The morning news., 1892-03-26
COLLEGE FOR IMINALs.
A Melbourne Establishment That is G
Den of Vice.

Den of Vice.
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 gem
ius of the establishment TO warrant a little
light being let in on this institution for
budding criminality.
The lessee of the house, who is also the
sole and only instructor of the. promising
pupils, is a person who has seen the interior
of prisons in this and other lands.
He has for some years past been known
to the police under the general slur of a
bad characier," but what has brought
his name under the notice of the detect
ives somewhat prom inentlY OF late is the
coincidence tho: saI oral offenders 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 malefactore
belonged to a school which hourished 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
IdoA VI kCbllnk pOoAIANC pIOOI bcSIn0u
almost impossible, and so it proved to be.
A youth who WAS sentenced to three
months Imprisonment some months ago
for pocket picking in Bourke street and
hailed from the address indicated, gave
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 proper
ly articles from its pockets. This was, of
course, ouly the very rudimentary step.
After the lads had gained q certain dex-
terity in approaching the mock victim,
living model was substituted for IT. The
head of the school then put himself up TO be
experimental upon.
The pupils in turn practiced their hands
in the direction Of removing handkerchiefs,
watch and chain and breast-pin from his
person, aud II they were able TO accom-
plish these little feats without rudely at
tracing the attention of the good-natured
model they were accounted In a fair way
to proficiency.
After the pupils had attained tolerable
expertness In removing exposed articles
that are generally worn o1 the person.
they were instructed In the more delicate
and dangerous branch Of prospecting for
concealed plunder.
In other words, they were shown how 1t
is possible for a thief who knows his busl-
ness TO take bank notes and purses from a
mans trousers pocket, 70 undo coats and
waistcoats without foolish parade of any
kind and extract the cortents. and special
attention was given TO ladies' pockets,
which offer the fairest mark TO the conf
dent street brigand.
The pupils, when they had become toler-
ably reliable ia a pocket picking sense,
were sent out in the strests to essay their
fortunes Ia the multifarious chances offered
by their unTary denlzens. IL they hap
pened to gather spoil they were expected
and compelled 70 disgorRea share Of IL TO
their benefactor.