Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-05-07
IN THE sLUMs or LONDON.
Suies simon's Description OF . Night win
Thieves and Murderers.

jules simons Description OF . Night win
Thieves and Murderers.
From the New YORK sun
The French papers have published lively
description OF night among the thieves and
murderers Of London. by Jules simon. who
says; Il never made the Acquaintance Of an
assassin in Paris. but have known several d
London. don't mean to say that have been
on Intimate terms with them-one must never
oosst-out have conversed with them aud
drank with them.
The sssassins and thieves OF London are
the curiosities Of England and Of the world
the statesman continues. They arc peerless
In their professions. and they are freely er-
hibitcd to foreigners. OF course you have re-
marked on landing at Dover these words
placarded at all the railroad stations: Be-
ware OF pickpocketsr You nav perhaps hay.
imagined that n was mark of Kind attep-
lon TO foreigners. Ii is not: IL " the na-
,,onai vanity that speaks You are warned :
that you are in the classic land OF
thieves. At London when You have cen
Westminster, ST. Paul. the bridge OF the
Thames, the British Museum. &C. the propo..i
y made TO yon 20 pass night or two among
the thieSes. az supreme enjoyment This is
pleasure allowed only o few On the DAT.
liked you receive letters from a crowd of peo,,le
requesting the favor OF being your shadow.
because you have the right 60 bring q shadov
IN this curious voyage. and. inasmuch a. the
permission Is granted 20 foreigners only, ii 10
scented 20 their assAssins
Well, they gave me = guide, q pleasant fell
low, 10 whom paid guinea day for ms sery-
Ices He also received another guinea for IN
visible beings OF an inferior order. who took
care OF me without beng seen. at least by me
MY guide told me TO leave at the central ofica
my gold, my watch and jewelrv Kent sil-
yer only TO pay Tor drinks. Armed IN tins
way, passed down beyond Fleet street mt
localities unknown 10 the nobility and gentry
and to the rays of the sun. Nv guide brought
me TO a concert saloon crowded with men
anu women. and they all appeared TO he en-
)oying themselves. At the entrance the guide
sa .i 70 me; All these people are thieves Of
murderer here. They take great care wien
shey set out for work TO carry no weapon of
any sort with them Several are specialist.
who devote their talents TO a single operation.
and who carry Il out with extraordinary per-
lection expressed n wish to see a renre-
sentation OF some OF their tours de force. but 4
was told that such arequest could no, be made
because II was contrary to the courtesy with
which the profession should always DC treated.
we passed hurriedly through portion Of the
hail. like preoccupied individuals who yer.
expecting TO see a more curious spectacle else-
where. was introduced TO some customer
whose names were figuring IN the newspa-
pers. We passed through several houses
al
and where drinking was carried on.
1t appears that sitter twenty-five years'
practice IN their profession the common thieves
prefer the drinking saloons, while the assassin,
frequent the theaters. At the door of one Of
the latter places my guide said TO me: IN.
people you are about TO see are not assassin,
with Fermentation but il in the course of an
operation they find that murder is necessary
Tor their safety, they take a hand in H. but
always with regret IL was at an advanced
N han.
circle OF hell Here, said my guide, they
are all assassins. l asked for information in
regard TO the social position OF these gentle.
men. They have all some other calling re-
pned the guide: They are potboys, saloon
walters, hotel walters and employees Of differ
ent kinds Some really follow their employ
ment and only have recourse to murder when
exceptionally good chances are offered: the
rest are confirmed criminals, and the honest
work which they pretend to do 10 merely
cloak
But said I, what is their judicial situs-
ton? Ii is doubtless by that YOU know them.'
There are several categories,' he replied
some are AZ the present time serving out their
sentences. They have obtained tickets-of
leave, which, of course, are reyocable. and
generally the rsscals conduct themselves sok-
erably well. because they know that the least
ofense will send them back to the penitentiary
with an addition put on their sentences. Othsrs
are known for having formerly served Qua
their terms. and others again for having sew
erai times been tried and always acquitted al
though guilty in all cases. These rascals could
give points to the smartest barristers in legal
suotlety. They play regular game with the
police, perhaps rs much from the attractions
OF the game itself a. from the benefits 70 b
derived out Of it
81 The ablest and the most celebrated hsA
that triumphant and self-possessed air by
waich we recognize statesmen in Q political
assembly. My companion was on terms of
familiarity, and almost OF friendship, with
them One might say that they we're both
skillful players.
".Hello,' said he to me, in London againr
Yes, governor, and in perfect security.
Papers all right and reputation good
81 congratulate you
GOOD evening, governor said another.
I'd rather see you here than in court, like lasS
week.
81 thought had you for certain tina, tina,
LOSS of time, governor. know all your
cards. You can put me in the dark for q few
nights, but as for . conviction-never, gov
ernor, never
81 really believe the rascal is right. said nv
guide TO me. When you think you have got
him sure he slips out through some creep-hole
or other and bids you goodbye
1.-The governor received many invitations
to drink, but be refused politely. Neverthe-
less he drew upon me when occasion REQUIRED
The Fellow that you see coming here now
said he, 'is a scoundrel who killed two women
to rob them OF their savings, and after all
found only an empty purse. 1 don't know Why
they let him out unless-' and here his reti-
cence was intended to give me to understand
that there were profound secrets to which
could not be initiated Shake hands with him
and ask him 10 take punch.
81 shook and asked. l entered into CONVEX
sation with him. There was nothing extraor.
binary in his remarks.
Toward the close Of this long visit I noticed
that my own position was changed AT first
was received coldy. They wondered who L
was Later on they were more courteous. be-
cause through my bowls OF punch they looked
upon me as rich foreigner. Finally they
treated me with q good-natured and bantering
familiarity. They had me down fine. VASE
French detective who had come to study the
secrets Of the profession In the best school u
the world.
"'lou are classed at last. said my guide in q
tone in which one might announce q piece OF
hattering news. This reputation viii follow
you to Paris"
Took the Lesson % Heart.