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Name: Janet Sanderson alias Bell
Arrested for: not given
Arrested at: North Shields Police Station
Arrested on: 15 April 1907
Tyne and Wear Archives ref: DX1388-1-43-Janet Sanderson AKA Bell
For an image of her accomplice Margaret Harker see www.flickr.com/photos/twm_news/16822680419/in/album-72157....
The Shields Daily News for 22 April 1907 reports:
“ROBBERY FROM THE PERSON.
At North Shields Police Court today, before Councillor J. Sanderson and Mr G.H. Stansfield, Margaret Harker, Normanby, and Janet Sanderson, Newcastle, were charged on demand with having stolen from the person of Joseph Conaty, 6d and a pot of rum on the 13th inst.
Prosecutor, who is a shipwright living at No. 2 Reed Street, stated that at 11.15 pm on the date named he was in Bedford Street, near to the Tiger Stairs, when he was accosted by the two women who asked him to go with them. They went to a room in Liddell Street and after he had given them each 1s they knocked him about, went through his pockets, and took 6d and a pot of rum. Later he was kicked downstairs by a man and upon getting outside he saw some police officers and informed them of what had occurred. PC Graham and Sergt. Wilson spoke to finding one of the women crouching in a recess in the yard of a house in Liddell Street.
Accused pleaded not guilty. The magistrates taking into consideration the fact that they had been in custody for some time, committed them only for one day.
Margaret Harker, in conjunction with Robert Jackson and Thos. Bell, were charged with loitering in Liddell Street, supposed for the purpose of committing a felony, on the 13th inst. PC Graham and Sergt. Wilson gave evidence in support of the charge. Chief Constable Huish said he had made enquiries concerning the accused and had found that they had all been convicted for larceny. Harker made her 47th appearance, Thos. Bell his 6th appearance and Jackson his 8th appearance. The last named had been imprisoned for shop-breaking and robbery with violence. The charge was stoutly denied by the accused who were each committed to prison for a month with hard labour.”
These images are a selection from an album of photographs of prisoners brought before the North Shields Police Court between 1902 and 1916 in the collection of Tyne & Wear Archives (TWA ref DX1388/1).
(Copyright) We're happy for you to share this digital image within the spirit of The Commons. Please cite 'Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' when reusing. Certain restrictions on high quality reproductions and commercial use of the original physical version apply though; if you're unsure please email archives@twmuseums.org.uk.
Image of “Angie” first appeared : Best true detective cover July 1962
The story of the racket dames behind the sensational Park Avenue Jewel Robberies
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This is a link to a You Tube Video of a thief not unlike our Angie.
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Title: Now, if only she could find where that darling young miss, the one so richly clad in purple silk, had gotten her pretty little self-off too?
Case Study 113 : Warning, these are the raw, bare unusual facts as originally recorded. Some names, times, places and some facts have been altered.
Name: Angelica D circa 1933
Subject: an unscrupulous light-fingered body thief
Place: Resolution Ball - Baltimore (original incarnation)
Time: Evening, through early morning, of the dance
Story line:
Angie grinned, stowing away the emerald bracelet, as she smugly watched the police dragging away the struggling girl. Lit cigarette dangling from a corner of her lip; Angie smirked wickedly to herself as Ginny frantically tried to plead her innocence.
**
One of the coppers had her by the wrists; the other tried gripping her waist, finding it slippery by the satiny gown she was wearing. Ginny was pleading, it was not me, I don’t know how it got there, please let me go, my emeralds, my bracelet… its…its..I gone! I must find it, shrieked the struggling girl. Angie just listened to the girl, ginning; Ginny’s tearful words, spoken in her brash nasally east ender accent, wasn’t helping her cause with the pre-judgmental coppers.
One of them snarled loudly into her ear, ere ,you aint the kind to wear emeralds sister, we’ve got your number, it was her diamonds youse was after.
Actually, she had, Angie admitted to herself wickedly. Yes, dear Ginny had been wearing an emerald bracelet, the one Angie now had tucked securely away. Nevertheless, she chose not to enlighten the harness bulls on the matter, and smugly watched as the small group disappeared through the entrance, heading down to the eastside patrol car waiting at the street, as she let a wisp of cigarette smoke curl upwards from her sneering lips.
