PRIEST AND PICKPOCKET

New Zealand Tablet, 30 August 1906, Page 37

PRIEST AND PICKPOCKET

Father G roach, a London priest, repeats this story told him by the late Father kaye, prison chaplain :— ' 'During his stay as a guest of the country one of Father Kaye's " children," a well known pickpocket gave his rcvcioncc such instructions as to the methods of the fraternity as to secure him from ever being a victim. & ' Some years afterwards Father Kaye met his former instructor, who inquired if he remembered and observed the methods of precaution imparted to him The good Father replied that he did, and that though he had often been hustled, he had always managed to hold his own. ' Arrived at the Houses of Parliament— they were crossing Westminster Bridge— the now reformed but still skilful pickpocket offered the Father his watch saying : " Here you are, Father ; I • pinched ' it aa we were talking of olden times in the middle of the bridge." :When Father Kaye recovered from his astonishment his friend had gone, but the watch was safe '