New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-15
TRAINED UP TO BE THIEVES.
A BOWERY SCHOOL WHERE BOYS ARE
TAUGHT TO STEAL.

ARRESTED FOR PICKING PoCKETs-oLD
ABE" SOLOMON AND HIS CORPS OF
MISUNDERSTANDING INcUL-
GATED AS \ FINE ART.
The arrest Of the two Polish lads, Mendel Men
| delovitch and Bernard Ragafsky. In the Central
| Park monkey house Sunday developed the
| fact that they belonged to an organized gang or
| pckpockets presided over, controlled and taught
by an accomplished Fagin.
II was nearly noon when Police Justice Voor-
his called the young defendants to the bar In
Yorkville Court yesterday Ragafsky. the elder
said he was fifteen years old. and that he worked
hard every day for Abraham Solomon pedier
OF No. AL Centre-st. Jersey City. fictitious
address. by the way He was a cool young
rascal and a smooth talker. He told the Court
that he was merely standing in the monkey
house. "watchn de monks a-playin wen seen
a hankchrf ayin on de groun an picked it up
an de cop pinched me-" He Indignantly re-
pudiated the allegation that he was pickpocket
and denied that he was In Mendelovltch's COM
pany.
Mendelovitch took his arrest to heart and
sobbed audlby He hesltated and stammered in
his replies. and showed so much confusion that
the roundsman investigated and found that
Ragafsky, who standing close beside him.
was pinching his flesh and was thus telegraphng
his approval or disapprova of his replies to the
Court The youngster was "hustled' off the
bridge. Then Mendelovitch glanced helplessly
around. and finally admitted that he took the
complainant's (Mrs Mary ConnerD pocketbook
from her pocket. and that he did so al the insti-
cation OF Ragafsky.
who taught you to steal and to pick poclI-
ets?" queried the Court.
"A fellow down on Sufolk-st.," snfed the
boy.
How long have you been engaged in this sort
OF thing"
PROFESSIONAL SLANG NEEDED.
Mcndelovitch stared bandly at the Cou... and
It was evident that he did not comprehend the
question Then the policeman leaned over, and
smpllned the question:
How long you been llftln' wipes an leathers.'
\ glance OF intelligence lighted up the young
sters face, and he responded: "Yistiddy was de
fust"
Justice Voorhs committed the young defend
ants In $500 bail into the custody OF the Gerry
Society
Yesterday afternoon the younger boy, Mendelo-
witch. was taken before several policemen and
detectives In the presence Of Agents Barkey
and -, ubert of the Gerry Society and persuaded
t. unbosom himself. He told a remarkable story
~ how ne nad served "a regular apprenticeship
with a number II other boys. in tho pckpocket
business. His schoomaster, H. said. was Abe
Solomon. ostcnslb.y pcder Of Sunolk-st be-
tween Grand and Hester sts. lie was In a
class of about haif a dozen lads. mostly older
than himself. The Instructor would compel them
To pick his own pockets until they arrived at a
good degree OF proficiency. then each pupil was
placed in charge OF graduate and sent out
upon the street 10 acquire practical experience.
PRACTICAL DEMONSTRATIONS.
Mendelovltch was put in charge Of man
named Barney Jubal. They went into the Bow
cry In the early evening when the thoroughfare
was most denscly thronged. Jubal would select
a victim and send his pupil TO do the work
The Instructor would keep close watch upon
the operation, and nfterwari point out any mis-
improvements.
In this way young Mendelovitch was drilled
and trained rlgay. night after night, until he
was considered competent to venture out alone
He graduated. he said. about six months ago
Each pupil must serve his sch0olmastcr for one !
year after graduating. turning IN the proceeds
every night Then they are at liberty 10 60 10
work for themselves. or become tutors In 500
mons school.
Mcndelovitch said he turned I'm an average Of
about 50 a day. Hc admitted that he occasion
ally knocked down" little. but this was a |
small item in the case Of big haul the pupil
Is expected T. receive percentage rs a reward |
and encourag cement for continued exertions.
Up To Sunday Mendelovtch's field had been |
the Bowcry and cross streets near by But on |
Sunday he directed - ~ 70 tfutTal IdTk,
report 10 Ragafsky and. with him "do' the !
animal hOuges. This IL regarded The banner |
field. Three weeks ago on Sunday. n said. |
three of Solomon's pupils turned In $50 10 him. |
Solomon he said had number Of resident In |
structors named Jubal Tcpp. ieddish and |
Nuttsky These were under the direction of |
Phil Krotsky. head instructor
THEY LEAD \ LIFE OF LUXURY
These men lived like princes on the fat Of the
land. ON Sundays they looked after the several
fields but solomon and chief Instructor krotslly |
attended 10 Central Park They did not 60 like |
common morials on foot. but In their stylish |
drag with prancing horses. fOotmen rafting, |
silver chains and the glare and glitter of silver
and gold
IT f. probable that the detectives VIII make.
come important arrests soon. The police say
that since the detective service was abolished In |
Central Park complaints or pocket picking |
mount up TO the hundreds on some Sundays.