**
So it was now, with the emeralds safely tucked away, that Angie turned he back to the main door to watch down the long corridor as she continued puffing on her victory smoke. At the end of the hallway was the main entrance to the cavernous Ballroom where all action had all taken place leading up to poor Ginny’s arrest.
With a suspect now in custody, and two less security bulls, Angie was free to slip back in amongst the wealthy guests in attendance at the ball. Now, if only she could find where that darling young miss, the one so richly clad in purple silk, had gotten her pretty little self-off too! She shivered deliciously at the mere thought of it. However, she decided to take her time finishing her cigarette, give things ample time to cool down, as she marveled at the opulence that seemed to bleed from every square inch of the Baltimore Palace this evening.
How Angie savored attending events held here, and visited the Baltimore area Ballroom several times whenever she was in town on “business”. The lighting, modern for the day, seemed to coax any piece of jewelry to sparkle. Making it ever so easy to focus on even the smallest (and sometimes most expensive) piece a fashionably dressed female would be wearing.
**
For you see, Angie was a master pickpocket, who, with the discovery and subsequent aid of a pamphlet written in the early 1800’s, was able to take her game to the next, more profitable level...
See Album: Angie Picks Chicago for the story of how she discovered the phamplette.
Entitled the Cutpurse: skilles, artes and Secretes of the Dip by “Gaston Monescu, 1826”, it covered the various tactics and moves used by master pickpockets of the time, Including whole chapters on successful “Methodes” of relieving a well-dressed lady of her” jeweles”.
Angie had nimbly crafted a new art form of relieving wealthy women and rich girls of their valuable jewelry. She performed this feat by combining the tactics of an illusionist, with the delicate touch of “The Dip” ; Employing this method to nick the fiery sparklers while still warm from the unwary, usually be-gowned , figures ostentatiously displaying them!
**
Angie began to reflect on how the ballroom had looked when she had first entered some three hours previously. She had been eagerly anticipating the opportunities in store for her inside, and she was not disappointed in the very least. The place was packed wall to wall with guests dressed in their dapper nines for the annual event.
Like a kid in a candy shop, Angie had eagerly looked over the crowd, admiring the shiny, flowing gowns the female guests were wearing. Selecting and keenly observing dresses made of the richest, most form fitting material, for by long experience, these women wearing them would bring the most profit. By employing this method to narrow the field of selections, Angie was able to quickly to pinpoint on a piece of jewelry, make her move, and be gone before giving any security patrolling the area a chance to recognize her for what she was. It sometimes was as easy as taking candy from a baby, or as Angie like to imagine it, relieving a satin and lace clad innocent of her “silver spoon”
Angie than eagerly looked over the jewels of those she had chosen, vividly glittering their colourful joy at being brought out of the vault and worn for this evening’s festivities. She had been quite hard pressed to make a selection, so for the first 30 minutes or so, Angie just mingled about, following her whimsy.
Then she spotted Olivia. Elegant in a long slick purple gown of luxurious silk that flowed and moved tightly along her shapely figure as she flitted about, presenting the very picture of a tickle thief’s dream ( see addendum rr).. Young, flighty and loaded with beckoning diamonds, Angie began to stalk her in ever decreasing circles, hunting her slowly, deliberately, much as a snake in the grass would a tiny unsuspecting mouse. However, all too soon, Angie realized that this mouse was being watched over by someone else, like a hawk.
The hawks name was Ginny. Lower east end, rough as her cousin Olivia was polished, awkward in one of her cousins borrowed long satin gowns, she watched protectively over her mingling cousin from the sidelines, totally out of her element, ill-fitting right down to the only jewelry she wore, a shimmering elegant emerald bracelet that was obviously borrowed( probably from Olivia) . Angie weighed the consequences of an attempt on Olivia’s diamonds, deciding that there was plenty of less guarded prey, and so Angie reluctantly decided to let go of the scent.
**
It was not much later that Angie, from her new perch at one of the twin bars that lined opposite sides of the room, found herself eyeing a most interesting subject. She rose and began trailing behind the swishing gown of her new prospect. The fine taffeta gown was spilling down along the still voluptuous, if not a little pudgy, figure of an older, matronly looking lady with long hair of faded gold. Her longish hair was home to a glittering Diamond Head band, from which shimmering strings of diamonds were entertained in her still silky soft hair.
