The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-27
CHIEF SIMPSONS MEN
WERE KEPT BUSY
'Twixt Crowds and Crooks They Had
Their Hands Full.
THEY did THEMSELVES CREDIT
Thefts Were Not Numerous by Any
Means and No Accidents Reported.
A StrOudsburg Man Has a Rough
Experience..Many Lost Children
Restored to Their Anxious Parents.


Between protecting the people from
accidents and evil doers the police had
a busy time of it yesterday. Not an
accident was reported and despite the
fact that the crowd was the largest the
city ever held and that there was an
unusual number of crooks here on ac-
count of the circus less than the usual
number of picked pockets were COM
planned of.
AS a precaution against the opera
tions of the light fingered gentry Chief
Simpon posted some of his oldest and
best officers In citizens clothes at the
principal street intersections where the
thieves invariably work their game.
He also had a force of private detec-
tives securing about looking for known
crooks or suspicious individuals and as
n result six men were picked up, three
on suspicion, two who We're caught
picking pockets and one who is crook
with history.
This latter is II. Thompson. of Phil
adelphia, who was arrested in this city
for picking II woman's pocket at the
Delaware. Lackawanna and Western
station during the Wild West show, for
| which he served seven months. He is
said TO be the cleverest pickpocket in
the country. AS there Is no charge
against him he will be released after the
conclave is over.
CAPTURED BY JONES.
Detective r. NJ. Jones, of the Barring
e. McSweeney agency. detailed at the
Delaware, Lackawanna and Western
| station to look out for suspicious char
acters. sighted four notorious New York
crooks getting off the $50 o'clock
train. They saw the detective spot
ting them and Immediately made
a dash for the crowded streets.
| The detective gave chase and
| CT them. Johnny Weatherel whose por-
| trait is given conspicuous place in the
| Byrnes' Art gallery, New York.
One gang of pickpockets which
worked the city yesterday wore bicycle
suits as means Of avoiding suspicion
Special officer Jack Tierney got "tip"
on their game and followed two OF
them. He saw enough to convince him
that they would be better out Of the
way, SO called Patrolman John Moir
and had them taken in. They vir-
tually admitted that they were hang
ers on Of the circus.
| Patrolman Tom Lowry picked up a
man In Center street at 9 o'clock last
night on suspicion. His attention was
attracted to the fellow by his suspicious
| actions during the early part of the
day and each time he saw him after
first noticing him he wore a different
suit Of clothes. He was finally arrested
and being unable to give an account OF
himself was held for an investigation.
HAD HIS POCKETS PICKED.
/ ,I,in <1
Patrolman Block and Rose that his
pocket had been picked and pointed out
u very likely looking fellow as the thief.
Both were locked up for a hearing and
the other as witness. Chief Simpson
spotted Philadelphia crook during the
parade hour and had Patrolman Evans
lock him up.
Ex-Foreman Edward Jones, of the
Won Storch colliery, lost his pocket
book at the circus grounds. He Is Of
the opinion that his pocket was picked
while he was getting on an electric
car.
Mrs. Joseph Lambert, of 335 keyser
avenue had her purse containing 800
and two money orders taken out Of her
pocket in front of Gould's carriage
works on Linden street. Another lady
was relieved of $50 on Washington
avenue by thief, who cut the pocket
out Of her dress.
Miss Jessie Carroll was watching the
parade on Lackawanna avenue and
holding her purse in her hand. Some
one touched her on the shoulder from
behind, and when she looked around
her purse was snatched out of her
hand. 1t contained about 81.
MAN FROM STROUDSBURG.
Only one really serious affair as re-
ported. Morris Kentner. a coal dealer
of Stroudsburg. drank little yester-
day for the first time in ten years. He
evidently displayed a roll of bills In
some saloon, for about Z o'clock in the
evening Special officer James Boles
found him wandering about the Dick
son works, with mis- face brutally beat
cn and stripped of everything of value
he had about his clothes. When he
sobered up somewhat he said that two
men offered to take him out to see the
sights and he went with them. He re-
membered going between some lum-
ber piles and the rest Is a blank until
he recovered consciousness and found
himself minus his watch and $3.50. A
doctor was secured to dress his wounds
and he was given bunk in the sta
ton house over night.
Five POlanderS were arrested las
evening by a SQUAD Of policemen, 70,
fighting in Martins hotel at Bulls
Head. The Polanders had called the
bartender into a back room and there
had disagreement with him as to the
number of drinks should be given for 8
quarter. Upon the bartender's refusa
to agree with them they undertook by
means Of force. to make him do so
During the struggle that ensured the
bartender's father. who was in another
room came upon the scene, and wen'
to the aid Of his son.
ALL KINDS OF WEAPONS.
Chairs. glasses and tables were uset
with telling effect. In few minute!
the room was covered with blood. The
father, who is well advanced in years
was severely punished. Unable to pu
a stop to the proceedings. Mr.. Mar
tin sent to the central city for police
aid. A squad was Immediately dis
patched to the scene and placed fivt
of the Polanders under arrest.
Fourteen lost children were restored
to their parents through the agency O.
the central precinct.