The Washington times., 1902-04-13
NIPPED IN THE BUD
BY LOCAL SLEUTH
Professional Pickpocket Cap
tured by Detective Muller.
NO CHANCE TO WORK HIS GAME
Tells Remarkable Story of How He Was
Duped by a Pal in Philadelphia and
Persuaded to Come to Washington to
Find Rich Field

1t is very seldom that professional
crook will say anything he does not have
to say. said an old sieutn of this city
who has had enough experience with pro-
fessionals to be accepted as authority
upon the subject. But when you do run
against one who is disposed to talk, he
can tell you many good story of his
+ divers hairbreadth excapes," added Mike
Muller, the local sleuth.
Not infrequently do we get pick
pockets who have made practice of GO
ing to every large affair held in the big
. cities. They come to Washington on ac-
/ count of the inaugurations. reunions, and
, various other celebrations Washington
/ is known to crooks to be soft spot, and
when any of the old professionals strike
. streak of hard luck ard wish to boost
| themselves out of the dopey rut they have
J fallen into, they make straight for the
Capital of the Nation, where they know
! they can generally cash in When any
great national event which is likely to
draw a crowd of any size is held here
the crooks use every means they can
devise to get into the city, for they know
/ what harvest they will reap when they
get here.
During the recent visit of Prince Hen
ry to this country all of the detectives
were kept busy watching a number of
suspicious characters who paid their visit
to the Capital at the same time as the
Prince, which We thought to be quite a
singular coincidence. Several OF the
shrewdest men from New York and Chi
cago were in town, as We're also several
of the shrewdest crooks from other cities.
Il was walking leisurely down Penn
sylvania Avenue on the day the Prince
arrived in this city wa:ehing a Gun /
had seen lettering around the depot.
walked on the opposite side of tho street.
but he kept his eyes skinned and never
took them off me. He seemed to size me
up as a 'spotter,' and did not try to con-
ceal his uneasiness. First he dodged into
a saloon in the hope of eluding me. /
waited on the opposite side of the street,
hidden in a doorway. He came out and
after seeing that | was on his trail re
ducked into an alley and started on a
dead run through the alley. / knew that
my suspicious were well grounded. and
gave chase. He lead me a stiff chase
through the alley and through a park. but
his wind gave out and | had no trouble in
catching him. He stoutly protested
against my taking him to Headquarters
TO be questioned. l asked him why lie
ran when he saw me following. This
question was not answered, but the lad
old, smiled slightly and said: Old pal
you'se slick 'un, but you'd had
hard time getting next if I'd got ME
bliDkers on youse little sooner |
knew he was a professional and took
him TO Headquarters to talk to him.
AT headquarters he put up a stiff bluff.
but finally ! convinced him that / knew
his entire record as pickpocket, and he
gave up somewhat reluctantly and ac-
knowledged that he was pickpocket. hut
swore that he had never been in Wash
ington before or picked a pocket here.
adding that he was caught before he got
a chance. The boy was quite a good look
ing chap, and took somewhat liking to
him after i was quite convinced that he
had not taken anything in this city. !
told him that he would have to get out of
this town or il would not be good for his
general health. He said that he would
as soon as he could see his way bach to
Philadelphia.
While sitting together, ! asked him
If he knew Barney Squigs. the confidence
man, who did business in Philadelphia.
DO / know dat lobster Wei. | should
falter to exclaim,' said the boy. DO you
know dat he's the slickest guy what ever
munipalat'd pair of free lunch grabbers?
Why / could tell you a story of that guy
and al de same time give you my reasons
for being in dis berg at present
Well If you can tell me story of
Barney. will listen TO you. | replied.
You see twas like dis he began.
'dere was some swell blowout being held
in Phillie bout two months before dis
German frankfrteI landed in New York.