Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1891-03-13
MRXIcO'S THIEVES.
TALES OF TRtcKERY AND LIGHT
FINGERED INGENUITY.

Adventure OF an English Resident.
Points could probably be given to ths
''slickest" Of London pickpochets by his
ragged, miserable looking confrere Of
Mexico. At fairs in churches, at tie
markets. wherever throngs DO congreeate,
it is most prudent to diyest ones self Of
watch, eyeglasses, etc., and, IN the cage
Of ladies, of floating ends of ribbon or
bows which may readily BE- detached Tho
wife Of a prominent Mexican general,
while kneeling at mass not long ago, lad
the pocket cut from her dress 80 EkiIlfullT
that she had not the faint4st sense ii
1t. losing a considerable quantity of money
and two diamond rings. A pretty little
American bride keeping house here vas
particularly unleItunate- Every time she
went TO market she would surely be caught
in crowd Of the lower orders. Who
would close in around her IN such fashion
as to press hep azns down at her sides,
and when she was released she would find
her handbag open and empty. No VIC
lenoe WAS employed; it WIS apparently
only ons Of the jams natural to such
places.
Sometimes. though, Sir Rogue meets his
match Cut at Guadalupe. where the eel
ebration Of Dee. Il brings together pil-
grirns By hundreds from all OVER the re-
public, the 1hrong is simply appalling,
and pielrpoekets are in clover 4 young
lady from Sonora, visiting the place for
the first time, happened 10 glance down
just in time to see brown and dirty hard
retiring, closed on a watch that had cost
her $3.50. La Nina Josefna promptly
seized those 6exterous fingers. The fellow
struggled and fought, aided By his COM
rades, but the girl held fast, calling for
help, and delivered him over to the police.
The extent 10 which sneak thieying or,
as it is called here, rat thieving, is car
ried on is astonishing. Cushions or rugs
left for q moment in a window seat dis4p-
pear as il by magic / have known The
same fate betall a cup Of medicine st in a
window BY sick childs attendant.
Americans who take rooms IN mesones-
the taverns Of interior tozns-often
awake in the morning 10 find themselves
minus all the articles Of apparel which
they left On lying down, but which have
been literally hooked" by means Of a
long pole, and dragged through the win
dow.
say Americans. because 1fexieans
would know better th1a e take such
chances. Street shcsr cases. the metallic
sign boards used By physicians. etc. are
al made fast with staples and padlocks-
The black draperiaS hang over windows
as a sign OF mourning in some Mexican
cities are carefully removed al the ap-
preach Of night. Flowers ard plants n
graves are often inside away with, but this
act Of vandalism is not unknown III other
lands. shoBlifting IS great wealSIse.ss
II TINS country, AMI cIe against whlch
merchants find II extremely hard 70 PRO
tect themselves, even By such devices IS
claiming down grindstones. etc. Pilfering
by servants may be set down as universal;
housewives here keep al the domestic
stores closely locked away, and deal cut
the allotted quantities Of each article to
meet the needs Of the day; 50 much sugar,
50 many ounces Of roe, cvt5ee for 50 many,
etc. after the most approved fashion Of
Counting noses Sometimes servants
are in collision with outside robbers. but
often they themselves arc victims. Some
cunning fellow neatly despoiled the cook
IL the house Of an English friend Of mine
not long since
The man came rushing up stairs 70 say
that q child u the FORTRESS had been Sc
riously injured IN the street at some dis
tance from the house, and the C7icR
stricken mother, her own II 35zo. CT head
scarf, baing in wash, Lad sent this mes
l-G He-G 81