Page:The London Guide and Stranger's Safeguard.djvu/178

162 assumption of a friend's name, from whom they pretend to come. Once inside, all goes to wreck.—Doors, locks, bolts, boxes and safes—even the lives of the inmates, be they more or less, are sacrificed to their vengeance, or their ideas of securing impunity. The murders and robbery of Mr. Bird and his housekeeper at Greenwich, lately, was of this description; and we see how difficult of discovery is the perpetration of the compound villainy, that thus sweeps all before its remorseless fangs. Charles Hy, a footman out of place it seems, residing opposite that ill-fated pair, marked them out for his victims.

N.B. When any point is suspected of being vulnerable, or that attempts have been made there, the approach of the villains may be better ascertained by strewing a few coal ashes near the spot, if the ground be not too soft: although they should come without shoes, the crushing is sure to be heard.

Defines itself. It is the act of lifting up, in order to carry away, slily, goods from a shop or warehouse; and is carried on to a great extent. We spoke of those who steal from the doors of shops, the goods exposed at them to invite