The Sunday globe., 1901-05-05
A NOTED CROOK
Tells the Sunday Globe Some "PrO-
feSSiOnal Secrets.
FOR PICKpOCKET
To Enable Him 10 Ply His Vocation With Rea-
sOnabIe SuCceSS-kn Unique
Interview.

"a Nl0lAbl W AliN III y ~ AN' N'fN1 10
on the occasion of "a recent sporting
event, was an individual who, in his
time, had national police reputation
for his proficiency as pickpotket.
The presence Of this eX.member of
the light fingered fraternity becoming
known, the writer struck up an ac-
quaintance with him for the purpose of
obtaining anything Of interest in con-
nection with the profession (?) Of pocket
picking the quandom "crook" could
he induced to give. Some little per-
suasion had to he exercised before the
conversation became other than one
sided, but after receiving the assurance
that his name should not be used in
connection with the interview, the
puredo pickpocket finally yielded TO the
influences Of the reportorial pump.
''What are the qualifications neces
sary for a man to become a successful
pickpocketg"
"He should be of good address aud Of
prepossessing appearance with polite
ness exemplilied in his manners, so
that he may approach or sit near any
one without creating any feelings Of
distrust i'm The minds Of he or she. He
must cultivate GOODNESS, so that he may
preserve his presence Of mind under all
circumstances, for instance, if by some
mischance he should be detected--as
YOU writers would term it-'plying his
nefarious trade More important than
all, he should p .ssess an extraordinary
delicacy Of touch and quickne IS Of hand.
This light fingerduess can only he ac-
qulred 10y that assiduous practice which
always precedes perfection. OF course
you scarcely need to be told that total
absence Of any compunction of con-
science as to the right TO lay hands on
another per.on's prol erty, must mark
all transactions the crook becomes in
volyed in. Possessing all of the quail
ticatiOns, and having gone through Il
course of training at the hands of an
old member of the felonious fraternity,
the pickpocket may--wlth the help Of
a skillful partner-work many crowd
without being 'c0llared ~
"Is it absolutely necessary to have Il
confederate?"
"When you are working in crowd
more or less large, the assistance Of a
pal is indispensable for success and
safety 70 follow y ur operations. The
modus operandi2 Now don't be too
profuse in your questions, such pro-
ceeding reminds me too vividly Of times
gone by, when I've been under fire Of
examination and cross examination
/ before various administrators of the
laws Of the land in more than one court
of Justice. Just allow me to run on in
my own way, and in the words Of the
topical song written by that clever
member of your profession-Charlie
Hoyt--of Tin Soldier, etc, fame,
| you1l get there just the same.'p
Mildly remarking that ii was an es
sential part of his business to PROFOUND
queries, The newspaper man hinted that
he would like to know something of
the methods of working a crowd,
"Well, " said the eX-lilcher Of purses,
"the pickpocket having selected the
object Of his delicate attentions, gets
close to that individual and proceeds TO
ascertain the location of bis money.
While his confederate is moving about
in the crowd in the vicinity of the per-
son to be touched and pushing against
him. the pickpocket passes his hands
lightly and cautiously over the pockets
Of his intended victim, and 50 light and
deXtrous is his touch that he is quickly
able to locate the booty and ascertain
its character whether in the form of a
roll of paper money or pocket book.
In pickpocket parlance this is termed
the fan act 1t often happens, how
ever, that this operation is rendered un-
necessary, by the very fact that people
will themselves, in their anxiety to
keep their valuables secure, disclose TO
the watchlul pickpocket the particular
pocket in which they are bestowed. or
this ilk is the fellow who has heard of
pickpOckets and their schem 8, and he
don't intend that they shall get ahead
Of him. He'd just like to see the one
that could pick his pocket, he would
all this he says. Yet, let him but get
into crowd of persons aud he is the
first one touched. - Hows that?
"Why because in his anxiety he is con
thu lily feeling in a lidgety manner,
first inside his pocket, and then out
side, and occasionally taking out his
purse, pocket book, roll of bills or watch.
to see that it is all o. X. None OF these
movements are lost upon the crook, who
speedily relieves this oVer-anxious in.
dividual Of his valuabes in the deftest
manner possible. Yes sir, these over.
cute chaps are, as a rule, the easiest to
touch speak rom experience
Probably this may seem to YOU an
absurd question, but the public would
like to know If pickpockets in general
have any partiality for any particular
class Of persons upon whom to exercise
their peculiar talents?"
''lhere's not such an amount of alb
surdity hanging on to that inquiry of
yours as 1t appears to convey when
prOpounded. "A preference does exist
among the members Of the fraternity,
and its for fat folks. You ask why?
Well my experience has taught me
that nervousness and tidgetiyeness are
usual characteristics of thin people
when in a crowd. Therefore they are
more apt TO turn around suddenly and
take quicker notice Of any push or jost-
ling they may receive | have inVan-
ably found that such persons are con-
stantly on the alert, 50 hat they are
not so easily got at as more corpulent,
and consequently easier going people.
II Is a deuced sight more difficult to
take anything from them without de-
tnnfiIn fhQp IA frg,rt, . 4.