The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-09-27

The Black Prince was called the
African Prince by admirers of his own
race, when he first began a career OF
crime in New York, and he essayed to
be the best dressed coon" in HelPs
Kitchen. His right name is Alfred
Woods, his favorite alias James Rags
dale, also Alfred Lexdalem, alias AL
fred Laxdale.
He would permit his own kind to
call him 'coon," or a negro and take
it all good part. But when arrested
by Central Office men, it was his habit
to inform them that he was Color
! ed gentleman" The Black Prince
has always boasted of his acquaint-
ances among the white folks" And
it is fact that he was so well receiv-
ed among the thieves of the Caucasian
race. and a certain dissolute class of
white women here and abroad that he
actually came to believe that he had
social status far and above that of
the ordinary negro that robs a chick
en- roost and goes regularly to prayer
meeting.
Although he generally worked alone
the Black Prince was always fond of
the companionship of white guns" or
pickpockets. He hung out with them
at Fox's saloon at 35th street and 7th
avenue, New York, which was torn
down about five years ago. He was a
good story-teller when it came to re-
lating incidents of travel, and his ex-
periences with the police in foreign
cities. Central Office men would drop
into Fox's place just to see if the
Black Prince would uncork something
that would give them a clew to some
other international crook.
His Ebony Highness was regarded
as great wit, adventurer, gambler,
high roller, pal and "gun" without as
sistance.
It is said that the eminent nabob of
his thievish crew is now about 48
years old. But he did not look to be
nearly so old when picked up and
turned out the other day. His term
on Blackwell's Island was for at
tempted larcency in the vicinity of
34th street and 9Th avenue. Inmed-
lately On being released he went To
Boston, where he fell again for an
attempted pocket-picking. He served
another sentence of about year and
then went abroad.
The Black Prince has been known
in New York altogether for period
of about fifteen years, but he is equal
ly abhorred in most American cities.
His most cautious and successful
work has been to hustle around in a
hotel porter's suit, frequenting rail-
road stations and steamship landings,
riding in street cars early in the
morning and late in the afternoon,
when persons are going to work or
going home.
The costume was for long time
his best disguise against police sus-
picion. The pickopckets of the white
race invariably try to assume neat
and business-like address. Who
would imagine that good-natured
negro in porter's jumper could alone
turn trick that generally requires at
least three expert professional
crooks.
But the Black Prince needed no
STALL" or pusher. He was and
still is an adept. i "stall'' IS useful
for his nerve and aoility as scrap
per. When the "gun," or principal
in the pocket-picking job makes a
mistake through nervousness or anx-
iety and is discovered almost in the
act, it is the duty of the stall" to in
terfere until the "gun," or wire as
he is also called can make good his
escape.
The "stall" begins to cover the re-
treat by blocking the pursuit of the
passenger who has set up howl.
Here, look where you're going!"
roars the stall" Whose foot do you
think you're stepping on?'
By the time the reason of the COM
motion is explained the principal has
dropped off the car. Then the "stall''
or stalls" apologize to the passenger
and one by one they ring the bell and
alight in good order.