The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1900-02-28
MEN ROBBED
THOSE WHO HAVE HAD THEIR
POCKETS PICKED.

Harrison and Depew Had Their Poe
kets Pieked-And Even Russell
Sage Has Suffered-A Pickpocket to
n. r. H., the Prince of Wales.
Until the circumstance was recalled
by brief dispatch from Indianapolis
the other day, nearly every one had
forgotten the theft of Benjamin Harri.
sons diamond-studded watch worth
more than $1,000 and given to him by
the Senate on the expiration of his
term as member of that body. The
timepiece was stolen about five years
ago, but just how and by whom does
not appear to have been made public
as yet, though crook named Wilson.
under arrest at Knoxville, Tenn. on
the charge of burglary, has been try
ing to arrange for its return to the
owner
Should he recover the watch, the
loss of which was a real grief to him,
the former President will be luckier
than have some other eminent per
sonages from whom valuables have
been stolen. Chauncey NJ. Depew's
pocket was rified of his watch one day
away back in the COS, and he never
got it back. Depew was done up by
regularly organized pocket picking
mob He had been invited to join
yachting party at Philadelphia and
was standing on the platform of
horse car on his way to the Cortlandt
street ferry AS he once told the story
he was thinking a good deal more
about the pretty girls who were to be
members of the yachting party than
of his immediate surroundings. when
NrTear
passengers just as the car was passing
ing Union Square. The rumpus was
made by two or three men, who sud
denly seemed moved to get out of the
car in great haste. As they passed
Depew they jostled him and hustled
him so much that he thought them real
rude. Desiring to know the time soon
after they had jumped off he felt for
his watch. Then he understood the
haste and rudeness of the men, for
his pocket was empty.
Thomas Bracket Reed was de
spoiled of a fine watch, said to be
worth $3.50 or more, a few years ago
by pickpocket at political meeting
addressed by the great man from
Maine. The story goes that this meet.
ing was held in Cooper Union, In New
York City, but that's only detail
Anyway. the audience was large and
enthusiastic. and Mr.. Reed. who was
the chief speaker of the evening, GOV.
cred himself with glory. as he always
does when he has chance. After the
speechmaking was finished and most
of the audience had gone home few
remained, ostensibly to shake hands
with the star of the evening, and Mr.
Reed shook hands with several Nat
urally his feelings toward mankind
were of the friendiiest when he went
away from the hail. but they under.
went a severe revulsion an hour later
when he discovered the loss of his
watch. 1t is said that he then declared
he would never enter the hall again,
and that he has kept his word
The most wholesale lifting of
watches from men of some promin.
ence in New York was managed few
years ago at a meeting of the New
York conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. They were skillful.
too. for though half score of clocks"
were taken from the eminent clergy.
men present, and as many feathers"
by which the pickpoeket means poe
Notwithstanding amiss was discov.
cred till after the dismissal of the au.
dience. then 1t was too late to do any.
thing.
From the other side of the water
comes the story of how the Prince of
Wales was robbed by the most sue
cessful most famous French pick
pocket whose name was never written
down in the books of the Paris police.
Nobody has heard that Russell
Sage's pocket ever was picked, and 1t
probably never was, for he doesn't
look like a man who would carry
enough money in his clothes to make
1t worth while. Mrs. Sage was robbed
in the street once. however, though
her pocket wasn't picked. Like many
women, she habitually carries her poe
textbook in her hand when out walk
ing, and the thief who robbed her had
only to grasp the book to get 1t. She
was luckier than either Mr. Harrison
or Mr.. Depew.. She cried out at once,
there was long chase, the man was
caught and the pocketbook was recov-
cred. What was better from Mrs.
Sage's viewpoint, he was tried and
sent to prison. Another man was put
behind the bars for stealing from the
Sages. He entered the Sage house
while dinner was being served and
stole lot of clothing. including one
of Mr.. Sage's celebrated suits, strange
to say.