East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-11-05
NEW YORK LETTER

New York, Nov. 5.-A 14-year-
lad named Grossman, very intelligent
for his years, but known to the New
York detectives as the cleVerest pick
pocket In the city, when arrested a
few days ago by special detectives on
the lookout for him, was found to be
in possession of two gold watches, a
lady's silver watch, a heavy watch
with gold and silver chasings and a
sum of so.
When arraigned in court the youth
with frankness and candor told tale
that puts Fagin and oliver Twist in
the shade. On the death of his father
two years ago, he went to live with a
man named Stein and his wife. For
weeks Stein instructed him in the art
Of picking pockets before he sent him
out. He had to practice hours every
day on Stein and his wife, relieving
them Of wallets. pocketbooks, watches
and jewelry until he became so adept
that he could rob them without their
knowing 1t. If he did the job in a
clumsy fashion Stein would beat him.
Constant practice, however, made him
so clever at the game that he nevep
was caught until the present time. All
the booty he got he handed over to
Stein and his wife. and the latter did
all the pawning and dealing with the
fence"
Stein invariably went out with him
during the day and night and point
cd out intended suckers" prosperous
looking men or women. Besides
"capping" for the young "dip," Stein
often assisted in engaging the victim
in conversation or holding a news pa
per in front of him while the little
thief did the "frsking." Both pris-
oners were remanded. Detective Wall
states that numbers of STEMS pupils
are serving sentences In the House
of Refuge.
Extraordinary Skin Grating.
Three months ago a woman was ad
mitted to the st. Joseph's Hospital
Yonkers, so badly burned by an acci-
dent that an operation of skin graft
ing had to be resorted to to save her
life. More than 1000 bits will be re-
qured and at present four men have
supplied 400. Her husband, and her
1S-year- old son william. first agreed
to undergo the ordeal and when II
was found that all the skin they could
supply, without injury TO themselves
WAS not enough, DR.. Failla. who is
performing the operation, offered to
give some of his. Coroner Russell
also volunteered, but still more is
wanted.
The woman, Mrs Russell of larry.
town, was horribly injured by the ex-
plosion of an alcohol stove, while
camping at the Thousands Islands. Sc
many medical students have come
forward within the past few days that
DR.. Fiella and the hospital surgeon.
believe they will quickly have Mrs
Russell herself again.
Jail Officials Graft.
Amazing details are daily coming
to light as to the systematic Fleeing
of prisoners in the city jails. A mar
exceeding the limit while driving an
automobile, explained TO the magis.
trate in the west side court that a fec
for a professional bondsman cost him
SIS and amongst the other items were
one undelivered message to a bonds
man, $l.lo; one Sc packet of cigar.
cites, Csc; changing cell of his friend
81; second undelivered message tC
bondsman, $l.10: one 10-cent maga-
zine, permission to take a walk, 81;
making a total of s21.S5 in less than
10 hours
Complaints of like character have
been received from mostly all the city
Jails. II cannot. however, be expected
that any attention will be paid to
trivial matters OF this kind. when the
district attorneys office is at present
husily engaged collecting evidence tc
secure the indictment of two or more
city magistrates for bribery and cor
ruption. Evidence has already been
adduced to show that one magistrate
received $1,000 for discharging a wo-
man charged with a serious crime
while another charged with receiving
a large sum for preventing the course
of justice.
Magazine for the Blind.
Seldom has n newly announced be-
nevolence been received with such
glad approval as was the announce
ment that Mrs. Ziegler. widow Of the
late millionaire, had endowed new
magazine devoted especially to the
blind. The announcement must have
made the poor blind people leap with
joy.
The blind are peculiarly sad, over
and above any sadness that clings to
other persons afflicted physically In
any way. A group of deaf and dumb
persons is nearly always laughing and
chatting over their fingers; but the
groups of blind one meets always
lok as though the heavy burden OF
their woe was always pressing weari
ly upon their spirits, and giving them
no show at the interesting and merry
things Of life. The letting down of
the heavy curtain between them and
the world shuts out the pleasures OF