The Washington herald., 1922-03-08
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.Day by Day
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NEW YORK. March 7.-Gotham
sends the keenest of its camera
eyed detectives to the two great
railroad terminals, the hoppers
through which many criminals sift
to safety. jungle Joe"-the name
because he worked best in crowds
used to say that not a train came
into New York without at least ten
lambs ready for fleeing.
Few newcomers realize the count
less eyes that watch them from
various vantage points. Every In
formation desk has its spotter--a
man who has spent long years at
the morning line-up where from
behind black mask he gayed at
criminals from all parts Of the
world.
The attendants in each station
are frst-grade detectives. Every
criminal when the net begins to
tighten bolts for a railroad sta
tion-knowing full well that he
faces almost certain capture IL
seen.
Yet they are so accustomed to
gambling with Fate that they take
the chance. The favorite dodge Of
escaping detection is to wear the
garb of priest. An innocent
looking haberdashery store on Riv-
ingtons street used to furnish these
disguises until the police closed II
as. a fence"
People in invalid chairs are care
fully watched, especially when they
are leaving the city. Two of the
smartest confidence men of the old
Tenderloin were wheeled right un-
der the eyes OF Central Office
sleuths waiting for them several
years ago.
The stations are filled with those
plying every sort OF petty graft.
Crying Mary,'s who has perfect
control of her tear ducts and
weeps at will, used to gather many
purses by sobbing out her story of
a lost ticket to Iowa. Then they
began arresting her. on sight.
Now she has a beat on upper
Broadway-crying that she wants
to get back to Hoboken. as IL any
one would cry to go there. The
pickpockets work in wedges. when
they spot a victim they buy tickets
to the first station out and then
surround him going through the
gate where there Is more or less
confusion in the showing of the
tickets.
They shall not passi That is the
stentorian cry that has gone boom
ing down the Rialto from the meg
aphoned lips of theatrical pro-
ducers. The celebrated Annie
Oakley''-or complimentary ticket
is to be abolished. save those sent
to first-night reviewers. The press
agents of a dozen or more the
atrical producers have begun the
eliminating process. The business ,
of 'papering" the house when al
production says at the box office
has been found to be many times
Injurious to a good play. People
who see show free are not liable
to 60 out and praise Its virtues. IL
any. Incidentally. one critic Of =
morning paper has just been barred
from a theatrical syndicate's thirty
theaters because he referred to one
as a "mausoleum." The producers
considered II a bit personal and
in retaliation the critic is running
a so-called expose" OF an attempt
to control reviews through adver-
tising.
The first touch Of spring has
come to Manhattan. Old Lavender
Joe, with his satchel of sachet. has
drifted back from Palm Beach to
patrol the avenue. For thirty years
his migrations north and south
have been a staple weather vane.
The toggery shops are showing
their white flannel trousers and
summer scarves.
over on Broadway the tank
troupers are rounding in form their
adventures in knocking them cold"
In Punxatawney and where not,
and are taking up their positions
along the curb in Times Square.
Bryant, Park, benches are crowded
with sunbathers. And soon the
opera season is ended.
Down on Baxter street. the
secondhand clothing men are busy
buying the discarded winter cloth
ing from passers-by. A lively
mart-where shrewd traders bid on
the paves for the clothes of a