The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1888-06-07

on his pocke:-book. This gives the
mob chance to locate the pocket
books, end saves them the time and |
trouble OF tanning or feeling about to
locate them. If an attempt is made to
get the pocket-book and the pocket. as
conntrymen have them, is too deep,
one OF the gang will either accidentally.
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 .aken. 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.
II 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 he 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 a har-
vest, but found no convenient place to
throw the empty pocket-books, There
was politician speaking from small
stand, in front of which stood coun-
tryman with green cotton umbrella.
Ono 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 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 go through the crowd.
They usually reap a 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.
4 .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 o1
one of the hotels in 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 hi'
pocket-book. Then they invited hin
into the hotel to take drink. Severa
/ treats were passed around, and wher
it came the farmers turn he found HI
had lost his pocket book, but instead O
accusing any one of the theft he wen
, out to his sled and searched it thor
oughly. Not finding it. he started t.
return to the hotel. A smile came upor
: his face as he saw his pocket-book OF
, the cellar-door A moment later hi
, countenance fell again, for when h
t picked up the lost book it was empty
: 1t is wonderful how expert these fel
lows become. They can rob man il
. broad daylight SO neatly and quickl.
| that the victim sometimes knows moth
) ing of it for an hour or more afterward
It makes no difference in what pocke
, a man carries his pocket-book to tn
t thief; it is only q matter OF getting al
f opportunity to get at it.
"After they have acquired the knacl
| of taking pocket-books. said the de
1 tective. ''they go step higher in. ant
: become members of the gang who onl,,
r wiring or steal watches which are know
} 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 higl
\ in their profession to tap store-tills
4 They devote their entire attention t
1 taking watches, White supers are sci
' dom taken now. because there are s
r many cheap and nickel-plated ones tina
: it does not pay to run the risk.
j "The older members of the professio
, usually pick up young converts an
t make them do the work, while the
r watch and give instructions. and the
\ hold the property. There was once
Al l.