AN INTERNATIONAL PICKPOCKET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 199, 1 February 1915, Page 4

AN INTERNATIONAL PICKPOCKET.

ARRESTED IS WELLINGTON. ' By 3olograph.—Per Press Association. . Wellington, Lust Night. For some time the police of the Dp* minion have been aware that a skilled • pickpocket was operating in New Zealand, but it was found very difficult to locate him, as this class of criminal only steals money which is hard to trace. On Saturday afternoon, however, DetectiveSergeant Mcflveney' and Detective Bailey arrested Arthur Williams, alias David Thompson, alias David Cathie, alias David Sell, alias "Fair Dave,!' alias D. Walker, alias D. Campbell, . alias A. Watson, alias A. Wilson, at the Basil Reserve, corner of Adelaide road. Th# arrest was made under a provisional warrant. Williams, besides'being suspected of many "jobs" in this country, is wanted by the Victorian poliee in Melbourne. lie was admitted to bail of £10!) on a charge of pocket-picking is 1011, but immediately left that State, forfeiting <H<; money deposited. To-a man, of Williams' calibre, however, that sum merely represented a lucky day'® work, "Fair Dave" bad dyed-his hair ami moustache black, but the detectives \ recognised him from a profile photo, that lias been distributed over Now Zealand. The arrested ®a'n is what is known as a "lone-bander," and had a reputation for cleverness in London, . Ireland, South (Africa, anil Australia, ia each of which countries he was well known to the police, and is described as» an international criminal. During his stay in the Dominion he mafle his headquarters at Wellington, bat travelled extensively about various districts. A\ large sum of money was found in hia | possession. When arrested, lie made no attempt to resist the authorities.