Los Angeles herald., 1907-05-08
PRISONER
is P|CKPOCKET
CAUGHT WITH HIS HAND ON
. ANOTHER'S PURSE
May Be Member of the Gang That
Has EIuded Thief catchers in
Many of the Big East
ern Cities

| Charles Harris, said by the members
/ of the detective bureau to be one OF
the cleverest pickpockets in the country
and member Of a gang which fol
years defied the police of New Yorl
and other large eastern cities, was ar.
rested by Deputy Sheriffs w. T. Woods
and Daniel Crowley at the Panorama
rink late Monday night. Harris is al
legged to have been in the act of picking
q purse from the pocket of w. H.
Holmes, .211 Bullard block.
Mr. Holmes had visited the Piano.
rama with number of friends. He
was standing on one side when he felt
hand slipping into his inner coat
pocket and a second later felt his purse
being drawn forth. Holmes grasped
the hand and for a few seconds a fight
ragged between he and the pickpocket.
Word that thief had been captured
In the crowd spread and within a few
minutes the officers were on the scene
and placed Harris under arrest.
When taken to the police station the
man refused to make any statement,
but detectives connected with the de-
partment after half hours talk with
the man expressed themselves as con-
fident that he was formerly a member
of the famous east side gang of thieves,
housebreakers and pickpockets, which
several years ago kept the police of
New York on the move.
Complaint Today
1t was decided to have a complaint
against the man sworn out today and
he will be taken to the police court
to answer a charge of robbery. In the
meantime the police departments of
eastern cities will be communicated
with and the local officers expect to
receive word to hold the man after he
is released until detectives can be sent
for him.
Few reports of pockets being picked
have been received by the police, but
many persons have called at the sta
ton to report lost articles. In several
instances valuable pins have been
missed by women after leaving a
crowd, and it is thought by the detec-
tives that thieves may have been re-
sponsible for some of these losses. De-
tectives are working in every large
crowd and officers from several of the
most prominent private agencies are
assisting the local men at this work.
1t is expected that by the end of the
week a number of crooks wanted in
other cities will be picked up by the
police, as it is known that many left
their homes for the coast several weeks
ago.
Only One Burglary
Only one house robbery was reported
to the police yesterday. but in that case
the burglar showed such daring that
the officers believe he is q dangerous
robber and one who would be better
off behind the bars at the central sta
tion than at liberty.
About II o'clock Monday night F. A.
Sennet, 1912 South Grand avenue, re-
turned home from the theater. AS Mr..
Sennet entered the front door he heard
some one moving in the kitchen. He
went at once to the rear of the house
and as he entered the passage way
leading to the kitchen was met by a
tall, broad shouldered man who stood
in the doorway barring his passage.
For a moment Mr.. Sennet stopped and
then placed his hand in his pocket as
If to draw a revolver. AS he did so
the burglar sprang into the kitchen and
closed the door. He then jumped
through an open window into the rear
yard and got away.
Upon Investigation Mr.. Sonnet found
that a valuable diamond ring had been
stolen as we'll as several other articles
of jewelry. Detectives were detailed
on the case, but so far have been un-
able to find the robber