The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-10-27
LOSDvNs KING OF P1oKrocKErs.
Death of Joseph valley, who Made
Fortune AS "a Thief and Was Then
Convicted.
From the New York sur

From the New York Sun
The ex-king Of pickpockets in London.
Mr.. Joseph VALLEY, has just died Of pneu-
monia at the age Of SO years, forty OF
which he spent, from time to time, in
jail. Like a grand old-time monarch, he
had several wives: at least seven are
known to have been his better half. His
family, Of course. was extensively numer-
Gus, but he didn't bother himself much
about looking after them. lie was born
az southampton, and commenced to prac-
tee his profession at the age Of TO- He
was then engaged almost exclusively in
the handkerchief department. but he
progressed rapidly and was soon pro-
NOTED to the branch OF jewelry and
pocketbooks. When he was about 10
years old he was president Of the first
pickpocket trust ever formed in Eng
land
Mrs. VALLEY, his mother, was a good
ana religious woman, and when her bad
son Joe was sent to Jail for the first time
she died OF grief. Joe cried bitterly over
the loss Of his mother, bat soon dried mis-
tears and resumed his old vocation He
became tired of Southampton, and started
Tor the capital On his way to London he
was attacked by footpads. He pitched
into them and killed one, but they finally
succeeded In robbing him. and he arrived
In London penniless. Six months after he
arrival there he found himself as he said.
IN comfortable circumstances" He had
now the means Of extending his opera
tons. He founded and directed for sew
eral years a band Of robbers in different
lines, including burglars footpads, picks
POCKETS ana sneak thieves, that were the
terror OF the suburbs of London.
Most Of Valleys companions were cap-
tured and sent to jail but he for a long
time managed to HIDE himself from the
pohGe. on one occasion he jumped into
the Thames, and the morning papers came
out the next day with an account of his
suicide. But VALLEY was an all-round ath-
lete, ana swimming was one of his not
able accomplishments. So he reappeared
AT GraNesend, where he was the most sue
cessful blackmailer on record. This new
branch Of his profession amused him most.
because he did not know before he took
II up mat there were SO many fools in
the world as there really are. What he
termed his very simplest tricks brought
MIN in large revenues. The trust was ex-
tended until IL had members in all the
principal cities Of England, and Valley
was still king, except during the interreg-
mum that followed any one Of his numer-
Gus convictions At last, when he became
rich. he began to think Of retiring from
business and living peaceabiy upon his
hard earned money.
an inheritance from his mother. one
through Victoria Park. he noticed a large
crowd gathered around stand from
which colored man was preaching. The
colored man was Celestin Edwardy. With
the old-time instinct of a pick-pocket
Valley a first thought he would work the
crowd, but he simply worked his way near
enough TO the preacher to be able to lis
the greatest attention. He became moved
and tears ran down his cheeks Then
and there he confessed his sins-nO small
affair. without speaking Of his ephemeral
transgressiOns, such as his seven or eight
marriages, VALLEY had amassed a fortune
Of about 100000 by active practice in an
the various branches of his profession.
Upon the question of restitution linked
to his repentance the records are silent.
But at all events he got religion, ana got
It bad as his pals used to say He turned
preacher and was considered one of the
most eloquent among the lurid orators OF
the open-air religious meetings ia London
He became as great favorite among the
good and righteous as he had been among
the bad and ungodly. A great throna at
tended his funeral, and in that arong.
by way of honoring the dead, the pick
pockets were present actively.
Prince Hohenlohe, the German cham
cellor. discourages luxuriousness. Every
thing about his desk in his own office is
as inexpensive as would be the case in a