The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-12-02
The ernard-Richards Co., Ltd 44 Wharf and Broad Streets 30

amount OF traflc. A likely victim hav-
Ing been marked down among the passers-
by. one Of the thieves run 40 against him.
az n By accident. and instead OF aPol-
ogizing for his awkwardness, lets ny
volley Of abuse man who has been
nearly upset and then insultcd Ia this way
naturally gives his aKgrcssor BIT ~ MS
mind. and ia his excitement. and amid the
gathering crowd. he is very likely not %
notice that the second thief has eaHed him
Of his pocketbook, or his watch. or both.
When his mere deNtcrity 90 az a loss, the
Partisan thief often has recourse 20 vio-
ience. IN general way he IL careful not
TO endanger the life OF his victim. with
this view he has perfected various modes
OF attack. which enable him TO have his
prey az his mercy for a few moments.
The coup de IA bascule r. a favorlte cN-
pedient Of robbers working alone. or
philosopher" as they are significantly
termed IN French thieves slang suppose
a footpad sees somebody coming towards
him Ia q lonely street. when a yard OF
two from the victim. he makes dart at
him. and With his left hand clutches him
by tho throat Taken by surprise. The
victim insuncuvely throws his head back
a. this instant his assaiiant forces one OF
his legs from tho ground by encircling
with his own leg. as IN wrestling. The
man thus assaulted - half tHpped up AMI
raturaily throws out his arms IN an Of
fort 20 regain his balance. Ills position.
b. fact. d very much that Of person
attached 10 the swingboard, or haseule. Of
thc gnilotinc: hence the name % ihu
coup.
While the victim is IN this helpless state.
the thief with his right hand snatches
his valua bicg. and then. giving his man
naal push or blow wnh che knee In the
pit Of The stomach. sends him rolling 10
the gutter. after which he himself takes
10 his heels. To be succcEsfui. especially
/ II the victim be strong. th.s coup has 10
be carried out with the usmos, rapIdity
ana precision. Ear more quickly. indeed.
than II can be described. The coup de IA
/ petite ohaise b a sort Of variant Of that
l just given. us object also being 10 make
! hfe victim lose his equilibrium for the
| few moments needful 20 furnish an op-
/ porfuulty for the robbery n this iu-
I stance. the assault Is made from behind.
1 The victim Is seized by the collar. and
the fo0tpad then fhrusss hts knee into
the small o. hts back. thus Offering him
T what is Ironically called a little seat "
The prey once "spread-eaRled" Ia this
manner. tho thief gets az has pockets
| over his shoulder.
] Both the couns just described and one
OF two others similar 10 them are risky.
TIE chances are an aga.net the victim ~
the outset. but once he o. out o. the
hands % his assailant. there Is nothing %
rrevert him screaming for help. or even
/ from turning he tables on his aKgressor
a very superior invention from the point
I OF view of the foptpad. and a much mole
a nRerous one from that OF the victim.
b. ihe coup du Pefe Francois. In this
case. rwo operators" are necessary one
or them. provided with q stout and long
! scarf. closes up with the victim from be-
hind throws the scarf round his neck.
toms sharp rouT d. and. with a jerk. HOSTS
the man he has lass0el upon his back.
The confederate then runs the rule over
the v.c'im. who cannot scream. btcau1e
DE- is haif-thrott'ed. snd who very p0cb-
ably 81 in a swODn. the result % stran4u-
.l4tion. before the proceed ngs are termi-
rated. Ingenious, however. as the con.
trlyance g.. IL has rs drawbacks The pro
cess Of strangulation may 80 100 Ear, ard
hr fetal TO TIE victim. Without the least
intention Of making 30 ugly mistake,
the h.eves md themselves murderera, ans
run the risk Of "sneezing In the basket. 70
which Is their picturesque way Of saying
being guiliouned"
such are a few 81 the methods Of the
Typical Partisan rogue. and every one VII
admit thai for sheer brutality. II not deN-
lterity. the Preach thief surpasses every
other nationality. But the French do not
believe t.