The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-11-07
FORTUNES IN FINGERS.
London PiclSpockets Who Gould
Give Old Fagin Lessons.
They Are said to BE the Cleverest Thieves
In the World story of RIng-Ex-
pericnce OF ~ Scotland-Yard
Detective.

n few years ago, / purchased several
well-advertised guide books, one of
which, dealing chiefly with London
aud it's environs, warned Americans
against the light fingered portion of its
population. Therefore when | went
abroad did SO with my eyes open, as
thought, but was soon to discover
by actual experience that stranger in
the great metropolis needs very keen
optics to escape the wilcs of its Fagins.
Having but moderate purse at my
command l took cheap lodgings in
Charter House square, and when out
sightseeing was careful to take along
just enough money to last me through
the iaunt.
In my half-aimless saunterings one
morning ] turned in the Strand, al
ready bristling with its peculiar life,
and had not proceeded far when some
one tapped me on the shoulder. Having
no particular acquaintance in London
at that time, turned quickly and saw
a well-dressed man step back like a
person embarrassed.
Jaw, beg your pardon, sir" said
he, politely; II thought l was tapping
the shoulder of a friend; would not
have stopped you for the world" and
before ! could tell him no harm had
been dond@he was off and out of sight
in a moment
thought no more of the interrupt
ton until, seeing book which l de-
sired to purchase, | reached for my
purse, but it was gone. In flash the
shoulder tapping incident came back
with strange distinctness, and l had to
laugh at the adroitness of the theft,
for | knew | had been robbed while
the strange man was apologizing for the
apparent blunder. | had not lost much
money, owing to the carefulness re-
ferred to, but the purse contained a
keepsake in the shape of plain gold
ring suitably inscribed. That was
worth more to me than the contents of
the purse, and, upon telling the book
seller of my loss, he advised me to re-
port it at Scotland Yards the head
quarters of the metropolitan police.
1 had little hope of ever again seeing
the ring, for could give nothing but IL
vague description of the person who
had stopped me, but resolved to take
my complaint to the authorities, as
much to get into Scotland Yard, which
is world famous, as anything else.
Quitting the booll-stall, l made my way
to the place from which the shrewd de-
tectives OF London sally forth to hunt
down the evil doers, and in a short time
was stating my loss to little man in
uniform, who listened intently, but
with lurking smile in his blue eyes.
When he heard me through, he said
that in all probability the keepsake
and | had parted company forever; but
calling to his side a man whom he in
troduced as Sergt. Donny, he went
over the story, and then turned me
over to the sergeant Sergt. Donny
reminded me of Mr.. Inspector Buckle t,
of "Bleak House." He seemed to have
queer way of comforting with his fat
forefnger while he listened, and fro IN
the first he impressed me as good
natured man, too much SO, thought, tc
be member of the police force, having
to deal with the roughs and toughs of
London.
The sergeant and adjourned to the
nearest little coffee-house where
found that he improved on acquain.
tance.
"We have 100, 600 thieves in London, '
said he. "Now, your purse has fallen
into the hands of one of them; but
which one? The man who tapped you
on the shoulder did not do the robbing,
he merely secured your attention while
his confederate relieved you. You felt
nothing in your pocket? No? The fin
gers of our genteel Fagins are very
light and shapely. ! was robbed once
myself, and that while conducting the
thief to the station for picking lady's
pocket. did not know my watch was
gone till we came to search the scamp
Your ring, ah, yes" and here Sergt
Donny tore blank leaf from his mem,
orandum.
Il think we had best advertise fol-
it" he continued.
was surprised.
''You wonder, see," smiled the ser.
geant. "Some of our thieves are very
sympathetic, and there Is one chance in
"a thousand that your purse may have
fallen into the hands of fellow of this
description. We will try first with
something like this:'
He wrote rapidly for minute, his
chubby little hand running back and
forth over the sheet, and when he
stopped he read the following adver
tisement:
'Lost-Ring-If the person who found plair
gold ring inscribed From S. p. to j. c., '69,
will return it TO No - Charterhouse square, ht
will receive one guinea reward and no ques
tons will be asked. The ring was lost on the
Strand and is valued as q memento, being
gift from dear friend who is dead"
"Some of the light-fingered gentry
are very tender-hearted, said Sergt
Donny when he had read the advertise
ment, which seemed to delight him
"In case of this kind we have no ac
curate description of the thief; there
fore, we have to resort to stratagem
Your advertisement will appear in the
Times tomorrow, and then we shall
wait for results. Meantime, we have
nothing to do, and l am prepared tc
tell you something about the thieves Of
this great city, seeing as how have
been dealing with them these twelve
years"
l was more than pleased that the iu
spector had turned me over to so clever
subordinate, and intimated pretty
strongly that j was eager to listen tC
anything Mr. Donny had to say.
This is June" began he. IF yor
had come over swo months later the
chances are that Won would not have