The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-01-04
FAGIN IN REAL LIFE.
A Veritable Academy OF Theft In the
Slums Of Melbourne.

"a Nerleaple ACADEMY or Theft IN the
Sluns Of Melbourne.
From the san francisco Chronicle.
A regular college for pickpockets has
been lighted on in Melbourne, and though
at present it is impossible for the police to
make an arrest, sufficient evidence has been
collected Of the habits of the presiding
genius Of the establishment TO warrant a
little light let in on this institution for bud
ding criminality.
The lessee Of the house, who lis also the
sole and only instructor of his promising
pupils, is a person who has seen the interior
OF prisons in this and other lauds. He has
for some years past been known to the
police under the generic slur of "bad
character, but what has brought his name
under the notice of the detectives some
what prominently Of late is the coincidence
that several offendere of tender age, who
have at intervals figured in the police
courts, have given their addresses at this
house. The offenders have only been Of one
class-street pickpockets and sneak thieves
and this circumstance naturally aroused
suspicion that the youthful nalefactors be-.
louged to a school which f1ourishsd at the
address that seemed to be common to them
all.
Inquiries were made as cautiously as
might be, but as may be imagined, the task
of getting positive proof seemed almost i'm
possible, and it proved to be- a youth who
WAS sentenced to three months imprison-
ment some few months ago for pocket pick
ing in Bourke street. and hailed from the
address indicated, gave r detailed account
to the detectives OF his initiation into crime
by the person alluded to. A regular class
of instruction was held daily. A sort of
lay figure was placed in the room, and the
lads were instructed how to approach it
quietly and abstract properly articles from
its pockets. This was, Of course, only the
very rudimentary step.
After the lads had gained a certain dex-
terity in approaching the mock victim, a
living model was substituted for il. The
head of the school then put himself up to be
experimental upon. The pupils in turn
prgctised their hands In the direction of re-
moving handkerchief, watch and chain and
breastpin from his person, and il they were
able to accomplish these little feats without
rudely attracting tie attention of the good
natured model they were accounted in a
way to proficiency. After the pupIls had
attained tolerable expertness in removing
exposed articles that are generally worn on
the person they were instructed in the more
delicate and dangerous branch of prospect
ing for concealed plumber.
In other words, they were shown how it
Is possle4e 1or Ghlet VINO KNOWS his Dusl-
ness to take bank notes and purses from
mans trousers pockets, to undo coats and
waistcoats without foolish parade of any
kind and extract the contents, and special
attention was given to ladies' pockets, which
offer the fairesl mark TO the confident street
brigand.
The pupils, when they had become tolera-
bly, reliable, in pocket picking sense, were
sent out INTO the streets to essay their fort
rrlf for aha ~
their unwary denizens. IL they happened
to gather spoil they were expected and COM
pelled to disgorge share of it to their ben.
efac6Or,