The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-27
SPIELBERGER'S STEALTH.
ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE OF PICK
POCKETS ARRESTED.
Sergt. Koran Catches Dead to Rights
an Expert Young Thief, Who Has
Been Depredating on the Purses of
Lady Street Car Passengers.

Sergt. Koran, OF the police force,
made a neat and most important arrast
yesterday afternoon. The prisoner,
though but smooth faced youth, is evil
IDENTITY one Of the smoothest and slickost
pickpockets in the country, and to him is
most probably chargeable the bulk of the
money which has been so stealthily ex-
tracted from the pockets of a number of
ladies and gentlemen in the city within
the past two or three weeks. The
youth, though stranger in the city,
having arrived here about three or
four weeks ago, is not altogether
unknown TO the police. About
two weeks ago well dressed young fell
low walked into the police station one
morning and complained that he had
been cheated ont OF large sums OF money
at two noted gambling houses, and wanted
to see If he could not recover il. He gave
the name then of Louis Spillenberg, age
sixteen years, and his home at Florence,
Ala. The gambling houses, he stated,
were those Of Mike Blessing and Charles
Leland. Both men stoutly denied that
the boy had lost cent at either Of their
establishments, but as the races were
coming on, and rather than have any
trouble, they gave him what he claimed
Blessing paying $50 and Leland $50.
A few days after this, Miss Sweeney, a
clerk at Kremer's, reported TO the police
that young man had attempted to pick
her pocket while on q street car, but that
she detected him in time 10 preyent IL
The description she gave oil the would be
thiei tailed 70 that OF young ,spillenberg.
Since then the police, have been on the
lookout Tor the KID, US they term him;
lie mas evidently started out to be Kid
gloved thief, Tor he dresses in the nattiest
and fastest style, borderingon the dudisti-
cal. One reason that he was so difficult to
catch, was that he wore different suit OF
style.
Yesterday afternoon Sergt. Koran was
given the tip" that a much sought for
thief was on Second street car coming
south. The sergeant being at the station
house waited for the car until ii reached
Adams street, and he stepped aboard. On
the left hand side sat the thief close beside
q well dressed lady. They sat in the fore
part OF the car, he on her right. The SER
geant took his seat just inside the door 10
the rear on the right. Tho thief had a
large newspaper spread out, holding II
with one hand. A portion Of the sheet
fell carclessly over the folds of the lady's
dress. The right hand of the thief was
not visible, and he seemed in.
tently reading as the car jostled
along and the lady blankly and
innng,ntly lof,laI ouf "a Tho ttiufosv IN
posite. All this time the lynx-eyod officer
kept keen watch on his victim, that was
soon 10 be; from his position he could see
the paper gently rustic and the hidden
hand OF the thief CHANGING up for mo-
ment the thief caught the officers eye and
half startled drew his hand back. The
ing out oil the window, but, ms the saying
y, kept one eye on the stealthy
little. operator, whom he could see,
as he thought, was endcavoring
to replace his booty from where no had
purloined II. lie grew intensely nervous,
evidently feeling that he-could not replace
what he held IN his hand. The officer
could see from the motion OF the arm nm
der The paper that the boy was showing
something into his own pocket. Thinking
that he had II securely down In his pocket,
as the car was passing over secoud and
Jefferson streets, he jumped up and
briskly stepped TO the rear door
to get OIL. AS he got to the
door, the sergeant coolly placed his foot
across tho opening and unconccrncdly
said, rs he rose: Where arc you goingg'
The boy, without saying word, almost
swooned, and Tell over with his arms
around the officers neck. Catching him
by the lapel OF the coat, Horan asked:
what Is the matter with your Has
somebody touched you, and how much
did they gcu' The boy, weak and pale,
and still clinging 10. him, half gasped.
YES, cir, | lost my purse; somebody has
taken $3S from me-"
The lady, by this time, attracted by the
boys exclamation, felt for her purse
(she, IIomn and the thief were the only
persons on the carl. aud she sprang up
and exclaimed, ooh myl somebody has
at the way his prisoner was acting. replied,
"Oh, no, madam, you have not lost your
purse; this boy has IL here IL Is in his
pocket" And there II was, wrapped in the
neat white handkerchief which she had
placed Il in before leaving home. The
handkerchief half stuck out OF the thief's
pocket. Koran asked the lady how much
money she had In her purse, and she NJ.
piled 1870. That was the amount found
In Il at the station.housc. The imputenl
| little scoundrol boldly protested, and said
that the pockctbook was his own-and In
the next breath said he had found Il. Tho
bell was rung, tho car stopped and the