The lady stopped to chat with two other finely decked out women, giving Angie a chance to circle and leisurely eyeball, head to foot, these unsuspecting ladies baubles. Angie felt her heart rate quicken with delight at what she saw.. Now, older women could be a little bit trickier since they were more likely to notice quicker the disappearance of often worn jewelry, as opposed to younger ladies or girls were not yet used to wearing fine jewelry adorning their squirming figures. Nevertheless, Angie spied something that should even the playing field a bit, so to speak, making this wealthy lady a fairly less risky prospect…
Now, Monescu‘s pamphlet had a little side Chapter on how ladies would sooner think jewels were lost as to believe they had been stolen from them (pickpockets only go after wallets and hankies, my dear, everyone knows that!) . To this end, losing one of a pair, like an earring, or clips, is a safe bet, especially if one desires to tempt fate and remain in the area to try for a second piece, like the brooch one of her friends was wearing.
And the lady Angie was ogling was wearing a pair of twin diamond and ruby clips, one on each side of the wide shiny sash that encircled her waist. Taking one of her jeweled clips should be as easy as slipping candy away from the side of a silken clad baby. Which in a fashion, Angie had actually done, once long ago, coming across a small group of wedding attired young girls playing alone at a playground, whose chaperones had obligingly wandered off for a bit. But, when Angie had left the chirpy little group to continue their game of (appropriately enough) cops n robbers, It had definitely not been the gullible young ladies candy that walked off along with her!
(See album, Angie at play, for the full story)
Angie’s full attention was now focused on the two wave shaped clips as the pair fired glittering salvos of flickering rainbow-like colures with each elegant movement their mistress made. Patiently Angie stalked from a distance, awaiting her chance. It came soon enough, when the Hors d’oeuvres were put out, and the clips, along with their mistress, headed with the other multitudes of guests to the long banquet tables. As they formed a line, Angie managed to wedge herself in between the lines, effectively cutting off her victim, who bumped against Angie.
Angie’s left hand slipped in and snaked along the satin sash, feeling once again the deliciously tingling ling chill she always experienced when her fingers first rubbed against the warm scintillating material of a luscious gown as she dipped in to steal the selected jewel.. This time was no different as her slender fingers located the first of the clips ; lifting it up, and nimbly flicked open the clasp( it was amazing how jewelers skimped on clasps when making upper end jewels), at the same time her right hand slithered up the slick taffeta backside of her victims gown. Reaching underneath an armpit, her fingernails dug in, distracting her victim as to the nefarious activity happening at her waist. The lady was knocked slightly off balance, and anyone else who saw the pair had their eyes focused their faces, and not on any handiwork occurring with the hands below sight.
Angie apologized profusely in her softest most innocent voice. Petting down the ladies backside as she did so with her right hand, while her left plucked the clip from her sash and palmed the jewel and slipped behind her back. It was over in seconds, merely someone trying to cut the line, and Angie made her escaped receiving a few clucks of the tongue from one of the ladies’ friend as the lady caught up to them. Angie just smiled at them winningly, her hand still behind her back. As she smiled, Angie slipped the diamond clip down inside her sash before turning away and heading off.
It had all come off quite easily, and Angie was congratulating herself, when suddenly a voice behind her pronounced, quite loud and clear, oh my gwad Ceclia, you’ve lost a brooch. Diamond clip Angie correctly the lady silently to herself. She did not turn, but kept on moving, even slowing her pace a bit. From the same area she heard Celica gasp. Me clip, I’ve lost one of me diamond clips! it was here a minute ago, remember Maud, you was admiring them, weren’t you? Angie could imagine from what actions the lady in the elegant taffeta gown was taking now that she had discovered her loss, security was probably hoofing their way over, Angie had to think quickly.
Not losing any of her demeanor, Angie turned causally around to watch with the rest of the nearby group as the lady was showing her sash and the remaining clip to a couple of her friends. Angie spied a brace uniformed bulls approaching. She casually turned and headed across the room, her mind whirling. she knew that the pricy clip was too hot to hold onto. She had slowly looked around as she sauntered away from the scene. Then, spotting one of the many Ladies powder rooms scattered around, she ducked into it. Angie knew from past experiences ( and a few hints from Monescu‘s phamplett) that rooms such as these had a plethora of hiding places to let “hot items” cool down..
She entered the room, the noise dying out as the door closed. She was alone, wait, not nearly, the room had one other occupant. Ginny was at the sink, washing her face, the bored look she had worn all evening now was replaced by deep thoughts, forlorn ones by the looks of it. On the fly Angie coolly devised a plan.
