The herald., 1895-04-17
FIocking to Attend the Attrac-
lions of La Fiesta
THE POLICE ON THE WATCH
Some Of the Tricks That Will Probably
Be Attempted
Some Timely Hints That May Be Of
Service to the Uususpecting
Citizens.

Chief of Police J. NJ. Glass was busily
working at his desk. and Superintendent
c. Z. Moffatt of the city detectives. was
carefully explaining the contents of a
scrap book as Herald reporter strolled
into the cham bers at the old city hall,
where matters pertaining to the public
safety are always the principal subjects of
discussion.
Good morning, gentlemen. What's UP,
Chief?''
Crooks at Fiesta. answered Mr..
Glass. The armies Of people who come
here for the carnival days attract swarms
Of those gentry with the itching palms
confidence operators bunco steerers,
sneak thieves, surething workers and
pickpockets. But we have made prepaIa-
ton for their reception, and if they do
not have an uncomfortable week of
it here. it won't be our fault.
But We cannot protect people who
leave themselves open to robbery and who
do not take proper precautions against
these vermin. People on trains and
street.cars and on the public streets must
not leave iewelry and valuables exposed,
nor carry band-purses or sachels that a
footpad can grab and run away with The
best safeguard rs for each citizen to carry
very lttle'of value about his perron, and
that so carefully placed that pickpockets
cannot reach ii. He should have nothing
whatever to do with strangers or persons
lie not positively certain he knows.
Bank officials and hotel managers
should have extra forces of watchmen to
guard their offices and patrons and guests
against sneak thieves. and jewelers. should
also keep assharp lookout for them.
''Psiere were several aggravated asses of
Aneak thief work last Fiesta and that was
when the carnivaiswas comparatively I'M
known Now it has been extensively adj
vertised and am yreiably informed that
trainIoad after trainload of eXcursionists
will come down from the north, and to-
gether with the thousands from the south
and east, the city vii be packed with
people.
it would be easy enough to protect
visitors if people would only heed advice.
In the majority Of cases that come to my
attention where people have been robbed
in their hotels or on the streets. they are
themselves greatly-to blame. To words of
caution as to the leaving OF valuables with
the clerk at the hotel, for instance, a
man viii. say: l bought this diamond
pint to wear, and am going to wear it,
Just letine see some one who can, get it
off. There is no use arguing with that
fellow any longer, and nine times OUT of
ten. if crook spots that pin and fancies
it, he gets it. In the numerous cases of
valuable scarf pins, it was often the fault
of the unlucky individual whose careless
display OF his finery attracted attention to
him.
All the city detectives will be con-
stantly on the alert in and out OF the
crowds on the streets, and with the as
sistance of visiting detectives. many OF
the unwelcome element will find them
selves gazing through the gratings Of the
city prison.
What have you there, Mr.. Moffatt?'
gueried the reporter, as the Chief resumed
his letter writing, and Detective Moffatt
concluded his remarks tc the attentive
officers under his direction.
"Oh, that's a book full of records OF
criminals-an adjunct to the rogues' gal
lery." replied the ever busy Maifatt.
Goodman and Bradish both spotted
an 'ex-con' this morning who landed
from the San Francisco train yesterday.
and got room at 81 week in suspic-
ious house down on a side street in the
tenderloin district lie had only hand
satchel Of baggage. and was poorly
dressed He has spent his time siuce in
looking over the town and wearing ont
the car lines. Last night he went the
rounds OF the saloons, dives and music
halls, retiring to his room at twenty min
utes after one O'Clock. He had private
talk with low saloonkeeper on Los
angeles street, and perhaps. he tried 10
b in his record that will justify his arrest,
but should he undertake a 'trick'-in he
goes. pronto.
= You see what display of plug -uglies
. We have to keep track Of, he said. point
ing to the rogues' gallery. well, we an
ticIpate the greatest crowd here for Fiesta
that has ever been in Los Angeles. and
in preparation of the accompanying gang
of crooks the boys have made thorough
and systematic review of the case of
photos and records. Already they are
working at late and unusual hours spot
ting the shady characters as they drop
into the city by ones and twos, and are
busy with gentle whispers admonshing
them that the way out of town is clear
yet. da
. What is meant by trying to fix the
saloonkeeper?h
i'Oh, that's trick that has been plaved
here good many times. though not gem
orally understood, said Detective A. J i.
Bradish. 1.-The Knockout DROP il is
called. That work is practiced in San
Francisco, but in New York and Chicago
more than any where else in America It
trick, and the manipulation always finds
his best work i'll crowds such as We ex-
pect to flock here for Fiesta.
"A woman is secured as lure or
steerer by the artist who works the game
and after he has gone into cahoots with
oOiiC Sih-iuiii ONicl VI DaTkSepeT, lie
commences operations. They meet a
likely victim and inveigle him into the
fixed place to drink There the dispen-
ser of choice old blue-ruin gives him the
Knockout drop in his liquor after a
walk of few blocks the victim becomes
insensble. recovering only to find him
self lying in some hallway or alley with
out nickel's worth of valuables about
him What can he do? slally nothing.
but take his lesson to heart The worker
is never taken unless caught in the act
Then there's the more petty method
OF getting victim drunk and 'rollin e
him, or borrowing from him, or taking
care Of his cash until he gets sober Cor for
ever), to say nothing of Draining him in
back room and calling in fixed and
innocent cabbie to cart him away to
some other place on another street. Peo-
pie must savoid dealing with every hail
fellow we'll met who comes aIong'f
How about confidence operators Mr..
Able. and what about gamblers and the
various brace games you have such a
kHaek- OF rounding up?' ---s.--4--
There will be any quantity of sort
!. card sure-thing operators here, and l
wouldn't be a bit surprised if they at
tempt to revive the faro banks, trusting
that during the excitement they can run
them with impunity.
AS for confidence operators. they'll
work the same old cIIestnrlts on the guilt
BILE. They get the victims name and adj
dress off the hotel register ,or by overhear.
ing conversation between friends and