The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-05-01
LONDON P|CKPOCKETS
Tricky or Brutal and Vicious, Ac-
cording to Their Class.
METHODS OF THE 4GuN MOB"

Will Pluck a Victim In Crowd.
"Gun mob" is simply English thieves
slang for pickpocket and his gang Of
confederates-"ge gentlemen" who reap
an annual harvest Of anything they
can lay their hands upon in crowd.
Summer time, when race courses, ath-
letic 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 GOODNESS today,
however, compel our admiration" to
quote one of the cleverest detectives,
land 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 cleverest 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
pickpockets hands are in view, while
in reality the skillful fingers Of one
hand are going through the pockets of
the man beside him.
The use of the pocketless overcoat, or
the cape coat. which makes an entire
cover for the hands. is an old dodge,
with the pickpocket. He often pre-
fers, however, to use novel inven-
ton known as the sash method. The
sash consists of piece of black silk
or alpaca two yards long and three
quarters wide. 1t IS folded the same
as neck scarf and crossed centrally
beneath the coat and vest, both ends
being brought under the arms and
placed in the hip pockets Of the trou-
sers. When ready for action the ''tool,"
as the man is called who actually
picks the pocket, places his hands be-
hind the folds Of this device, and 1t
enables him to conceal his purpose as
he fronts a man to rob him Of his
watch or money If the latter Is in his
trousers pocket.
A .stool," however, has other means
of covering his hands without resort
ing to the aid of coat or sash. A
newspaper or theater programme is
often used. Beware of looking over
a strangers shoulder to glance at a
newspaper or programmes little ac-
ton we are often guilty of when it
only necessitates a 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 hat
are employed in the same manner as
the paper, only the former is some
times used in the "sling method" to
carry supposedly crippled arm. The
manner in which that arm would rest
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 dastardly 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 filed with cay
enne pepper. while tobacco is placed
above it. Approaching gentleman in
an III lighted street, the thief asks for
light for his pipe, and while the vic
tim feels for his matches he is sudden
~ blinded by a discharge of cayenne
pepper. which the scoundrel blows
through the hole in the bottom of the
pipe into his eyes. Maddened with the
terrible pain. the victim presses his
hands to his eyes. and the robber
snatches his watch and chain and de-
camps. to repeat his exploit on some
other unsuspecting pedestrian.
1t is not very often, however, that
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 thew can transfer the tbOO-