The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-20

bag or jewel case at these places. The
pickpockets seem to take pleasure in max
ing victims of persons in high official POI
sitions. Once no less personages than the
civil governor and the chief of police had
their pockets ritied on the platform of
great station on a bullhght day. Not one
offender has been caught In two seasons at
San Sebastian, where these robberies are
excessively frequent during the stay of
Queen Christina.
One of the most curious associations of
thieves are those which make domestic
servants their principal instruments. It
must be said, however, society itself is
most to be blamed for the carelessness with
which ladies viii admit servants without
proper investigation of their antecedents.
The accomplice of thieves usually presents
herself in family with false character
or with very slight Recommendation.
She is neat and quiet. During several
days she does her work perfectly TO put
her masters off their guard. In fact she
remains just long enough to discover the
whereabouts of every thing that is worth
stealing. Then, if she thinks that she
cannot execute the robbery herself and
disappear with the spoils, she takes little
more time, and with soft wax she takes
the impression of locks and keys. Then
models are given to one of her associates
outside, who soon provides her with the
necessary skeleton keys. In the early
morning, when everybody is fast asleep,
and when even the famous night watch
men are doing in doorways, the female
thief will admit her accomplice and they
will rifle the house of all its valuables.
Even the watch hanging at your bedside
and the rings you place on your toilette
table are daringly taken. 1t is well if you
do not awake and attempt to raise
an alarm. as the thieves will not
60 @ntrA - 49,
knives to silence their victims and
secure retreat. As rule, however,
things go off more quietly. The masters
of the house, who are seldom early risers
in Madrid, are awakened by the frantic
ringing at the bell of tradesmen who are
surprised not to get admittance. Then an
amusing scene of confusion, alarm. per-,
fectly useless wrath takes place. The neigh
bors think 1t good joke and only sympa-
thizc with the robbed when all curse the
inefficacy of the police. These worthless
and the Judge only come to the house to
make great fuss and to put you to all
sort of inconvenience and expense with
out, of course. any result.
Z In broad daylight near the mint, on an
other occasion in the Castellana, and in
less frequented parts of the city, thieves
have come up to the side of ladies walking
alone and with knife in hand have obliged
them to give up their purse and jewels.
Even men have been likewise accosted and
before they could recover from the effects
of the surprise the thief was off at full
speed and no police at hand to catch him.
Despite all the warnings that I. have
been given by foreign consuls and the
press, the confidence trick which Span
iards call Gel entierro." is practiced
upon too credulous foreigners. Letters
are addressed to persons of position
abroad curiously enough, appealing at:.the
same time to their feelings and cupidity.
The prisoner who signs these letters is al
ways q victim of miscarriage of justice, q
political martyr, who managed to hide a
treasure in some place that he alone
knows. By dint of great efforts the pris-
oner pretends to have been able to get this
letter posted by kind friend who will
consent to be the go-between in the case.
The distinguished foreigner is requested
with much GOODNESS to send sometimes
considerable sum of money to put the
prisoner in q position to escape or even to
take steps to have his treasure conveyed
abroad. If the money is sent, as is unfor-
tunately very often the case, the rogues
keep up the game and ask for more sup
plies until they think the farce cannot be
continued. Then you hear nothing more
of them. They speculate upon their
knowledge of human nature, and they ex-
pect that ridicule alone will be enough to
prevent their victims from seeking redress,
1t must be said. nevertheless, that foreign
consuls in Spain have received indignant
complaints from people who think that
their dabbling into this very muddy sort
of business entities them to the protection
of the representatives of their country