The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1908-01-15
LONDON P|CKPOCKETS
Tricky or Brutal and Vicious, Ac-
cording 10 Their Class.
METHODS OF THE "GUN MOB"
The False Arm Game and the Use Of
the Pocketless Overcoat-The Pipe
and Red Pepper Trick-How Gang
Win Pluck a Victim In Crowd.


slang for !, pickpocket and his gang OF
confederate gentlemen" who reap
an annual harvest of anything they
can lay their hands upon in 4 crowd
Summer time. when race courses, ath-
lctic grounds and seaside places are
crowded. is the pickpocket's favorite
and most profitable season, and when
an event occurs like royal garden
party at Windsor the light fingered
gentry positively chuckle.
Twenty plain clothes detectives at
tended the last garden party to pro-
tect his majesty's guests from the
tricks of the pickpockets, but the latter
left Windsor richer by hundreds OF
pounds in spite Of Scotland Yard and
carried away with them the gold
hunter watches of several of the titled
guests.
At one time the modern detective
was apt to despise the pickpocket
somewhat, characterizing him as low
and not particularly clever thief. His
ingenuity, daring and coolness today
however, compel our admiration, to
quote one of the cleverest detectives,
"and we feel pleased when we lay
one of them by the heels"
The British pickpocket's tricks are
many and various, and he is adding to
their number every day. The false
arm game is one Of the clererest and
is calculated to deceive detective,
even although he may have his eyes
on the operator. A coat is thrown
loosely over false arm, which is held
naturally. Apparently both OF the
pickpocket's bands are in view. while
in reality the skillful fingers Of one
hand ere going through the pockets OF
the man beside him.
The use Of the pocketiess o7ercoat, or
the cape coat, which makes an entire
cover for the hands, is an old dodge,
which nevertheless is still popular
with the pickpocket. BE often pre-
fers, however, to use novel lnVen-
ton known as the sash method. The
sash consists Of piece Of black SILK
or alpaca two yards long and three
quarters wide. It is folded the same
as q neck scarf and crossed centrally
beneath the coat and vest, both ends
being brought under the arms ana
placed in the hip pockets OF the trou-
sers. When ready for action the too" )"
as the man is called who actually
picks the pocket, places his hands be-
hind the folds Of this device, and II
enables him to conceal his purpose as
he fronts" man to rob him Of his
watch or money If the latter is in his
trousers pocket.
A 'ttool," however, has other means
Of covering his hands without resort
ing to the aid Of coat or sash. 4
newspaper or theater p ogramme IS
often used. Beware Of looking over
a strangers shoulder to glance at a
newspaper or programme-a little ac-
ton we are often guilty Of when 1t
only necessitates turn Of the head.
You may be risking nothing, but, on
the other hand, you may be seated or
standing by the side Of professional
pickpocket. who has only to hold the
paper at certain angle while you are
engrossed in some item to cover his
movements as he relieves you of your
valuableS.
The black silk handkerchief and hac
nre employed N the same manner as
the paper, only the former is some
times used in the sling method" to
carry Il supposedly crippled arm. The
manner in which that arm would res
against your face. as if raised to avoid
some one striking it. While the other
hand took your scarfpin and watch
would excite compassion from the vic
tim himself.
The pickpocket's most dastaEdly trick
but one. be It noted. which is only
used by the man who is too clumsy to
perform that sleight Of hand upon
which the clever thief prides himself
is that of binding the victim with pep
per blown through pipe. The bowl
Of the latter is filed with ! false bot
tom and second tube the cavity below
the false bottom being filled with cay
enne pepper. while tobacco is placed
above it Approaching Il gentleman III
an i'll lighted street. the thief asks for
q light for his pipe. and while the VIC
tim feels for his matches he is sudden
II blinded by a discharge Of cayenne
pepper, which the scoundrel blows
through the hole in the bottom Of the
pipe into his eyes. AIaddened With the
terrible pain. che victim presses MS
hands to his eyes, and The roober
snatches his watch and chain and de-
camps. to repeat his exploit on some
other unsuspecEng pedestrian.
1t is not very often, however, thai
the pickpocket works alone, although
women who belong to the light finger
ed fraternity-and who, by the way.
are often more successful than men
usually prefer to do so. Men thieves
like to work in ''mobs." for the simple
reason that they can transfer the "boo-
dle' from one 20 the other in a crowd.
Consequently If recognized by u de-
tective and arrested on suspicion there
is nothing in their possession on when
they can be convicted.
Besides. confrederates-or stalls" as
they are called in the veruacular OF the
"profession"-are necessary to do that
little bit Of hustling which makes the
'.tool's" task 50 much easier and less
ems the risk Of detection.
Many are doubtless aware that t-a1l
termlni in busy thoroughfares are
places where the pickpocket is always
looking for plunder, and 4 "moE OF
four will often work together in such
a crowd 4 prosperous looking victim
is selected. and us be attempts to
board the car the four quickly sur
round him, WITH the artist" behind.
The confederate in front uses every