The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-12-25
nla cRowpy oN rHE srNEErs.

Throngs of People Wished the Big Chapel
 Street Stores Last Evening-A Live santa
 ClauS-A Good Namred Crowd-Piol-
 pookets--A west Haven Lady's Rare
 Presence of Mind.
 The streets were last evening throng- ed with people buying holiday goods and the difficulty met with in getting up Chapel street was nearly as great as on the occasion of the return of the Foot Guard from the battle of the Atlanta exposition, The many beautiful decorations in the window of the big stores were greatly admired by crowds which continually surrounded the show windows and inquiry at Nal ley, Nicely & Co.'S, F. M. Browns, the &; Co.,. the Charles Monson Co.'S, Howe & Stetson's, Samuel IT. Kirby's, and all the other big stores elicited the infor- nation that not in years have their stores been so crowded or has so much puollSSo bCSl dOIlG Oih SIlllS lltido eve. A large crowd continually packed | the rear of Shows confectionery store and the sight of a big live Santa Claus there presiding over the candy greatly and wonderfully pleased the children and the old folks too. Every one on the | streets seemed to be good natured and some were literally bubbling over with l good cheer, with also perhaps good spirits. Nearly everyone met had more or less of a load of packages and that it was holiday crowd was plainly evident.
 The postoffice was never more loaded with packages than it has been during the present holiday season. The ern- ployes have been greatly rushed to take care of the large number of Christ mas packages and an extra force of help has been employed in order to keep the mountains of mail matter from piling up too high.
 Center street, back of Malley, Neely & CO.'S and F. M. Brown & Co.'s was block up to late hour last evening with wagons delivering goods.
 It was reported during the evening | NS that several cases of pocket picking had been noticed.
 A WEST HAVEN LADY's PRESENCE
 OF MIND.
 ' A lady who resides on Washington avenue, West Haven, called at the Journal and Courier" office yesterday afternoon and mentioned that Saturday afternoon while in front of RogoWski on Chapel street she felt someone Jost- ling her and turning suddenly she saw a well dressed gentlemanly looking young man, who glanced up guiltily She discovered at the same time that her dress pocket was turned inside out | and that her pocl1etbook, in which was l $1O, was gone. She at once seized the man by the arm and exclaimed: "Give me back that pocketbook!" He. dis covering that he was caught squarely repled Shall I help you pick it upT' and looking down the lady saw the pocketbook lying on the sidewalk. The man politely picked it up and Ehanded it to her He then darted away and quickly disappeared in the throns of people Another lady who heard the first mentioned lady's exclamation look ed up and at that instant saw the man throw the pocketbook away and 1t went as she said "as if shot out of gun, I so eager was he to conceal his crime I The description which the lady gives o1 the thief indicates that he is the same man who robbed the money drawer II Durant's jewelry store last Monday, as the ladys description and MT. Durants tally exactly.