New Ulm review., 1899-06-07

because there were at least 300 profess
sional pickpockets in the crowd. Just
after the spectators began taking their
places about the ringside the sheriff got
in the ring and made speech like this:
s's3tI wish to warn every one against
pickpockets. There are hundreds Of
them here
The sheriff stepped out Of the ring
and several men grouped about him.
The central figured of the group was a
crook known as Papes w hen the sher-
if got out of the mix his diamond stud,
his roll Of bills and his watch were
missing He made known his loss to
one of the detectives, and the detective
volunteered to recover the property.
The detective was Captain Rogers. He
sought Papes, explained the situation
to him, and Papes immed diately turned
over the sheriff's property, saying that
he had taken it just for a joke
81 can't begin to tell you how many
pockets were picked this day. The fight
waxed warm and every one was excit-
ed, so the crooks had q fine field towork
in Pocketbooks were actually flying in
the air. Men were accusing honest men
who sat beside them Of touching them
Scores Of diamond studs were unscrew-
ed and nipped. The most humorous I'M
cident Of the day was the theft of $500
in bills from thief who hailed from
st. Louis and was unknown to the New
York delegation. a New York man
named o. 'Donohue had got the st. Louis
thief s roll, and he returned it when he
learned his mistake. Some men were
stripped Of every thing they had and
were unable to buy a meal or drink.
In such cases the crooks helped them
along with small loan, as they termed
it. The referee Of the match was re-
lieved Of his diamond. His bills were in
an inside pocket and were not touched.
Business Jagged with the thieves
after the fight was over There were
but few pockets left to pick. Several
men who had been robbed insisted that
the honest men should band together
and attack the thieves for the purpose
Of recovering the stolen property, The
detectives opposed this on the ground
that the honest men and the pickpockets
were mingled go closely as not to be dis
tinguishable. and. moreover. the thieves
could fight and would fight.
s'All the thieves returned to Buffalo
after the fight, and word Of their conn
ing was sent to police headquarters
from the first landing place. When the
boat tied up at the foot Of Main street,
hundred policemen and all the detect
i've force were there to meet it About
SEQ or $50 thieves were marched out
two abreast and lined up on the wharf.
They were told that they were to be
escorted out Of town, and they made no
protest. With the policemen and de-
tectives as herders and drivers, the
crooks were marched to the central sta
tion and corralled there under close
guard. When a train for New York
was made up, the thieves were escorted
aboard it and were watched till it
reached the city line.
"a few years later big gang Of
-pickpockets went to another fight at
Long Point, but il size and expertness
it did not approach the gang that went
TO the Mace Coburn fight. At the Ham
lan-C Courtney rowing match at Chau-
tauqua lake was another big gathering
Of pickpockets They had things their
own way and reaped big harvest For
instance, a detectives pocket was pick
ed, but the thief who did the job was
induced to return the property. Five
minutes later the detectives pocket wal
picked second time, and he was &c
chagrined that he did not endeavor to
lecover the plumber. But, as ] said, the
greatest gathering was at the Mace
Coburn fight. 1t was the last great rally
OF the topnotch crooks. and Il you asl
any old time crook he will tell you how
he longs for another such expedit tion.
It will never be. There are loo many
! detectives now q Chicago Inter Ocean.