The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-08-25
Fred, King of Pickpockets.

Fred, the king of European pickpockets
| Is dead, and, as king surely deserves al
| obituary notice, here is Fred's.
AT the start a grave difficulty confront.
US. Thousands in every European capita
knew Fred. but no one seems to hav.
known aught as TO his parentage or as q
tie events of his earlier years. He wa:
known simply as Fred and no one evel
! thought of questioning him as to his ante
! cedents- An ordinary pickpocket may have
to undergo many a crucial cross-examina-
! ton; king Of p,ckpockets is rarely SUBJ
| jected to such an ordeal
Fred first appeared in Paris early IN the
eighties, and in short time he was one
OF the most conspicuous figures on the race
courses and at all other fashionable pleas
ure resorts near the capital He was con-
s:dered an excellent judge of horses, and
he thought nothing of betting 500 louis dor
on single race. His advice was eagerly
sought by race-goers, and his tips" were
regarded as of considerable value. AS a
rule. he was successful in betting, and al
ter good day he squandered his money
like lord.
An elegant gentleman he seemed. and no
one had the slightest suspicion that he was
a thief. Tall, dark and slim, with black
d
he looked every inch the idle, wealthy man
about town. He dressed IN the latest fash
ion, with a gardenia in his button-hole, and
he invariably wore spotless pearl gray
gloves. These gloves never left him, not
even when he thrust MS hands into some
ones pocket. He possessed, indeed, the
skill of a prest.digiateur. The pearl gray
gloves did not hinder him in the slightest
degree; on the contrary, they helped him,
for no one would think OF making charge
against an elegant gentleman who habitu-
ally wore such faultless gloves.
Fred's life in Paris was that of dandy
His home was in a hotel near the ST.
Lazare station, and from il he would issue
in the morning and drive or stroll slowly
10 the station. There he would mingle
with the crowd after the train had come
in. and in nine cases out of ten he man
aged to pilfer two or three well filed pock
et-books from the passengers. With these
he would return 10 his hotel. and then,
after carefully attiring himself, he would
spend the rest of the forenoon in visiting
his friends, among whom were some of
the best known men and women in Paris.
The afternoon would be spent at the race
course, and there this fine dandy obtained
his best plumber, hardly day passing that
In the evening he usually went to some
theater of cafe chantant. and after the
performance his rule was TO invite few
friends of both sexes to a champagne sup
per. Royalty he lived while his reign
lasted.
His evil days began during the EXPOSE
ton OF 1889 It happened that Storr, one
Of the richest jockeys in England. went
to Paris 10 ride a race. and he took with
him small bag. containing nothing but
a change of clothing and his jockey cap.
Fred saw this bag and, assuming that it
contained some of the Jockeys bank notes.
he appropriated it. Storr made a great
fuss over his loss, and TIE detectives, who
had been suspecting Fred for some time,
seriously thought Of arresting him. FREQ,
however, anticipated them. Before the race
began Storr received from IAN unknown
hand his cherished bag, underciothes. cap
and all.
Some weeks later Fred fell, for the first
time, into the hands of the police. 1t was
at the Fincennes trace track. He had sto-
len large sum of money from an officer,
ard, unfortunately for him. lady had seen
the theft. Fred knew her eyes were upon
him as he thrust his hand into the officers
pocket, and, hoping to save himself, he
stepped UP TO the officer. and. handing him
his purse, said, most politely: Here. SIR,
you have lost some money The officer
stammered his thanks, but the lady rails
ed an alarm. and Fred was arrested and
taken off to Jail. For this offence he was
sentenced to two years imprisonment.
This closed his career in Paris, and for |
the next few years he confined his opera |
tons to Nice. Monte Carlo and other fash |
Onable Measure resorts. He continued TO |
pick pockets as of old, and he was several |
lines arrested and imprisoned. Finally he |
eft France and settled down in London.
There, the story goes. he once robbed the |
Prince of Wales, the incident occurring a
EPSON while His Royal Highness was in
emily watching a race. The story may
lot be true, but it is certainly character
site OF Fred's sang froid and skill.
We are also told that he tried 10 rob the
ate Baron Hirsch on one of the English
ace courses, but that the Baron. who had
,nown him in Paris whispered. with a
mile, 'My dear Fred, you have come too
ate. / have just lost all my money on
he favorite. l was sure 1t would win,
whereas il came in last. Come some other
ay-before the race begins
"All right" replied Fred, coolly. lifting
lis hat with all his old-time politeness and
gain mingling with the crowd.
Fred'S last days were very mournful, and
e was poverty-stricken when death came
o him at last in a miserable London gar
ct. The joyous days of his early manhood.
vhen he lived like king in Paris. were
yer present 10 him. and to the last he
ever forgot that he had once been the
Don companion of gentlemen and ladies.