Evening journal., 1898-08-27
DARING ROBBERY.
An Italian Has His Pocket
Picked by a Supposed Friend.
TIE THIIF ESCAPES uNMOLEsTBD

TION.
Leonard E,iccio, a good-looking
young italian, who keeps a fruit store
at No. sos King street, had his pocket
picked early Thursday morning of a
bag containing between $50 and $50 in
money.
Riccio is jovial, good-natured fell
low, and when he invited Elmer
Brown, another young man who is en-
ployed in a store near Seventh and
King streets to come around to his
/ k&ce Of business and stop a while
with him on "Wednesday evening last,
he little dreamed how much his invi-
bation would cost him.
At the appointed hour Brown show
ga up, and a little later the other
young man dropped in. Then the three
men sat out in front of the store chat
Eing until the rain drove them into
the building.
Fruit was eaten and enjoyed by the
trio and pleasant conversation INDUCED
in. The "growler" also played an i'm
poTtant part in the gathering, and the
exhilerating beverage was freely pass
ed around. Towards o'clock Thurs
dag morning Riccio and his friend
from Seventh and King streets grew
sleepy and concluded to lie down on
some benches which formed a part of
the fixtures of the store and take
short nap, preparatory to resuming
their duties on the following morning.
Brown having no special occupation
which required him to exert his ener-
gies, and not feeling the need Of rest
at the time, concluded, as he expressed
it, ''to sit up a while longer" Riccio
and his companion were soon lost in
slumber, and in the Italians pocket re-
posed the precious bag containing his
savings, with which he proposed pay
ing his honest debts in the morning.
Brown was evidently aware Of this
fact, for upon being convinced that
Riccio and his companion were wrapt
in profound slumber he stealthily ap-
preached the sleeping man, cautiously
thrust his hand into his back trousers
pocket and Withdrew it, clasping the
bag containing the money.
Riccio never stirred, but slept on
unconscious that the hand of a friend
had robbed him of his savings. Glanc-
ing at the sleeping men Brown as eau
tiously crept out of the store and dis
appeared in the darkness Of a rainy
night.
Awakening about an hour or so later,
Riccio busted himself about his daily
work and his companion departed for
his home.
1t was the intention Of the Italion to
go to Philadelphia that morning, and
in making preparations for his trip
about Z o'clock he remembered that he
had a pass-book, which he intended
taking with him. Feeling in his back
pocket, where he usually kept his book
and money, he found to his horror and
dismay that, though the book was
there, his money was gone. He at once
hurried to the police station nearby
and reported his loss to the officers in
charge, but up to the present time no
trace Of Brown or the money has been
found.
Leonard Riccio is an intelligent Ital-
tam Of some "a years Of age, and
( speaks English fluently. He has been
conducting a fruit business at his
r present stand for some time and is
liked by his customers. He became
well-known last Fourth Of July by the
manufacture and sale of his italian
} torpedoes." Ricoic feels his loss keenly
e and realizes the almost hopefulness oil
a his ever recovering the money stolen
e from him.
S Elmer Brown, it seems, has no per.
r manent occupation, and at times has
been driving ice wagons for various
Nempanies in the city and has alsC
acted as a Sub" for the private watch
: man along Fifth and King streets. HI
is described as about 2S years Of age
K five feet ten inches tall, and has rec
= hair. When he disappeared he wore {
: dark brown suit and straw hat.
Ii is reported that a man in the vi
cinity Of the p, w. G. B. station no
ticed a party answering Browns de
scription board a train for BaltimOri
! early Thursday morning, but it is nov
thought that he has retraced his step
and may be in Philadelphia. Th
strange part of the affair is that Riccil
had valuable gold watch on his per
7 son when the robbery occurred, AM
II which the thief made no effort to take
3 though this may be accounted for b,
x the fact that the Italian was layinl
Is upon his side with is watch beneat
him when the money was taken. Tn
- police are working on the case.
BOARD OF HEALTH REPORT.