THE LONDON PICKPOCKET.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VII, Issue 392, 15 October 1880, Page 3

THE LONDON PICKPOCKET.

It is a peculiarity of the London pickpocket that he is at once ingenious and pertinacious He is clever in selecting a field for his operation, and when he has made his selection he abides by it. Bima time ago the platforms of the Underground Railroad at midnight were his happy hunting ground, and he did such effectual business that the police had to take special care of the Company's customurs. Now he has discovered a new scene of action, being guided in the selection by his usual sound judgment. A Police Court, with the dreaded magistrate on the bench, w.th constables scattered about and an ad libitum supply in reserve, with the police van waiting at the door, and with the dominant sense that he would probably be known, and, if so, certainly be wanted, does not seem a veiy probable hauui for an experienced pickpocket. But there is ouc important consideration to lnfluetic the choice. I'erbons who " make an apphcatioa to a magistrate "a • generally more or Jess flurried and anxious, and this anxiety is the pickpocket's opportunity. At C.erktuwcll lately a young woman who aj .phed for v summous to Mr. Huwack had to add a kind of postscript to ber application, and apply for the thief who had stolen her purse. The magistrate could of course do nothing except take care of hi« own pockets as he left his Court, aud yet before that time arrived, he was mlormed that another applicant had been robbed of £3. The anecdote tells both for the courage of the thief and the inefficiency of the police. The former has certainly received his reward ; the latter deserves something very like censure. — (London News.)