Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1900-01-01
MEN ROBBED
THOSE WHO HAVE HAD THEIR
POCKETS PICKED.

Harrison and Depew Had Their Pcc-
kets Plcked--And Even Russell
Sage Has Suffered-A Pickpocket to
n. r. H., the Prince Of Wales.
Until the circumstance was recalled
by a 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 a 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 a 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 M. Depew's
pocket was riied of his watch one day
away back in the COS, and he never
got it back. Depew was done up by
a regularly organized pocket-piclxing
mob" He had been invited to join
a yachting party at Philadelphia and
was standing on the platform of a
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
there was a commotion among the
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 a pickpocket at a 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 a detail.
Anyway, the audience was large and
enthusiastic, and Mr.. Reed, who was
the chief speaker Of the evening, COW
cred himself with glory, as he always
does when he has a 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 friendliest when he went
away from the hall, but they under
went a severe reyulsion an hour later
when he discovered the loss Of his
watch. It 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 a score of clocks
were taken from the eminent clergy.
men present, and as many feathers
by which the piekpocket means poe.
Notwithstanding amiss was discOv'
cred till after the dismissal of the au-
dience, then it 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 Il
probably never was. for he doesn't
look like a man who would carrS
enough money in his clothes to make
it 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 haS
only to grasp the book to get it. She
was luclder than either Mr.. Harrison
or Mr. Depew. She cried out at once
there was a long chase, the man wal
caught and the pocketbook was recOv
cred. What was better from Mrs
Isl Sage's viewpoint he was tried an'
sent to prison. Another man was pu
behind the bars for stealing from thu
Sages He entered the Sage house
while dinner was being served ant
stole a lot of clothing, including on'
of Mr. Sage's celebrated suits, strang
to say.