully. and after
the rain had continued some time it
was almost impossible to cross the
small stream. One of the thieves pro-
cured plank. which they placed across
the gully. While one of them assisted
persons across the others robbed as
many as they could, and many persons
who crossed the stream were relieved
of all the money they had and were un-
able to make any more purchases.
A good mob will never let business
get dull while working city, for they
are always ready to raise some excite
ment and cause rush, which will en-
able them to 60 through the crowd.
They usually reap harvest after some
celebration is over and persons are
making rush for the cars. They are
always ready to misinform persons as
to where the different cars take them.
Then, when the train is ready to start,
one of them will enter car and inform
the passengers Of the mistake. Then
there is rush to get on the right train.
During the rush and excitement per-
sons are unable to take care of their
pocket-books, and the pickpocket takes
advantage Of the opportunity.
'Iremember several years ago" con-
tinued the detective, '.when McGlade
and Collyer fought at Goldsborough,
Pa They stopped at different hotels,
and the friends of the principals in the
fight followed them. Early in the
morning farmer drove up in front of
one of the hotels in a sleigh. Several
young men ran out and kindly covered
the horses with blankets and arranged
matters generally for the visitor. and
while so doing relieved him Of his
pocket-book. Then they invited him
into the hotel to take drink. Several
treats were passed around. and when
it came the farmers turn he found he
had lost his pocket-book. but instead of
accusing any one of the theft he went
out to his sled and searched it thor
oughly. Not finding it, he started to
return to the hotel. A smile came upon
his face as he saw his pocket-book on
the cellar-door. A moment later his
countenance fell again, for when he
picked up the lost book it was empty.
It is wonderful how expert these fell
lows become. They can rob man in
broad daylight so neatly and quickly
that the victim sometimes knows moth
ing of it for an hour or more afterward.
It makes no difference in what pocket
a man carries his pocket-book to the
thief; it is only matter of getting an
opportunity to get at it.
"After they have acquired the knack
of taking pocket-books." said the de-
tective. they 60 step higher in, and
become members of the gang who only
wringor steal watches. which are known
to the profession as white and red .su-
pers. The chain they call slang
These watch experts pay no attention
to pocket-books. and they are too high
in their profession to tap store-tills.
They devote their entire attention to
taking watches. White supers are sell
dom taken now, because there are so
many cheap and nickel-plated ones that
it does not pay to run the risk.
1.-THE older members of the profession
usually pick up young converts and
make them do the work, while they