THE JAPANESE THIEF.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 16 July 1907, Page 4

THE JAPANESE THIEF.

The -Japanese thief seems to be a much more interesting degenerate than the Western criminal. Quite recently, a Tokio resident, on his way to Yokohama, found at the railway station that lie had not his purse villi him. Turning to (110 motley crowd in front of the ticket office, lie noted a suspicious-looking individual eyeing him uneaslv. "Von know me, vol! rascal." roared the moneyless

one. "Return Unit money you have stolen from mo. and he guiu 1 ." Tlie fellow beckoned liio traveller aside, shove:! u ten-yen bill in his hand, and disappeared. When the traveller returned homelie found his purse on his dressing table. It then dawned ru him that the man on the railway station had taken him for the he:\d of tlu> Pickpocket Association, and thought it wise to share with his superior the proceeds of his last raid. The Japanese pickpocket does not like liimslinnr. The other day. says a writer in St. James's Budget, a brilliant Tok'io lawyer and a friend. travelling by train, began to talk about pickpockets. The lawyer loudly irsisteu that nm-l Iheft'i were due to the cnrcle--ness of those robbed. "S have travelled extensively myself," he said, "and have never hem robbed of a cent; 110 pickpocket has ar-y chance with a careful man." The next morning the lawyer received a parcel, containing his hay. with the contents intact, and a po'itc letter slating that the writer, unable to bear the uncalled-for remarks in the train, had taken the bag to teach the boaster a well-deserved lesson. The house-thief is more dangerous, for he is armed, and will stand no interference. Not long ago, two burglars had just awed a family into submission with drawn swords, when two more thieves appeared on the scone similarly armed, and there was a Homeric combat, which drew the whole neighborhood to the house. The police seem to have a way of turning up after the thieves have gone, but they have a wonderful way of getting one's property back, in which they arc probably helped by the thief's fear of the consequences of being caught. The criminal in Japan is still in danger of torture. Kot long ago hot water was poured down the nos. trils of a man who refused to confess. When the house of a missionary was visited by burglars, an Englishwoman staying there rushed to the roof and screamed for help. When the police were asked why they did not come at once, they replied complacently that they thought the Englishwoman was singing her morning hymn.