Page:The London Guide and Stranger's Safeguard.djvu/52

36 between the legs, or by kicking up the heels of the party. A little more violent still, is the mode of, with the fist, or a bludgeon. This latter is seldom or ever heard of in our streets, but both are practised at the out-skirts, leading to the adjacent towns. So strong and active are the patrol at present, that robberies never occur at the hours of their being on the watch.

Boys will throw themselves down flat before persons they design to make prey of; the accomplice pressing forward from behind, precipitates you over the former, who, in rising up draws out your watch with the utmost facility. Or you may be eased of your money with as little difficulty, while thus bent down, let the breeches be so ever tight.

At the moment we were going to press with this sheet, (March 22, 1818,) three Urchins, attacked some ladies in Holborn, who waited the drawing up of a Hampstead stage (which takes place near the house of our publisher.) Although apparently little rogues, they brought their victims to the ground; and, but for timely interposition, or, from immature skill, would have robbed the three ladies. The time, was past dusk.