"Thieves'" Kitchen, London.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 674, 7 October 1876, Page 5 (Supplement)

"Thieves'" Kitchen, London.

Some of our readers may perhaps recollect the publication of a descent by the London pohco upon that den (the ' Thieves' Kitchen') some time ago, in consequenco of a development having been made that it was a sort of college, or academy where children were taught the art of theft, and prepared for tho degrees of house- breaking and of murder. Attention had been specially attracted to it through tho arrest of several juvenile thieves of both sexes, who described how they had been decoyed from their parents into this den by an old ■camp— a modern Fagin, and practised in tho ways of pilfering, for his profit. In return for their work, he corrupted their appetites for drink, and made them soon unfit for any other sort of life. When tho police made a descent upon this place, they found all tho gymnasia of roguery in operation for jovenilo tuition, and at tho very moment of their entrance, these young pupils for the gallows were

poetising at the skirts of coats, hung loosely upon clothes lines, m order to cirri rewards from their preceptors, for taking a purse or handkerchief from the pockefs without shaking the line, or disturbing the little bells that were attached lo Hie ends of the garments. There wore a great number of experienced old thieves residing in this den at the timo of the descent, as well as children, and indignant at the profanation of this sanctuary of their arts, they gave battle to the invaders, and after a severe contest, succeeded in rescuing some of the children, and in beating the officers off. A reinforcement of authority was, however, soon obtained, and the den ransacked of its professors and its pupils. At the time of our visit it was comparatively "qaieft and wo were received by only five or sir'gontlenien of the skirt, who preserved a very quiet demeanour. Though short of their numbers, and reduced in strength, they showed, however, that they were conscious of their standing, for they did not condescend to any civility during our stop, and regarded us' all the time with a sort of sullen defiance,