Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-08-27
Daily xenuthtt aonrual.
KING OF PIckPocxers.
A Wonderful Career That Ended in The
Common.P Place Manner.

serves an obituary notice, mere is ETel's
At the start grave difficulty CON
fronts us. Thousands in every Euro
mean capital knew Fred, but no on
seems to have known aught as to his
parentage or as tothe events of his ear
;ier years. He was known simply a.
Fred" and no one ever thought q,
questioning him as to his antecedents.
An ordinary pickpocket may have n
undergo many crucial cross eXamina
ton; king of pickpockets is rarely
subjected to such an ordeal.
Fred first appeared in Paris early In
the eighties. and in a short time he was
one of the most conspicuous figures on
the race courses and at all other fash
,onabe pleasure resorts near the cani-
tai. He was considered an expert
Judge of horses and he thought moth
ing of betting 500 louis dor on a single
race. His advice was eagerly sough;
by racegoers, and his TIPS" were re
CARRIED as of considerable value. AS a
rule, he was successful in betting, ana
after a good day he squandered his
money like lord.
An elegant gentleman he seemed. ana
no one had the slightest suspicion that
he was thief. Tail, dark ard slim,with
black eyes, and a carefully trimmed
mustache, he looked every inch tn
idle, wealthy man about town. H
dressed in the latest fashion, with u
gardenia in his buttoniole, and he in
vaIiably wore spotless pearl gray
gloves These gloves never left him no.
even when he thrust his hands into
some ones pocket. He possessed, in
deed the skill OF a presidigitateur 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 ali
elegant gentleman who habitually wore
such faultless gloves.
Fred'S life in Paris was that of a
dandy. His home was in a hotel neal
the St Lazare station, and from it he
would issue in the morning and trivs
or stroll slowly to the station. There
he would mingle with the crowd after
the train had come it, and in nine cases
out Of ten he managed to pilfer two "a
Fhfee we'll filled pocketbooks from the
passengers. With these he would re-
turn to his hotel, and then, after care.
fully attiring himself, he would spenf
the rest of the forenoon in visiting
friends, among whom were some of tn.
best known men and women in Paris
The afternoon would be spent at tn,
race course, and there this fine dandy
obtained his best plumber, hardly da
passing that he did not relieve som,
one of his purse. In the evening he us
ually went to some theatre or caf,
chantant,and after the performance hi
rule was to invite a few friends of bot
sexes to a champagne supper. Royal,
he lived while his reign lasted.
His evil days began during the EN-
position of 1889. 1t happened tina
Storr one of the richest jockeys il
England, went to Paris to ride a race
and he took with him small bag, con
tanning nothing but a change of cloth
ing and his jockey cap. Fred saw thi
bag and, assuming that it cOntaine,
some of the Jockeys bank notes, he az
proprated it. Storr made a great fus
over his loss, and the detectives, VIII
had been suspecting Fred for som
time. seriously thought of arrestn,
him. Fred, however. anticipated them
Before the race began Storr received
from AN unknown hand" his cherished
bag, underclothes, cap and all.
Some weeks later Fred fell. for In
Arst time. into the hands of the pc
lice. 1t was at the Vincennes rae,
track He had stolen large sum o
money from an officer. and. unfor-tu
nately for him,a lady had seen the theft
Fred knew that her eyes were upo,
him as he thrust his hand into tn
officers pocket. and, hoping to saw
himself, he stepped up to the officer
and, handing him his purse said. mos
politely:-"Here. sin. YOU have lost som
money" The officer stammered hi
thanks, but the lady raised an alarm,
and Fred was arrested and taken off
iau ro,. All, g., -
to two years imprisonment.
This closed his career in Paris. am
for the next few Years h., confined hi
operations to Nice. Monte Carlo an,
other fashionable pleasure resorts. IL
continued to pick pockets as of old. an,
he was several times arrested and inn
prisoned Finally he left France an,
settled down in London. There. IN