A LIVELY JOURNEY.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 March 1920, Page 5

A LIVELY JOURNEY.

PICKPOCKETS ON A TRAIN; Pickpockets and othei desirables are apparently still operating in and about Wellington, and one or more of theso persons committed impudent thefts from passengers on the Musterton-Wellington race train on Saturday evening (reports the Post). One gentleman was relieved r of £2O, and another of £lB during the rush for seats ns the return train drew into the Opaki siding. One of the gentlemen robbed waR aware at the time , that someone had a hand in his pocket, j but he was unable to help himself on account of the manner in which he was hemmed in and hustled, probably by «e----1 complices of the pickpocket, Another passenger has reason to regret that he consented to take a hand in a "quiet # 1 little game," for while the train stood j at the Featlierston station one of the players laid his cards down and excused , himself for a few moments. He did Hot * reappear, and the man who had token a ' J hand became more thoroughly imbued with regret eacli moment, for ne disaov--3 cred in the meantime that a sum at £3O " had been spirited from his pocket. As t the suspected player did not return to t the carriage by the time the train began j to move, several men jumped from the „ carriage platform in the hope of ■»' the man. A passenger on the race train ' stated to a Post reporter tills morning \ that "things were very hot on the 3 train." Gaines of cards, straight or pthr envise, low stakes or high, were jn pro*. t gress in the majority of the carriages t He was of the opinion that persons who } push into the melee on race train platforms without first taking gome pains to place their money in a pocket difficult to pick are largely to blame.. "People will go to the races," he said, "there are 1 not enough trains, and consequently there ) is a rush and scramble at every carriage. ' The man who keeps his money in his hip-i pocket in such circumstances it really} ' encouraging the pickpocket,"