The herald., 1895-09-07
SOME BIRDS OF PREY
A Few of the Gang Of Crooks Now
in the City
Some Dress Well, Talk Smoothly and Do
Their Work Cleverly-Ali Have
Assumed Names

Although the city is infested with
scores OF "grafters" and all-around
thieves and crooks, there have been but
few cases reported where they have gotten
in their fine work, fact which is largely
due to the special precaution taken BY
Chief Glass in having the town patrolled.
While tho army of chevaliers du industrie
is not attached to the circus, they go
to compose the irregular force that al
ways follows in the wake or compose
the advance guard OF travelling oganiza-
tions. Nearly every branch of the PRO
fesh" is represented and some of the
operators are said to be clever In their re-
spective lines.
From J. L. Gross of the Pacific coast
secret service bureau have been learned
the names of quite number of the gen.
tlemen, each and every one of whom has
some special line OF working his graft.
All OF these men travel under aliases, but
like the leopard are unable to shed tn cir
spots.
Jack Sturgis, alias Bostwiok. alias
Maloney, is said to be the kingpin Of the
crowd and is looked up to by the younger
m members OF the fraternity. who call him
Uncle Jack Sturgis, was one of the men
who robbed the Colorado exhibit at the
world fair of solid silver brick. In
fact he has a weakness for this style of
operation and has fleeced not a few by
selling cheap for cash gold bricks that
were not gold bricks at all. Uncle Jack
Is versatile, though. and if he fails to in
tefest the dear public in the fake has lots
of others, from PLAIN 1am-ham clear up
to selling a gold mine that has not even
been salted. Sturgis dresses neatly and
is a smooth talker, has an iron-gray
mustache and is especially noticeable
for his heavy, shaggy eyebrows.
Johnnie Doyle is another good dresser.
He never holds cards out on you. Oh,
no, he does not have to. He always
knows exactly where they rest. A fine
fellow too. peace be to his ashes, and
may he enjoy himself at the well-known
hotel where he is at present registered
under an alias.
Charlie Carlson is here, too. He was
arrested in Chicago during tie worlds
fair for petty larceny and was driven out
a member of the Boo gang, which gave
the police so much trouble. He is an ex-
cellent film fan mer and affscts the blase
air OF the man of the world that he is,
and sympathizes with such a disI lay of
kind heart.
i
possible, he is about the hardest of the
army of ''gIafters. His picture is said
to grace several photograph galleries
throughout the east :and they even
thought so much of his appearance that
q minute description was taken of him.
II e is an all.round crook and does it so
nicely. He will pick your pocket with
as much ease and grace as he will PICK
his teeth IN front of Delm onico's. It is
also said tnat he has been known to mis-
take some other mans house for bis
own and wander inside. OF course this
only occurs after the shades of eve have
fallen.
Harry Armstrong can play any game
OF cards that Hoyle is authority on.
Harry prefers deck that is real cold, but
then he is accommodating and is always
willing to do anything that is amiable,
except give the other fellow ghost of
show to break even.
Among some of the all-round men,
those.who are. versatile and will film. fla
you. play capper to help their friends out
and pick your pockets and rob you any
way they can, are Bob" Kennedy and
Paddy" Callahan, alias Paddy Irish.
The other prominent "brothers-n-law"
are ''Al, whose true name is not known,
and li:,le fellow who is called 'BlacK-
ie.'' The former used to be song and
dance artist before he became thief. He
Is what is.termed a collier" and uses his
good natu to get into the confidence Of
victims. His chief fort IS spinning yarns.
He is an amusing looking man with red
hair and smooth face" Blackie' is dark
in com plexion. has dark hair and eyes
and is a good looking fellow. He is de-
scribed as smooth talker and does any
thing to. turn dollar or two.
Sells. Renfrow. Hart and Murphy. the
circus men, state they would like to be
rid of the gang. but are unable to do any
thing in the matter. This army of graft
ers" is not a part of the circus in anv
way. but hang on like birds OF prey that
thew are.