A TEACHER OF POCKET-PICKING.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2309, 11 August 1880, Page 3

A TEACHER OF POCKET-PICK-ING.

Paris Cor. Geneva Continent. Twenty years ago Chester established a school in London, dedicated to the devotees of St Nicholas, and lie speedilyobtained many pupils. The most wellknown and skilful pickpockets who have paid the penalty of being caught, and those who were clover enough to evade the clutches of (he myrmidons of the law, have all been moulded in the Chesieriau method. Ami when it is stated that in twenty years Chester has been able to amass a fortune of fifty t lionssand pounds sterling, (he great importance and efficacy of his lessons will ho thoroughly appreciated. His pupils, on leaving his institution, were lormecl into bauds of ten, under the guidance of a “ schoolmaster and it was under the aigis of this cver-watchful guardian that they overran the earth. Two-thirds of the “profits” were faithfully and punctually paid to the illustrious professor. Chester demeaned himself but twice in his career by “working” personally. It was in Paris, during the two last Exhibitions. In 18/8 he was arrested and condemned to six months’ imprisonment ami ho was, moreover, prohibited from ever entering Franco again. He lias disposed of the good-will of his “business” to two of his best pupils, and retired to Birmingham, where he has a great deal of property. Having some very urgent affairs to settle in Paris, he applied a few days ago, for promission to pass a week in this capital, which has been duly accorded him. But as it was deemed unadvisablc to allow a man of his capicity to roam about the city without let or hindrance, two police agents have boon told off to act as an escort of surveillance. Chester is sixtyfive years old, and is the father of ten children, whom he has educated in a princely manner, and he himself is master of several languages.