The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-08-24
Written by Sophie Lyons

been two or three years since 1 had
picked pocket and until that afternoon
/ had believed I was done forever with
this petty variety Of crime.
The prosperous crowd OF racegoers,
however, with their glittering studs and
scarfpins, their massive watch fobs and
bulging pochetbooks, made my fingers
fairly itch with the old temptation, and
the desire TO put my hands to stealing
grew all the stronger when I thought OF
our nearly empty purses.
Come, Jack" said ] to my companion,
I'VE simply must make some money, and
the only way I know Of getting 1t is by
going through the crowd out at tho track
this afternoon
Jack knew as little about picking
pockets as I did about flying. Unlike
most criminals, he had not started his
career in that kind of crime.
But as I intended to do most OF the
work myself, I did not worry on this
score. Jack was eager to help, and ne
was such bright, quick-witted fellow
knew | would have no difficulty In teach
Ing him to do his part.
A clever pickpocket rarely works alone
Wherever possible he Is followed by con-
federate to whom he hands the yaluables
the thief Is actually caught In the act Of
picking a pocket, he never has in his pos
session any stolen property. This is the
reason why the police find It so hard 10
catch pickpocRets,
IT took nearly every cent we had to pay
our fare out TO the race track aud our ad-
mission to the paddock, but it was worth
it, for no pickpocket could have asked for
a better opportunity than we found. The
grounds were packed with well-to-do
Southerners, and while they were craning
their necks to get a better view OF the
ponies even novice would have had no
difficulty in approprlating large number
Of pocketbooks and pieces or Jewelry.
Don't let me get out Of your sight" were
my final instructions to Jack, "but on no
condition speak to me or pretend to take
any notice Of me-. If l should get into
trouble, leave town By the first train and
raise enough money on the booty you have
TO get me a lawyer
What a rich harvest field that was for
my nimble fingers! There were few
policemen and, so far as | could see no
detectives in plain clothes to worry about,
Five minutes after I got inside the gate
was robbing every one ] could lay my
hands on, with all the deftness for which
/ had long been famous.
1t was all a new experience for Jack, and
he was rather nervous. His lips were
lWllCAluS u UlL duu ilS eyes GAlliu5 WALL
excitement when quickly slipped my first
watch into his hand. But as he watched
me rob man after man without being de-
tected his GOODNESS returned,
Long before the last race was run / had
handed Jack all the booty he could COM
fortably carry, so l gave him the signal
that 1t was time to 20, He followed me at
safe distance to the obscure little hotel
where he had registered.
Not half bad for one afternoons work."
said | with satisfaction az Jack emptted
his pockets In the seclusion OF my room
There were dozen diamond studs and
scarf-pins, four or Ave gold watches and
half dozen well-hled pocketbooks contain
Ing In all between Ave and six hundred
dollars.
We divided the cash equally, cut the
empty pocketbooSs into shreds and hid
the pieces In the fireplace
All the jewelry we wrapped In some
soiled linen and tied UP in a pasteboard
box We checked this package at the rail-
road station and hid the brass check where
we could easily find 1t later on.
Jack was for returning to Memphis OF
going on 10 New York at once-but | said
no. My success had only whetted my appe-
tlte for crime and | was determined TO
return to that track the next afternoon
and try my luck again.