Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1893-11-11
o DOG THIEVES.
Headouarters Mt which These Gentry
Nightly ConRreGate.

Once In my life I consortcd with pro-
fessional dog thieves, says a writer in
Donahoe's Magazine. / wish 1t to be
distinctly understood that | never
stole a dog, although ] am FREQ to con-
fess that / have been tempted. and /
have told the story of how on one &C.
casion a dog stole me. But TO return
to my thieves. lii the northern part
Of London, which you will reach by
passing through Fettcr and Leather
lanes, continuing past the quaint Ital-
ian quarter with Its cathedral, the in
terror of which is beautiful, although
the building is but crude externally,
you will find yourself i'm close proxim-
ity to the rendezvous Of the London
dog thieves. Near by is a place called
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. IL Is woll
named, being situated in a decided
hellow in one of the worst quarters OF
the great city. Those in search OF a
fine, creepy feeling should visit 1t after
nightfall, III | did. l then found my
public house of very doubtful charac-
ter, or perhaps | shall express myself
better il l say that its character was
not at all doubted. / was eyed curi-
ously by the loungers rs | took some
refreshment nj the bar. then quietly
gave the countersign in accordance
with the instructions with which had
armed myself. The powerful and
heavy-neckcd publican changed his
demeanor at once, and ushered ME
through a side door and up a creaky,
tortuous and dark staircase. AT this
period the creepy feeling was ut its
best--or worst. A door opened and
we entered q long room, the ceiling OF
which was very low. Yellow gas jets
Aickercd here and there.
A curious sight met my gaze. The
room was full Of men. th~ree-fourths OF
whom held dogs of every degree. The
men were mostly of an uncouth de.
scription, clothed in great part in corr
duroy> surmouDted with the v
tional caps that are worm by the Lon
don costermonger. They resemble ip
general appearance the touts and
w%elchers of the English race tracks.
Most of them smoked short pipes. The
dogs yelped aud whined amid the gen.
eral hum of conversation hat came
through the amber haze. MY appear
ance excited no comment, and for this
reason: 1t 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 a nominal
price. The morality of the proceed
ing is very questionable. but the fact
remains. Gin, tho favorite drink with
the low class Of London. was brought
In u jug and served in small wine
glasses. accepted the hospitality OF
my friends, the thieves, as | saw at
onc that it was expected. Then /
conversed with various members OF
the party concerning the points Of the
CANNES in their possession. They
took my presence there as y matter Of
course and talked with perfect candor.
Had ] been able to forget the company
| was in might truthtully record that
| spent a pleasant half hour al Hook
tngs-in-the-Holc.
' These men arc not all thieves. Some
OF them are dog brokers. who sell dogs
FOR others or pick up Il bargain TO sell
again. None of them openly admit
that they are professional thieves. al
though. Of course. it is understood
perfectly. They "iind' lost dogs or
else they arc commissioned 10 sell a
dog that belongs to n friend" Not a
small part Of their income is obtained
through receiving rewards offered for
lost dogs which they have been FORUM
ate enough to Find" During my visit
TO them their demeanor was perfect.
They might have been an assemblage
OF farmers at II cattle show.