The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-21
EXPERT PICKPOCKETS.
London Seems to BE the Training.
School for Them.

About century ago Paris had only about
fifty pickpockets, now the police reports
show that their number has reached 1900 in
the metropolis alone, aud about 10000 in the
rest of France. These figures are nearly
doubled at times of reviews. races, popular
fetes and exhibitions by recruits from
abroad But, singularly enough, they
all come from or have been trained in
Great Britain. England is the cradle and
hotbed of pickpockets. 1t is a profession as
firmly established as carpentering or brick
laying; it has its apprentices, graduates
professors, experts and commercial agents
Novices ate taught to distinguish French
man from q native, a Russian from a Ger
man. South American from an Italian;
they are made acquainted with the slight
but all important differences in each ma
tionaiiiy, in the cut of the clothes, the place
OF the pockets, the mode of carrying jew
elry, watches, purses or loose cash.
When the pupils are supposed to have pro-
flied sufficiently by their education, they are
dispatched at Christmas time to a ertain
suburb of London, where they are farmei
ont. The agent, who has come to select a
trio, puts them through their PAGES, and il
they acquit themselves creditably he engages
them, gives them clothes, board and special
instructions and takes them abroad to ply
their trade under his management. As soon,
however, as their personality has become in
conveniently familiar TO the police of the
for fresh set under the same conditions.
The community numbers 100000 in Lon
don, including women and children. Their
headquarters are in the obscure purlieus of
st. Giles, Whltechapel, the Minories and the
low-lyiDg wharves of the Thames. 1t is
there they hold their meetings, organize
their detachments, deliberate on future
movements, have their savings banks and
clubs, and settle on the way of assisting
those of their pals who are i'll, Swallowed or
1hpU q a
like the house-breakers and shop-lifters,
from whom, however, they are quite distinct.
During their visits in Paris, although ope-
rating in common, they do not dwell to-
meeting Gully to share the spois at certain
specified moments, in dark or borgne tav-
ems and wine-shops situated in the neigh
borhood of the Champs Elysees and the
Grand Opera. The, foreign as well as the
French operators have their RECEIVING
houses. called in Paris meuniers (mlllers
where they dispose of their gleanings. and
it is q remarkable feature of these
transactions that they are carried on on
both sides with scrupulous fairness and
honesty.
A sharp and observant person might de-
tect the pickpocket who shadows him with
evil intent by the peculiar rowing restless
ness OF the eye, of which even the most ex-
perienced cannot entirely divest themselves.
The habit is contracted at the outset of
their careers; imperative then, it becomes
inveterate. The pickpocket embraces
at glance the particular article in a
shop window calculated to attract the
passer-by, the conformation of the vic
TINS pockets, the foot passengers around
him and the quarter from which his bug
bear, the Bobby" Is likely to appear. The
English pickpocket rarely offers any oppO-i-
ton if caught in the act; he submits silently
to be led off by his captor; only the women
howl, thrash, sob. scratch and fight. II is
the Characteristic natural GOODNESS and lack
of emotional irritability that contribute
more than any physical aptitude to make the
British pickpocket facile pr1nceps in his art,
and an object OF envy and admiration to
members OF the profession in other coun-
tries.
In each country the profession retains its
own particular methods. The SpaniaFl,
like the South American, does not attempt
to operate save in tolerably thick crowd;
the Italian works generally only on ladies,
and badly, because he is too precipltate;
the Turk is fearless, awkward, audacious,
and even IN the clutches of the police. with
one hand pinioned. attempts to steal with
the other. The French make specially of
recognition" which is effected by one pal af-
fecting to recognize in some limo ent, rustic
looking individual a relation or old friend,
effusively falling on his or her neck while
the error IS explained and apologies offered
the deed is done by an associate. The most
dangerous OF that species is the becotouse~
usually young and very pretty girl, who
PUSHES into the arms of benevolent old
man, kisses him on both cheeks and calls
him uncle" relationship he will have
good cause 20 remember, as it has cost him
all his portable property.
The utter carelessness of the public facii-
tates the operations of the pickpockets to
degree which has often elected from them
expressions of whitening contempt. To sup
plement the legend which bids people be-
ware of them. the authorities would do well
to affix few simple rules the observance
OF which would be an effective protection
London correspondence n Y. Sun.