The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-07-23
BOOK THIEVES.
Their Character and Method of Oper-
atiOn-BOId Rascals.
New York Evening Post.


1t may be surprising to the general reader
to be told that the operations of book
thieves are so extensive that from to 10
cents must be added to the price of every
book sold from the stands in order to make
up for these depredations. All sellers of
books in cities suffer in this way, but of
ter field for the thieves operations than
the more orderly uptown stores. If
Juveniles are left without careful watch
ing on a stand the boys will make away
with so per cent. of them
The older thief is rarely past middle age
His appearance is usually of the order de-
scribed shabby genteel" He often has
the scholastic air that we would expect in
the charity student Very frequently when
he comes in he wants nothing In particu-
and questioned he will say that he Is try
ing TO find some rare books and quickly
departs for other fields. These are a few
only of the most dangerous class of depre-
dators, men who are up in first editions
and similar preciosa. One of this sort, if
undetected, will weed out the most valua-
bic books on a counter in an incredibly
short time. Look out for the customer who
is very wise about rare books but seldom
or never buys one, is a rule of the trade.
Ordinarily however the standard books are
taken, books that are worth 80 cents or 81
almost anywhere.
Frequently book thieves work in pairs.
One engages the dealer in literary dis
cussion. while the other rifles the stock.
Some carry small carpetsack with catch
that will never stay fastened. In winter
the professional book thief wears tamala
with voluminous folds or an ulster with
many pockets. This is donned early in the
fall and worn very late in the spring.
Book auction rooms and popular book
stores suffer most through these thieves
TO the extent of several hundred dollars
each annually. The first offer the attrac-
tion of many long tables full of choice ma
terial; the latter afford the security that
is found in a crowd and a rush For long
time a bottomess box used to be carried
and carelessly laid down over some attract
i've book. One dealer who had been losing
steadily at last detected this trick AS the
man walking out with the box tightly
clutched under his arm the proprietor seized
it. thief was seen by a person on
second floor across the way 10 call out a
good-na tured dealer i'm Ann street and price
a rice set OF Dickens. To the reply he
shook his head. as if TO say too high"
No sooner had the dealer turned his back
than the pirate gathered the whole set into
his arms and disappeared around the cor
ner.
Med, now of Albany, formerly of
Broadway, had been suffering greatly. At
last, when he detected the depredator i'm
his Scotch anger he snatched up royal Svo
and broke the scoundrePs iawbone. The
thief was arrested and punished besides. a
rather young man holding a good position
in Brooklyn had been fer s0mo time sus-
pected by a Fourth-avenue dealer. boy
was set to watch him. and he was seen 10
Slip books under his vest. he paid for all
the missing books and professed great pen
can't imagine why / did it,"
Another dealer in this city related an
amusing experience. n thief caught in the
act and arrested was walking by the DO
licemans side. while the dealer walked be-
hind carrying the stoler books TO be used
as evidence at the station. The crowd that
came behind mistOOk him for the thief and
the thief for the complainant. Having a
strong serse of humor. the dealer enjoyed
the situation immensely. and especially the
remarks upon his 'vilainous expression"
etc
One dealer was asked to buy a set of
"Waverly" stolen from his own branch
store fifteen minutes before. Another thief
until caught did a thriving business be-
tween two large stores. stealing a book as
he went OUT from the one TO sell ii 10 the
other.