Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1893-11-17
LoNpoN's DOG THIEVES.
The Headquarters at Which These
Gentry Nightly Congregate.


Gentry Nightly Congregate.
Once in my life consorted with
professional dog thieves. l wish it.
to be distinctly understood that
never stole a dog, although | am free
to confess that i have been tempted,
and / have told the story of how on
one occasion a dog stole me. But to-
return TO my thieves. In the north
ern part of London. which you will
reach by passing through Fetter and.
Leather lanes, continuing past the
quaint Italian quarter with its cathe--
dral, the interior of which is beauti
full. although the building is but.
crude externally, you will find your
self in close proximity to the rem
devious of the London deg thieves.
Near by is a place called bookings
in-the-Hole. 1t is we'll named, being
situated in a decided hollow in one Of
the worst quarters OF the great city:
| Those in search OF fine, creepy
feeling should visit it after nightfall
a. l did. then found myself in the
bar of small. old-style public house
of very doubtful character. or per-
haps | should express myself better
II l say that its character was not at
all doubtful. / was eyed curiously
by the loungers as | took some re-
freshment at the bar. | then quietly
gave the countersign in accordance
with the instructions with which l
had armed myself. The powerful
and heavy-necked publican changed
his demeanor at once and ushered me
through side door and up creaky,
tortuous and dark staircase. At this
the creepy feeling was at its best--or
worst A door opened and we en-
tered a long room, the ceiling OF
which was very low. Yellow gas jets
hickered here and there.
A curious sight met my gaze The
room was full of men, three-fourths
of whom held dogs OF every degree.
The men were mostly Of an uncouth
description, clothed in great part in
corduroy, surmounted with the con-
ventional caps that are worn by the
London costermonger. They resem-
bled in general appearance the touts
and welchers of the English race
tracks. Most of them smoked short
pipes. The dogs yelped and whined
amid the general hum of converse
ton that came through the amber
haze. My appearance excited no
comment, and for this reason: Ii is
quite a common thing for "swells
with sporting blood in them" to drop
in upon these gentry and pick up a
good dog at nominal price. The
morality of the proceeding is very
questionable. but the fact remains.
Gin the favorite drink with the
low class in London, was brought in
jug and served in small wine
glasses. 1 accepted the hospitality
of my friends, the thieves as | saw
at once that it was expected. Then
/ conversed with various members OF
tho party concerning the points of
the CANNES in their possession. They
took my presence there as a matter
of course, and talked with perfect
candor Had / been able to forget
the company was in | might truth
fully record that | spent pleasant
half hour at Hooking the Hole.
These men are not all thieves. says
Donahoe's Magazine. Some OF them
are dog brokers, who sell dogs for
others or pick up a bargain to sell
again. None of them openly admit
that they are professional thieves,
although, of course, it is understood
perfectly. They "'find" lost dogs or
else they are commissioned to sell
dog that belongs to 'friend." Not
a small part of their income is OBJ
tanned through receiving rewards
offered for lost dogs which they have
been fortunate enough to find.
During my visit to them their de-
meanor was perfect. They might
have been an assemblage of farmers
at cattle show.