Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-10-24
IA RETIRED MONARCH
JOSEPH VALLEY, Ex-KiNG or PICK
POCKETS, JUST DEAD.

POCKETS, JUST DEAD.
he Organized a Pickpocket Trust, with
Branches All over Engiand-How He
Became Con~verted-Left q Large For
tune and Numerous wives.
The ex-king OF p~ickpockets in Lon
don, Mr.. Joseph VALLEY, has just died
Of pneumonia at the age Of &3 years, 40
of which he spent from time 70 time in
Jail. Like a grand old time monarch, be
bad several wives. At legst seven aTrj
known to have constituted his better
half His family Of curse was extreme
" numerous, but lie didn't bother him
self much about looking after then. Re
was born at Southampton and caumenc-
ed TO practice his profession at Che age
OF 10. lie was then engaged exclusively
in the handkerchief department, int no
progressed rapidly and was soon pro-
moted 10 the branch Of jeEelry and
pocka tbools. Whom he was about 10
years old, he was pres. dent Of the Grst.
picApoclet trust ever formed ia Eng
land.
Mrs. Waller, his mother, was q good
and religious woman, and when her bad
o Joe was sent to Jail for the first
time she diea Of grief. Joe cried bitterly
oYer the loss Of his mother, but soon
dried his tears and resumed his old vo-
cation. HeHoecame tired Of Southampton
and started for the capital. On bis way
TO London he was attacked by footpads.
He pitched into them aud killed one.
hnt they finally succeeded iii ruhbbiing
him, and he arrived in London penni-
less. Six months after his arrival there
he found himself, as be said, ''in com
Portable circumstances. He had now
the means of extending his operations.
He founded and directed for several
years q band Of robbers in different
lines, including burglars, footpads,
~pickpockets and sneak thieves, that was
the terror Of the suburbs Of London.
Most of Valleys companions were
captured and sent TO Jail, but he for a
long time managed TO hide himself from
the police. On Il occasion he jumped
into the Thames, and the morning pa
pers came ont the next day with an ac-
count Of his suicide. Bat Valley was az
all round athlete. and swimming was
one Of his notable accomplishments. So
he reappeared at Gravesend, whore he
was the most successful blackmailer On
record. This new branch OF his profess
sion amused him most, because he did
not know before hete1k it up that there
were 50 many fools iii the world as there
really are.
What he termed his very simplest
tricks brought him in large revenues
The trust was extended until it had
members in all the principal cities Of
England, and Valley was still king. ex-
cept during the interregnum that fol-
lowed any one of his numerous convic-
tions, At last, when he became rich, he
began to think Of retiring from business
and living peaeeably upon his hard earn
cd money.
His mind took a religious twist, prob
ably an inheritance from his mother.
One Sunday morning, while wandering
through Victoria park, he noticed a large
crowd gathered around a stand, from
which a colored man was preaching.
The colored man was Celestin Edwardy.
With the old time instinct of 8 pick
pocket, VALLEY at first thought be would
work the crowd, but he simply worked
his way near enough TO the preacher TO
be able TO listen to his words, and be
did listen with the greatest attention.
He became moved, and tears ran down
his cheeks. Then and there he confessed
his sins-no small affair. Without speak
ing Of his ephemeral transgressions,
such as his seven or eight marriages,
VALLEY had amagsed a fortune Of about
800, 600 ny active practice in all the
various branches Of his profession.
Upon the question of restitution link
ed TO his repentance the records are ST.
lent. But at all events he got religion.
and got il 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 iii london. he became Us great
q favorite among the good aud righteous
as he had heen among the bad and an
godly. A great throng attended his
funeral, and in that throng, by way of
honoring the dead. the pickpocketS We're
present actiyeiy.-New York Sun.