Page:The London Guide and Stranger's Safeguard.djvu/47

Rh or boy, getting between the legs of the accomplice (a tall one) and spreading the petticoats, cut off the pockets, with a knife attached to the hand.

The practice of cutting pockets is much lessened of late years, why, I know not for certain; but apprehend the fear of incurring the penalty of Lord Ellenborough's act, may have had its effect; and since there are several methods of achieving the same thing, there could be no possible reason why the safest should not be adopted. Any other course of proceeding would be foolish, to say no worse of it. A capital small blade, set in a ring for the middle finger, or the thumb, was a much better contrivance than the common penknife, or the sliding blade; because their right hand can be employed in cutting, and grabbing the money at one and the same time, whilst the left is engaged no less usefully in bothering his gob. This latter, is nothing more than placing the flat hand (back or palm) over the mouth, (or gob) of a fellow who is likely to sing out; at the same time taking care that it shall seem to him the effect of accident, not capable of being reckoned uncivil, if the business should come to a patter. In all mobs where there is not sufficient noise, this bothering the gob, is invariably had recourse to; the fellow