Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1901-12-13
"A THIEVES MARKET.
ONE OF THE PROMINENT PLACES IN
THE CITY OF MEXICO.

Any Policeman VIII show You the
Way to II and You May There Pur-
chase stolen Goods by the single
Piece or by the Carload.
II you want to know the time In
The City Of Mexico: IL you need house
hold goods, objects Of art or of per-
sonal adornment; in fact, II there Is
anything you desire from pincushlon
to redhot stove-just ask police
man.
He will point the way to the thieves
market without any more idea of laws
that deal with those who receive stol-
EN- goods than If you had asked him the
way to the best hotel In the city or to
one Of the theaters or to the National
palace. The official of the law will not
hesitate to tell you that 1t Is directly
hcross the street from the National pal
ace, east of the Zocalo-the park of the
peons-and that If you are timid about
khe size OF the load you wish to take
ahere the gate is large enough 70 drive
fhe biggest truck through without In
convenience. 1t is n very simple mat
Ter TO find the thieves market.
1t is no small establishment but a
eity institution, with court as large
Bs a city block, and II Is crowded from
morning to night with those who are
looking for bargains without the slight
est Idea of moral wrong in buying stol-
EN- goods. Indeed It Is stated that now
and then persons find property once be
longing to them exposed there for sale
at prices so reasonable that 1t would
be absurd to go to law about 1t and lay
mp against the delightful convenient
~manana" the trouble of appearing II
eourt
The market is Just what It's name i'm
plies-a thieves market, where moth,
do not corrupt. because there Is alway.
o stream OF purchasers for goods ut ri
dicuious prices. Nothing remains II
stock over few days Spread out OF
fables or piled high on the ground car
Dc found samples OF almost anything
for the Mexican ratcro IL not pnrtlc
ninr what he steals The thieves d,
not themselves act as the salesmen. 70
This would be dishonest even to tn,
Mexican mind. They dispose of thcl
plunder either for lump sum or TAX
q commission from the sellers.
There is no assortment OF goods as L
elnss or Kind. II is case of pic
and choose Crockery, cutlery. tinwar
and cooking utensils are the main sta
Piles, for the Mexican Is careless, an
the thieves of his kind find this sort G
plunder easy 20 get and with read
market. The proprietor OF one OF III
well known local restaurants admit
thnt nearly all his knives, forks an
liable linen come from the thieve
market. He makes II point regularl
10 visit there 10 replenish what ma
bave been stolen from his own place.
But 1t Is perhaps In the line of cur
psities, books and objects of art thu
she thieves market is most interestln
Hhe libraries OF the monks, scattered
the war OF reform. are represented no
and then. The thieves, OF course kno
nothing OF the value of the books.
Recently n folio of Shakespear
! bound In vellum, In splendid conditio
Notwithstanding the long ago date
hts publication, was picked up by
book lover for 81 so in Mexican silvs
Z Several bibliophiles of the Unit
States have regular agents In I
Shelves market, and 1t pays them.
With Macmillan and his court maj
rare works OF art came to Mexico.
nhe rush away from Mexico these we
left behind. Within the last month
M Ian, beyond doubt by Vatican. W
Bought In the thieves market for
Hhs painting is still bright, the lace I