The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1902-07-12
MODERN HOTEL THIEVES.
They Are Guests Themselves and
Pose as Persons of Wealth.
New York SUM

The up-to-date hotel thief is entirely
different from the old fashioned sneak
thief, who prowled through corridors,
often operating with the aid of servants
or gaining an entrance through the cellar
way and back doors.
The new type of hotel thief drives up in
style to the summer hotel or city hotel
that he has selected for his field. Some
times he comes direct from an ocean liner
with his steamer trunks ON top of the
cab. Often he has a valet, and sometimes
a wife, but as a rule he travels alone
He is as picturesque person in his
modern way as any of the famous high
waymen of history. Sometimes he has
followed his prey across the continent of
Europe without getting his chance; some
times it is only from the steamer deck
where he has struck up an acquaintance
with some capitalist under the guise of
cordial good fellowship.
When the up-to-date hotel thief becomes
a thorough master of his trade and is
successful enough to travel in this fash
ion, he, as a rule, operates alone. Until
he amasses experiences enough to aid
him in carrying off big prizes that en-
able him to have periods of rest and
recreation between his enterprises he is
obliged often to take chambermaids and
bell boys into his confidence. sending
them on ahead of him sometimes to pre-
pare ways and means.
If he has wife with him she will in
and jeweled She will be gracious, often
fascinating. and will pose as martyr TO
the male friends that are picked up by
the couple on their journeys. Nothing APP
peals to great many men SO much as
The idea of pretty and neglected wife
who is sacrificing herself Tor her nus
band.
The couple will be extremely hospitable
and will entertain in their hotel rooms.
Then there are various methods that are
put in operation. Champagne will be con-
sumed. and whist or poker proposed. UT
frequently. as there has grown TO be de-
gree Of suspicion about these hotel cara
games there is no talk of cards.
In the latter case the guest IS poldIy
robbed His money or valuables are deity
extracted from his pockets.
He may know quite wen when ne oIs-
covers his loss that he has been robbed,
but he win have no proof. In the case
of cards he is cheated invariably and led
on to play further by various means ulllit
he has given his note for large amounts,
Sometimes he is allowed to seem 10
win large amounts, but in the end ne Is
always the loser to an extent that makes
the game a very profitable one TO those
who pursue it,
In the corridors of some of the fashion
able hotels each evening one can see
many of these men and women, bearing
I'm the dress and their faces no marx o.
their pursuits. They are not, as rule'
known TO New York detectives.
They come from abroad, many OF them,
and Others an the west. Some OF them
are native Workers who pose as
brokers az eculators. They Delohg ~
that large r-growing class whose scali-
ing and means OF livelihood are mys-
terry.
They appear each evening in faultless
attire, frequent the cafe ana piiiaru
rooms. make acquaintance over tlckers
and at racing boards. often pose as gem
erous patrons of the turf or OF art. iney
are always we'll hammered. NO hold