The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1895-12-27
A RETIRED MONARCH
JOSEPH WAlLev. Ex-xlNG or PICK
POCKETS, JUST DEAD

branches All over tnsianu-noW no
Became Couverted-Ler a Large For
tune and Numerous Wives.
The ex king OF pickpockets In Lon
don. Mr. Joseph Valley has lust died
of pneumonia az the age of SO years 40
of which he spent from time 70 time Ia
Jail. Like a grand old time monarch. he
had several wives AT least sever ara
known to have constituted his better
half His family of course was extreme.
ly numerous, but he didn't bother him.
self much about looking after them He
was born at Southampton and commenc-
ed to practice his profession at the age
of 10. He was then engaged 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 l9
years old. he was president of the first
pickpocket trust ever formed IN Eng
land.
Mrs. Valley. his mother was good
and religious woman, and when her bad
son Joe was sept to Jail for the first
time she died of grief. Joe cried bitterly
over the loss of his mother. but soon
dried his tears and resumed his old vo-
cation. He became tired of Southampton
and started for 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 penni-
less. Six months after his arrival there
he found himself, as he said, "in com.
Portable circumstances. /" He had now
the means of extending his operations.
He founded and directed for several
years 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 one occasion he jumped
into the Thames, and the morning pa
pers came out the next day with an ac-
count of his suicide But VALLEY was an
all round athlete, and swimming was
one of his notable accomplishments So
he reappeared at Gravesend. where he
was the most successful blackmailer or
record This new branch Of his profess
sion amused him most. because he did
not know before he took il up that there
were so many fools in 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 peaceably upon his hard earn
ed money.
His mind took religious. twist. prob
ably an inheritance from his mother
One Sunday morning while wandering
through Victoria park, he noticed 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 pick
pocket, Valley at first thought he would
work the crowd. but he simply worked
his way near enough 10 the preacher TO
be able TO listen to his words, and he
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 amassed fortune of about
500, 900 by active practice IL 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 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 in London. He became as great
favorite among the good and righteous
as he had been among the bad and I'M
godly. A great throng attended his
funeral. and in that throng. by way of
honoring the dead, the pickpockets were
present actively. New York Sun.
FIorida's Orange Groves still Live.