Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1890-12-23
A MEMORABLE EXPLOIT.

AAhn Oh ~ OEEyeSl1 VnOuo1no DOlt8r1.
band Of pickpockets were one day
working" train running to Now York
on the Hudson River railroad. There
wero four Of them, says the Kansas City
Star. The exigencies ofpookot- picking
require at least that number-one pick
pocket proper. who does tho actual
taking, and three ''stalls," or assistants.
The chief Of the band was John Larney,
alias Mollie Matches, than whom no
surer or more expert thief ever dipped
hook" They were not on this train at
random. A man was going to New York
who had forty-six crisp and brittle 1,OO)-
dollar bills in a pocketbook inside his
vcst. This man was occupying seat near
the center of the Car. Two Of the band
were ahead of him on the other side
of the aisle and the other two werc
disposed Of on the next seat behind
him. ,s'
Suddenly tho man arose and stepped
into tho aisle Anxiety parched his
mouth and he wanted drink AS he
arose the four thieves, as If by accident,
alt left their seats. This brought the
victim between the two pairs. They all
came towards him, the ones to the rear
apparently seeking the opposite ond of
front For second the five bIockaded
the aisle. tho victim in the center.
Everybody was the spirit of politeness;
apologies were muttered as the four
woll-dresscd, quiet-looking rascals APP
parcntly attempted to get out Of every
body's way. The victim was not hustled
or jostled by these masters Of their art,
but with every touch he was placed and
held in position while the deft Matches,
that prince of hght-ffngers, performed
tho feat Of "weeding" his long pocket
book wherein the forty-six 1000 dollar
bills were disposed lengthwise.
wedding" is the name Of process
in thievery which takes tho bills on oc-
casions when the ends thereof project
beyond the pocket-booL, and leaves the
empty wallet still in its owners pos
session. The value of the process lies
in this, that it is generally long time
before tho victim discovers his loss-not
until he opens his pocket book whore
as II tho pocl1ot-book itself should dis
appear ho might noto the fact at once.
Tho victim in this instance did not
discover his loss at the time, as moth ing
occurred during the despoilation which
gave him notice; but, having some rea.
son for taking out his wallet about ten
minutes later, he found himself plum.
dered. He made great uproar. Tho
conductor and train-men were called,
but, as he did not possess clew or even
suspicion rs to who robbed him they
could do nothing.
One thing was sure the money was
still on tho train, as there had boon no
stop. The corrd uctor assumed the pres
sure. Ho halted his train out in tho
rural regions, and, tapping the wires,
photographed to tho, New York police.
Meanwhile the train was guarded and
no 'one allowed to alight. Then the
train was started for tho run in. The
four thieves were aware Of all that was
going on. They know of the difficulties
which ,heset them and that the entire
detective force Of New York was now
on the lookout. y hey secretly divided
the money and 1T was agreed that tho
word should be "cvery man for him
sclf." Larney was in a predieament.
His face was as we'll known to the
Metropolitan Vidocqs as tho Bowery.
lie knew If he was recognized he was
lost. In his dilemma he went through
to the Pullman car. There no found an
old clergyman travelling with his daugh-
ter and her little girl, child Of four
years. An idea came to the picl1pocket.
lilo was quietly and faultlessly attirod.
Lie had n considerable store Of religious
knowledge. He could play tho role
and resolved for the nonce to be O
preacher. He intropuced himself to
tho old minister and his daughter. He
described himself as from Hamilton,
Ont, and the pastor of Baptist church.
Here was tho ordeal Larney feared.
lie knew i that twenty officers. would
scan every ono who stepped of the
train. 'IIo was aHive to the fact THAI
any one of them would know thc ccle-
hrated Mollie Matches tho instant he
soe his eyes s0unrrlv ON him This