THE WAYS OF "SMASHERS."

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7270, 7 March 1885, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE WAYS OF "SMASHERS."

A OORBESPOKDKNT, writing to a London paper, says :—A few weeks ago, wishing to meet with a person whom I had reason to believe wae at that time staying at a common lodging-bouse in the purlieus of Westminster, I dressed in such a manner as I thought would enable me to pass unnoticed amongst the inhabitant* of that domicile, and took my way thither. I failed in the object of my visit, but thought I might pass an hour not unprofitably in observing the different characters who frequented the place. It is not my intention to make remarks on the characteristics of a number of broken-down doctors, lawyers, &c, although all these, I believe, might be found there, and enough, so doubt, might be written about them all to fill a volume. My object is to draw attention to the following circumstance, in the hope that it may have some influence in patting a stop to the circulation of spurious ■ coin, now so extensively carried on in various parts of the metropolis. I had taken my seat at a table in one of the darker corners of the room, when I noticed that an individual of very "seedy" appearance walked by me several times, as if taking stock of me for some purpose of his own. Presently ho took a seat by my side, and entered into conversation by remarking, " Out of work !" •' Yea," said I " And hard up, I suppose," was the next qnery. " Yes/ , said 1 again. He then left me, but soon returned with a large ■date of cabbage and bacon, in eating which ho naked me to join him. This, however, I 5 declined, giving as my reason that I had just had » gos meal, though ere the next ***

to come from I did not know. Hβ seemed much disappointed at my refusal, and after eating a little himself gave the remainder to a ballad singer, who, at the next table, was Horting his harmonious selections before setting oat on his evening perambulations. He then said he felt thirsty, and aaked if 1 conld "do a drink." On my assenting, we adjourned to \a neighbouring pu blic-hou»e, where he asked me what I would take. Judging from bis appearance that he waa not a person overburdened with cash, but having been himself, as he expressed it, hard-up, was generonsly anxious to assist one whom he fancied was in the same case. I modestly euggeeted ' • fonr ale.'' This, however, he pooh-poohed, and, going to the bar, procured two huge jorums of not rum and water. He then proceeded to let me somowhat into the secret of his taking so great an interest in my affairs by enquiring, " I suppose you would not mind earning a few shillings before twelve o'clock;" to which I replied that I should be very glad if I could do so by any honest means. '' Well," he said, " a man cannot be too particular about that when it is a question of having a bed to sleep on or walking about all night; but if you will go with me I can put you on the right track, and it is pretty work—very dretty work—quite safe, and eating and drinking is part of the job." I put myself under his guidance, and we set out. As we passed a confectioner's shop he said, " I should like one of those pies. You might fetch one," at the same time giving me a shilling. I looked at this, when he exclaimed, impatiently, " Don't finger it; you'll spoil it!" Then lat once saw through the whole thing, and utterly refused to have anything to do with such pretty work.. Well," he eaid, " I may as well speak plainly now. You see, if you r.ere to speak to a bobby, or do anything elee you may have in your mind, it would only be your word against mine, and nothing would be found on me. The fact is, 1 want a pal, as it takes two to work the game properly. The one that carries \he pieces must not go into the shops. The one that does so must only have one coin. If by any chance ho should be collared, he would only be remanded for a week, and then, if nothing was known against him, discharged, and if it comes off all right he touches his hat to me that it is all right, and we meet a little farther on and divide the two bob, for that is »bout what it comes to, as I get the h»lf dollars for 4id, and the two shillings for SJd. You spend 2d or 3d out of each, which leaves abouli a bob for each clear. If there is any danger 1 shunt, and we meet again somewhere else and try another lay. If it comes too close I swallow them." " Did you ever swallow any?" I enquired. "Yes, 1 got hold of a chap in the nouse where I met you. He was a respectable young fellow—a mechanic from the country looking for work, but he could not get any. I was in no hurry, as I had a mate at the time, so I watched him. Day by day he got seedier, and his shoes were down at the heels, and by-and-bye he took to coming in during the evening, and sleeping on one of the seats until shutting-up time, when he had to turn out and walk the streets all night. Thee I spoke to him, as I knew his appearauco would pass anything. He took a lot of persuasion ; in fact, he was unky all through. At last he agreed to have one day with me. Wβ made a fair start; he dropped ono half-dollar at a pub, another at a mu»ic shop tor a threepenny fiddle string, but he made a mess of the next. I sent him into a shop, where 1 knew he would only see an old woman or her daughter, for two ounces of lambe-wool. He got it all right, came out, touched his hat, and I crossed the road to meet him, when he turned his head and saw the old lady at the door. I do not think she had tumbled to what he had given her, but the sight of her frightened him, and he dropp»d tho wool and yelled, "Lookout; it's all up," and started to run. Just at that moment a slop stepped from round the corner, and what with seeing him, and the sudden fright, I bolted the lot which I was carrying in my mouth, but it almost killed me ; it is no joke to have five half-crowns in your inside, especially when they are wrapped in tissue paper." By this time we were in Oxford-street, and my companion, thinking I was ready to join him, pointed out a well-known restaurant, where he had passed two bad half-crowns during the previous week. We agreed to meet at the Marbie Arch if anything went amis*, and I took a half-crown and entered the place. Needless to say, I did not attempt to pass the thing, but, coming quickly out, began to run, and had the satisfaction of seeing him rush off as fast as his legs would carry him. When we met some half hour later I found he had disposed of his whole stock by putting them through a sewer grating. He then aslted me to accompany him to the Seven Dials, saying that the man who supplied him was to be met there. On our way I enquired as to what he found the best places for the transaction of his peculiar business. He said a good plan was to pop quickly into the private bar of a public-house or a restaurant, and call for something as if in a hurry, choosing those places where a young lady ie behind the bar and two or three " swells" in front, as in most cases she will ( be talking to one of them, and hardly look at what you give her. Iα the back streets the small shops are the best, but you must spot those where a boy or girl is serving, or a woman; some of them are sharper than the men, but, of course, they cannot run after you so well. Another good plan is to get some pasaing child, the more respectable the better, to go in for you. They are hardly ever suspected, while you can see them through the window, and if the shopkeeper tests the coin you can be out of sight and safe in no time." We had now arrived at the Dials, and my would-be-partner vanished down a narrow passage. I tried to follow him, but could not see which way he turned, and in a few moments he re-appeared from a different direction altogether to where I expected him, saying the man he had come to see had been oq the booze all day, and could not supply him until the next night. I now took lsave of my quondam friend, notwithstanding his offer to pay for my bed if I would stay with him, but promised to meet him next d'ay. I went at the appointed time, and have been several times since, but I either aroused his suspicions by leaving him, or he had some other reason for changing hie headquarters, for he has not been there since, and I have thus been frustrated in my intentioa af putting him in a position from which he would not escape with only a week's remand.