The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1891-06-18
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One frequently hears odds and Sndil
Of slangy expressions which are said To
have their origin In the vocabulary used
BY thieves, but Is 1t true that the class
In question really has anything like =
-vernacular peculiarly its own?" was the
question propounded to 4 veteran de-
teetive by representative Ct the Free
Press
Eyes, it is fact, : responded the de-
tective, .sand, curiously enough, NUM-
Der Of the expressions used by crooked
people nowadays were current $50 years
ago among English and French thieves.
Within my own recollection there have
been good many changes in these
slang expressions, but the great major
ity Of them still remain IN use the same
as years ago. Yon can, however, set
one hing down as an established truth:
When you hear either crook or an Of
ficer sprinkle his conversation pretty
literally with slang, make up your
mind that he is no good. To be sure
all thieves, and the majority Of detect
ives, understand what the various
slang expressions used by thieves mean,
but it's only the more ignorant class Of
thieves or the coarser grade Of men
whose business it is to run them down,
who habitually talk in the vernacular.
Although am a little rusty so far as
these expressions are concerned, will
jog my memory and give you all of them
that can now recollect. Inthe first place
TO graft is to steal, and all thieves are
'grafters,' knucks and guns, although
variously su5divided according to the
particular line of stealing they engage
In. Thus burglar is night worker
or house worker A jewelry store
thief is 'pennyweighter,' highway
man is strong arm man, a shoplifter
is holster a safe blower is peter
man. box man. or iron worker, for
merly called gopher blowers. A pick
pocket is generally called dip but
sometimes simply CRATER A thief
who robs houses in the early evening is
called porch climber climber or
'second-story worker All petty thieves
come under. the general designation Of
'sneaks,' and those who steal from
wagons on the streets are called butch
er cart thieves A forger is a scratch
er, and confidence man Is a con
man. Touch means steal, Jug means
bank; hence the expression touching a
Jug signifies stealing from bank. A
woman is a 'moll, and tmoll-buzzer'
is pickpocket who makes q specially
of robbing women. Men are called
'blokes, guys suckers marks and
mugs Suckers and marks are VIC
Tins or intended victims, and soft
mark is an easy victim. Money is
sugar or stuff" stolen property is
'swag,' receiver of the same fence. )
To conceal stolen property is to plant,
1t, and 'springing the plant is to re-
move the property from where it is
secreted.
Each thief's share Of plumber is called
his 'whack, and what is deposited for
use in case arrest follows crime is
called fall money All police officers
are called 'coppers;' an ununiformed
officer is fatty cop while detective
is fy-copper' or 'fy-collar.' Punched
or 'sneezed' means arrested, while
'sloughed' is used in the same connec-
ton Cooler, or .quod, mean Jail or
police station, while grand quay
means a penitentiary. A lawyer is a
'mouth-piece' and judge is 'beah,'
while settled means convicted and
sentenced to prison. Doing a bit is
serving term in prison. Getting the
black gown means being condemned to
death, while 'croak' means to kill. A
crook who informs on his associates is
called a 'snitch, finger or capper. ;
BY officers the same are called spoilers
or stool pigeons Tanning Is feeling of
a mans pockets from the outside to see
what he carries and where he carries
it. 'Whiskiug means searching pris-
oner. A persons head is his nut his
face. is called his mug his nose
'conk, his eyes 'ogles, his ears Tugs, ;
his mouth 'kisser, and his teeth grind
ers.' His hands are dukes, his fingers
forks or hooks and his elbows crooks. ;
A hat is q 'dicer' or 'cady,' coat q
ben or benjamin, an overcoat top
benjamin. watch is super gold
"uoSh iCu ouPcI. COIidT Is
'dicly,' trousers are kicks, shoes are
'squills' or stamps and boots are
-.churns A dollar is case q hum
dred dollars is century while coun-
terfeit money is queer or 'fiimsy' A
man who passes counterfeit money is
said to shove it, man who makes it
is called a 'conniacker' or 'coney-man.'
Pine IL watch or look af sscrexy, ;s orat
out of the way, pad the hoof' means to
run away. A revolver Is gun and a
slung shot is billy or black jack
A saloon is a flushing tub or 'boozing
KEN car or train is 'rattler, while
food is peck. To 'patter fash is to
talk slangi and .stash your CAB means
stop talking, and right here, I guess,
would be a good place for me to pause
for breath, and give you an oppor-
tunity to commit to memory the slang
expressions have been able to recol-
lect. Detroit Free Press.