Year: 1860

the former, bul the latter is more difficult


Some one will take hold of him, or knock
hi. hat off, wheH, up go both hands, and
out goes his wallet or his watch


/ In stealing watches, the guard chain


forms quite an obstacle provided il be Sc
cuTely fastened The most frequent way of


overcoming this difficulty is TO perform the


operation called ringing it," That is, the
watch is cautiously lifted from the pocket
/ and by dexierous movement of the thumb


and forefinger the ring 10 which the chain
in attached is twisted from the watch, and


left dangling from the victims vest, while


the watch has been passed from one hand
to another, I'LL it may be several blocks
away before il is missed. In buying watch
es, ii may be a good thing 10 know that
when the guard chain is riveted to The
watch, instead of being merely sprung to-
gether: pickpocket stands little chance of
getting il away, unless he cuts the guard.
The most expert pickpockets-,hose at
the head of the profession-are rather in
clined 10 avoid New York. as the Detective
Police have become too thoroughly ac-
Quanled with them aud their modes of op-
Grafton. They accordingly turn their at.
tention to travelling and working railroad
cars, steamboats,, and the inland cities,
which they visit on their route. Two or
three generally travel together, and take ad-
vantage of every crowd TO practice their
arts upon unwary strangers. After sue
cessful tour they return to New York 10
spend their i'll -gotten gains in gambling and
rioious living. 1t is not an unusual thing
for an expert TO start from New York with
scarcely any funds, travel directly through
New Orleans, or some of the Western cities,
and Immediately return with sufficient
money 10 enable him 10 live in idleness for
several months This leaves in the city
few besides the comparative novices, the
women, and the ''kids," or juvenile pick
POCKETS These are particularly afraid of
the Detectives, and will seldom attempt
Job when they know them TO be near.


1t frequently happens that al places of
amusement thief will present himself to
Detective who may be there, and beg to be
allowed TO go inside. He promises faithful
Iv not 10 "work' the audience, and if the
Detective wishes, he will wait till all the
people are out OF the building before taking
his departure. If the officer grants him
permission the thief pays his money, goes
inside, and seats himself in an obscure cor
ner, from whence he watches the perform
ance with pleasure. He always keeps his
promise faithfully, for he knows that if any
one of the audience is robbed, the Detect
ives will be sure TO arrest him Immediately.
An "ounce of prevention is worth a pound
of cure," so it often happens that the ap
pearance of a Detective in a crowd does
more TO prevent crime than all the heavy
penalties ever inflicted by Judge Russell


The light fingered gentry always keep
well advised of all public gatherings and
their first inquiry is what "coppers" (po-
Iicemenj will be there Being satisfied on
this point, they know whether or not it is
worth while to attend. and act accordingly.
Nearly all of them dress well and some of
them being of agreeable manners and cheer
fuI conversation, it is not difficult for them
10 form the acquaintance of a stranger, and
engage his attention, while a confederate
picks his pockets. Many of the second or
thi.d rate pick pockets make il almost their
exclusive business to keep the track of the
city cars and stages. While passengers are
hurriedIy getting in and out, it requires but
little dexterity TO relieve them of some val
liable article. car crowded full of mixed
people. where it is almost impossible TO stir
one way or another, affords them a most
favorable opportunity for providing and
hauling, and robbing their selected victim.