The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1924-06-05

Msx.co TEF1S cat ScHe Artists IN the
line Il Petit larceny.

MsEseo TAFas cat Some Artists n the
Line If Petit Larceny. 81
IN Mexico the sneak thief has hfs1
business down to to a science. Thai
favored manner Of stealing is from1
the houses. Most Of the buildings ara
but one story high and the doors are
kept closed and locked. The windows
are as urge as the doors and extend
to the floor. To keep the thieves out
of the house they are protected with
heavy iron bars, but the Mexican
sneak thief has found way to OYER
come this difficulty.
Because of the Iowness of the vim
dow he can look into the room and (
"spot" the articles he wishes. Then I
he waits until the occupant Of the
room is in some other part Of the
house. A bamboo pole about as long
as fishing rod is produced, to which
is attached piece of string with
fish hook on the end.
The thief by practice can cast the
hook SO that 1t viii catch ON almost
any article in the room, no matter
how far it may be from the window.
Slowly it Is drawn forward and pulled
through the bars.
In this manner articies are takea
off the bureau or tables, rugs snatchsd
from the floor, and bed clothes from
the bed Clothing left on chairs or
hanging on the wall is easily remov-
ed. The thieves do not even wait I'M
til the occupants are out of the room
In all cases. There have been cases
where men and women who were I'M
dressing in their rooms have lost
clothing while their backs we're turn
ed to the window
a short time ago the wife Of well
known mining engineer was dressing
to go to dasce. She had removed
part of her clothes from the wardrobe
and turned her back. Hearing noise
she turned just in time to see her
dress disappearing out OF the window.
She screamed for help. but before she
could explain what had happened the
thief had escaped.
An Episcopal minister who went to
take charge of congregation had q
sad experience. The congregation was
a large one for Mexico and he expect
ed to live In modern rectory How
ever, there were no American houses
for rent In the town. He was shown
to a typical Mexican house and as he
was tired went to bed as soon as the
committee had retired.
He was instructed not to place any
thing movable near the window. He
needed the advice, and drawing a
chair near the bed placed his clothes
on it In the morning when he aWoke
he was shocked to find that his
clothes and shoes were missing. He
looked for his grip and saw it near
the window. It had been opened and
every stitch it contained taken out.
The satchel would have been taken
too if the thief could have pulled It
through the iron bars.
The clergyman could not speak a
word of Spanish and he was expected
to preach his first sermon that morn
ing. He could not go out in a barrel
because there was no barrel. The
sheet on the bed was q small affair
and he was a large man There was
nothing for him to do but to sit down
on the bed and hope that some Of the
members of his congregation would
come to the house. In about half an
hour after the time set for the service
the committee which had escorre0
him to the room In the evening ar
rived. The rector was found hud-
died up on the bed with the little
sheet wrapped around him. After
explanations had been made the men
procured wagon and went to the sta
ton and got the parsons trunk and
he was able to dress.