A Pocket-picking Tale.

Otago Witness, Issue 2811, 29 January 1908, Page 91

A Pocket-picking Tale.

—"Honour Even Among Us Thieves." — Mr George Grossmith, jun., recalls & host of amusing incidents he has witnessed at one time or another, but, finally, after long consideration, he awards the palm to a certain happening which not long ago befell a friend of his, a prominent member of the Stock Exchange.

This gentleman

in the intervals when lie

was "bulling" and "bearing," devoted* his spare time to a little amateur pocket-pick-ing among his friends, and it is on record that one morning he succeeded in extracfonjy no fewer than five cigarette cases, two cigar oases, and four watches and chains from the pockets of unsuspecting brokers. Needless to say, the stolen property was returned in due course, but not, however, before the owners had been reduced to a feeling of the utmost disgust at having been co careless as to allow their pockets to be picked. On a certain hot afternoon in August, when there was very little business doing, the "light-fingered" broker made a wager of £10 with a friend that in less than half an hour he would collect in Throgmorton street five gold watches and chains without being detected. Mr George Grossniith happened to be present, and watched the proceedings with the greatest interest.

For a. short time all went -well, and m less than 15 minutes the triumpßant broker had secured three gold watches, and it looked, as the taker of the bet remarked in mournful tones, "a stone cold certainty that he would lose his tenner." But just as the amateur pickpocket was skilfully extracting a fourth watch and chain, Mr Grossmith noticed a world-weary down-at-heel loafer pass his hand quietly in front of the "amateur's" waistcoast and gently remove therefrom his valuable watch. As he did so, however, he noticed that his victim was engaged in doing the same thing with someone else. He therefore tapped him lightly on the shoulder arid gravely handed him back his watch and chain, remarking apologetically — "Beg pardon, sir, I must give you your 'stuff' back again, for I never robs one of the profession'

"There's honour even among us thieves, ain't there, guvnor?" — Royal Magazine.