The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-11-15
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
, New York. Nov. 1A-Many accounts have
appeared in the newspapers Of juvenile
schools of crime, where, after the manner
of Fagin, some past master in he art OF
stealing watches and handkerchiefs gives
instruction over a lay figure suspended
from the ceiling.
That was the way Fagin did It, but II
the author Of "Oliver Twist were in New
York to-day he would get some valuable
American notes on thievery as 1t is now
conducted. and to ne place could he go
where he would receive more accurate in
formation han to "Hensy's school,"
Hensy lives somewhere in Suffolk street.
Exactly where he resides it would be Diff
flcult to find out. for his young pupils be-
lieve that If they told it he would kill
them.
Few of them know. for it is the policy
of the instructor never to take any Of the
novices to his home.
There are on the East Side hundreds Of
boys h are the prey Of such men as he.
The existence of this school was brought
to light a few days ago. by the arrest in
the shopping district. by Roundsman Har-
rigan of the West Thirtieth Street sta
s'chf VI NhASS ~ D. olt NhiCA WI
LESSONS in open court.
The investigation of the police revealed a
state of affairs which shocked ever those
who are familiar with every phase of the
seamy side of a great city.
RECRUITING YOUNG THIEVES.
Many of the recruits of Hensy's school
come from the part time classes. Boys
who have nothing to do in the afternoons
are watched for by the assistants of this
professor Of thievery.
According to all accounts, a distant kin
of person he is. who pay small wages to
his apprentices, for they consider the nom
or of belonging to his school and being his
pupil as one which indicates their own
aptitude and cleverness. The school has
a waiting list like an exclusive club.
Hensy at first conducts no direct nego-
tiations. He sends his assistants in search
OF material and they bring the novices.
thieves he enrolls them on the list of his
sued.
All kinds of thievery are taught in the
school, but the advanced course has new
and elaborate features. and its highest
examples require the assistance of five per-
sG scor Two yonths and three small boys,
shopping districts in the course of n day
ana some of the victims of theft NAV re-
their .nat shortly before they missed
.heir money they were much amused by
the sprightly comments of small bovs who
crowded about them.
Ime woman with a chatelaine bag who
peculiarly liable to fall a victim 70 the
wiies OF these cherubs. One on each side
OF her ana another 10 slip behind and open
money complete the scheme. "e
STALLS. PICKERS AND IooKo11rs
There are in Hensy's school tbroe
classes, stalls" 'pickers" and ~..Iookout."
The boys who stand on e,.ba- n,.
careless shopper are called the stalls"
the one VINO robs her Is the picker and
those VINO ~stand-on the other sid are
as Watchers, or '.lookouts." WHO act
In the %parlance of the profo,..
thievery the victim Is the ..mart, y VI
booty Is the 'swag" and watches a sre
.' Sometimes nst lines tt the ~ mark is referred to as
i aacsss Is called !, od the %.'doughbag." It is
into a n exposition of methods. soing
This is the way that the new svsten, ,- |
operated: The stalls and the !.nierar ss
pass rapidly along the pavement in the
are small. understood boys. usually chosen
for their slight stature and their diminn.
tive hands. They have the appearance Of
city. e upper
Some women would characterize them as |
cunning: others. would pity them. AS
they go along playing ~h.de-and-seek in the |
erowd. laughing and smiling. there is lit !
tie about them 10 suggest evil. The
stalls" go first: after them follows the |
the highway. He is responsible for them
as a Sergeant Is for a squad of mon. The |
lieutenant and the captain are on the
other side.
The picker" stops. He has found the ]