The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-10
THE LATE KING OF P1CKPoCxErs.
Death or the Man who Fliched tho Purse or
the Prince or Wales.

mo nv NahN
Fred H.. king Of pickpockets. has just passed
away in London. Like his predecessor, Fl ed ii.
was we'll known on the turf both in England
and in France. and whenever a turfman's
pocketbook was captured by any of his ma
jesty's outposts an audience with the monarch
was all that was necessary to secure its prompt
return to the lawful owner. People not con-
nected with the turf were less fortunate.
The ministers of his majesty performed some
marvellous tours de force in their very profita-
BILE profession; but not one of them had the
delicacy OF touch and power OF penetration that
made the king famous. One day he made a bet
that he would pick the pocket Of the Prince Of
Wales. The thing seemed to be absolutely i'm
possible, because many of the Princes friends
knew Fred very well and the difficulty of get
ting close enough to him to capture his pocket.
book seemed insurmountable. But it was a
simple matter for the king. He picked the
Princes pocket and won his bet. The tics of
royalty are great and strong. The king re-.
turned the pocketbook to the Prince. and the
latter. of course, could not think of prosecuting
mented Fred ON lis skill as asa a piekpocket. '0"p''
A pastime that Fred took special delight in
was hlching the watches and pocketbooks OF
magistrates and high officials of the police. and
the stories of his exploits In this line are many.
He was always dressed in the latest fashion. He
always avoided everything loud. He was u
good looking fellow, too.
But kings cannot reign forever, and the reign
OF Fred H.. ended rather ingloriously. 1t was
ambition that ruined him.. He wanted to per-
form an exploit in the pocket'picking line that
would eclipse all his previous performances.
He determined to relieve Baron Hirsch OF tho
burden OF his heavily loaded purse. He mp.
preached the philanthropist in his usual courtiy
way. but unfortunately for the King the baron
recognized him Immediately.
My dear Fred" said he. you have come too
late. l have Just lost all my money on the favor.
lite. Be good enough to honor Inc with your AT.
tention another day, and be sure to come before
the race
Fred salutei with great dignity and departed,
and after that began to go down hill. He soon
after abdicated and lived u retired life in a.
little house in one of the suburbs of London.
His star had set. He became sad. and looked
back upon the ~vanities OF fat poCketbooks. Little
by little he faded, and died OF a disease which
ihs French doctor called "nOstdigie du rot" or
the rust that in his profession follows rest.
Just as in the case of the funeral of another
king OF pickpockets many curiosity seekers at
tended tho funeral OF Fred, and upon feeling
for their money and jewelry after returning
home discovered that they had in fact been ut
a pickpocket's funeral. Professional fingers had
been set working in honor of the dead. A modern
Dick Turpin. Fred was good-natured. fond OF
children, and generous with the money OF other
people. His bank account was never overdrawn,
and he never had any hesitation about helping
a poor fellow out. A few shillings or u few
pounds to him amounted to nothing. There
were always plenty of available pocketbooks to
call upon whenever he was short.