The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-04-16
suNco GAME IN MEXICO
Roaues Who Could Pick Even the
Great Pinkerton's Pocket

Great Pinkerton's Pocket
More ingenious rogues than the
raterous Of Mexico City have yet to
be bred. The great PinkertoD him
self fell a victim to their skill. He
had shown some skepticism over the
wonderful tales he heard concerning
these gentry, and the Mexican Chief
of Police felt that it was up to him
to make good.
The chief had a private interview
with certain pickpocket who at the
moment wasn't wanted in the usual
manner. The result was that the
ratero before night brought a hand
some gold watch and laid 1t on the
officials desk Half an hour later
Pinkerton himself came in, sheepish
but convinced.
Imagine a porter constantly at
your side carrying your valise to the
depot, and you are watching him,
too. Then, after the train starts you
find your grip neatly slit open by a
sharp knife and all your shirts taken
out. You cannot tell how the fellow
managed 1t, for he not only slipped
the garments out under your eyes,
but hid the stir awkward things I'M
der his jacket in the bargain. Yet
this is an amateurs achievements.
1t has become unsafe to deliver
anything to a stranger in the City
of Mexico without personal order
with some secret mark on it. These
rascals have been known to empty
furnished house in broad daylight
under the servants eyes while, say
the family was away on days pic
ionery OF business houses and in
some way learn that such and such
bill is TO be collected at a given time
or that such or such a party is to
deliver certain goods by previous ar
rangement. They then present the
duplicate bill or order and so come
in for the booty.
There is one trick particularly that
has become classical. A citizen one
morning met a friend on his way to
business. He stopped to invite the
friend to a dinner party for the fol-
lowing evening. The two talked for
a while there IN the street when the
citizen remarked that 1t must be get
ting late.
He felt in his pocket but his watch
was not there.
You'll have to tell me the time, -
he said, i've left my watch under
my pillow again"
An hour later a well dressed man
pulled the knocker at the citizen s
door and asked for the citizens wife.
When she came to the door he intro
duced himself as a business friend
of her husband. He had taken the
liberty, he said. to send for a fine
turkey from his ranch, which he beg
ged her to accept for the supper par.
ty OF the evening following; and
there, sure enough, was the well
dressed mans servant holding a
plump gobbler. The citizens wife
was greatly pleased and accepted the
gift. The well dressed man begged
her not to mention It and with the
usual compliments he was turning
away. when, happening to remember
something. he said:
"Oh yes Mr.. forgot his
watch this morning, but | might as
well take It to him. It's under his
pillow" he said.
The citizens wife hurried upstairs
and there, indeed, she found the
watch under the pillow and gave II
to the accommodating stranger.
That evening the citizen on his re
turn home was provoked when he
heard the story, as you may imagine
He was out watch, but at least II
had cost the ratero the investment oil
fine turkey. They would have that
turkey for the dinner party just ths
same. He would tell the joke to his
friends as they ate the bird; and tn,
next evening he began relating tn,
Jest as soon as his guests arrived.
But" interrupted his wife, 9Th,
police caught the fellow, you know.
Caught him." repeated her hus
band.
why Of course she said. IAN,
you yourself sent up a man from tn
police court today He wanted tn,
turkey as evidence
And you gave II to him?'
To be sure | did
The ratero had got back his orig