The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-06-21
MODERN HOTEL THIEVES
THEIR WORK VERY DIFFERENT
 FROM THE OLD METHODS.
They Are Guests Themselves and Pose as Persons of Wealth-Turn Jewel Thieves When Hard Up.
 Different Schemes.

ISGW OTk 6un.
 The up-to-date hotel thief is entirely different from the old-fashioned sneak -r' who lrrwled through corridors, oft en 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 an style to the summer hotel or city ho- tel that he has selected for his field. Sometimes he comes direct from an ocean liner with his steamer trunks on. top of the cab. Often he has valet. and some times wife, but as 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 1t is only from the steamer deck, where he has struck up an acquaintance with some capitalist whose weaknesses he has discovered under the guise of cor dial good fellowship.
 When the up-to-date hotel thief be- comes a thorough master of his trade and is successful enough to travel in this fashion, he. as a rule, operates alone. Until he amasses experience enough to aid him in carrying eff big prizes that enable him to have periods of rest and recreation between his enterprises he is obliged often to take chambermaids and bellboys into his confidence sending them on ahead of him sometimes to prepare ways and means
 If he has wife with him she will i'm variably be handsome and finely gowned and jeweled She will be gracious, often fascinating and will pose as a martyr to the male friends that are picked up by the couple on their journeys. Nothing appeals to 8 great many men so much as the idea of a pretty and neglected wife who is sacrificing herself for her husband
 The couple will be extremely hospitable and will entertain in their hotel rooms. Then there are various methods that are put in dperaticn Champagne will be con sumed andNwhist or poker proposed or frequently. as there has grown to be q degree of suspicion about these card games. there Is no talk of cards.
 robbed. His money or valuables are delft ly extracted from his pockets.
 He may know quite well when he dis covers his loss that he has been robbed of cards he is cheated invariably and led on to play further by various means until he has given his note for large amounts
 Sometimes he is allowed to seem to win large amounts. but in the end he is al ways the loser to an extent that makes the game very profitable one to those who pursue it.
 Tn the corri io"s of some of the fashion a able hotels each evening one can see many of these men and " onen bearing in their dress and their faces no mark of their pursuits. They are not. as a rule, kno l to New York detectives.
 
 and others from the West. Some of them are native New Workers who pose as brokers and spectators. They belong to that large, ever-growing class whose call ing and means of livelihood are mys- tery.
 They appear each evening~in faultless attire, frequent the cafe and billiard rooms make acquaintances over tickers and at racing boards, often pose as gen erous patrons of the turf or of art. They are always well hammered. No hotel thiaf of this class is ever in the least short or brusque in his manner. He is a suave. hat-lifting. cigar giving and most cordi Il and affable.
 Every hotel of note has it's private de- tective nowadays. and some of the larger houses have a staff of sleuths who cir culate among the guests, their real call ing being known to only few Of those with whom they come in daily contact.
 They do much clever work in ferreting out criminals. but their efforts have be@n conspicuously unsuccessful of late. for despite the fact that hotel managers will do everything in their power 10 keep the news of a robbery secret reports of many jewel robberies of late have reached the general public. while stories of shady transactions and sharp gambling, opera tions are getting more frequent.
 The large hotels make special efforts to protect their guests known to be men of importance financially. Such men are the favorite prey for the adventures of this class who will endeavor to dupe them by plans well conceived and executed: appealing to some special Tad or Iolly or the man to be victimized
 Many men nowadays carry not only large sums of money with them. but also quantities of unset gems of value, this being one of the eccentricities that mod ern nilionaires indulge themselves In.
 Such men, if once caught in the net, are willing to double their losses as a rule rather than have any news of their experiences get out When It IS rscorded not very long ago for introducing a Chi cago crook. posing as dealer in art treasures. to a New York millionaire. 1t will be seen at once that the boteI sleuth Is rot so astute nor so lynx-eyed as he should be in all cases.
 Sometimes it is trlfie difficult to, tell the knave from the fool among these