She walked up behind the unwary, unnoticing, fetchingly clad Ginny, and wrapped her arms round her, hugging, as she called out, Maude dear, I haven’t seen you in ages. Ginny was uncomfortably flabbergasted, and Angie felt her warm figure stiffen. She turned and Angie apologized, I am so sorry , I totally mistook you for someone else. I should have known better, Maude is not nearly as pretty .As she spoke, Angies’ fingers touched and prodded the startled girl, not allowing her to collect her wits. If Angie was hoping for a smile, she didn’t get it,. Streetwise Ginny looked at Angie hard, and scolded the thief for scaring the beezusses out of her. In a Huff Ginny left, Angie watched as Ginny’s soft gown curled around the closing door before whipping out of.
She was smiling to herself, for as she had hugged Ginny, she had deposited the clip in the girls green velvet purse that was laying open on the vanity. She had also in the process, tit for tat, whisked off the emeralds from around the flustered Ginny’s satin gloved wrist.
Not wasting any time Angie headed down the hallway where she secreted the bracelet in a nearby ash can, slipping it underneath the ½ ash filled bowl. Angie than reentered the ballroom, and went up to the orchestra’s conductor and requested a couple of waltzes, ones she knew were lengthy.
She then look around to make sure that she had all the principle players in her plot in sight. She spied Ginny talking with her cousin Olivia, and Celia was still searching the floor by the banquet tables. Now Maude , Maude took a little doing, but Angie spotted her chatting with a security cop. Great Angie thought, all I need to do is wait for it. “It” soon became apparent , was the start of one of the slow waltzes, and sure enough, Olivia was almost immediately scooped up and led off to the dance floor, leaving poor Ginny alone, as she had been most of the evening. Her hard disposition more than enough to keep any potential suitors at bay.
Angie immediately sought out Maude, a short mousey woman in a faded velvet gown wearing loads of gold chains and bangles. Angie caught her ear; feeding her a story about what she saw being placed in a certain green velvet purse. Maude’s eyes darted to where Ginny stood along a wall, and Angie saw a delicious gleam flare up in mousey Maude’s semi -be speckled green eyes.
**
Angie than serenely slipped back, regaining her barstool perch and waited as the developments unfolded. Maude went to the copper she had been chatting up, and they both went to Celica. The copped grabbed a partner and the group surrounded poor Ginny. Angie kept one eye on the, and the other on Olivia, who was dancing on the far side of the room, blissfully unaware of the clamor on the far wall, that was surrounding her hapless cousin Ginny.
Angie saw that, upon discovering what she had in her purse, they were going to arrest her and escort Ginny off the premises, exactly as Angie had planned! Angie slipped from her stool, and headed out to the lobby to await the final act in Ginny’s tragedy. Angie concealed herself in the hidden alcove, behind the small ash can where she had stashed the emerald bracelet. Just in time to witness the poor girl, struggling between the two security types, and being forcibly escorting her out. When she was sure no suspicion was coming her way, Angie lit a victory smoke, and retrieved the emeralds, stowing them away as she looked back upon the protesting Ginny, struggling as she was being ushered out the door to the waiting patrol car on the street below.
**
Now, Angie only had to find where that darling young Olivia, so richly clad in purple silk, had gotten her pretty little self-off too! With a suspect now in custody, and two less security bulls, Angie was free to slip back in amongst the wealthy guests in attendance at the ball. Good thing old Angie girl was a tough cookie, she contemplated, congratulating herself over not losing her head and coming out in roses, as happy with herself, she watched down the hallway. She was in no hurry; haste makes waste after all, so Angie savored her thoughts as she waited patiently to continue her mischievous habits.
Her thoughts now were trained fully on the unsuspecting, capriciously flighty , Olivia, and her dazzling diamonds.
In her minds eye she relished over several scenarios that could develop, and how to use them to her advantage, Angie exciting herself so much that she held the cigarette for a minute to lick her lips over them…
She imagined Olivia darting about, as she looked for her missing cousin, imagining, a well-placed foot on the hemline of a swirling long purple silk gown, which could yield some marvelous results.
Or perhaps Olivia could use some help looking for her cousin. Angie would then be able to discreetly help herself to some of the enticingly slippery-gowned Olivia’s dainty, but expensively fiery, diamond jewelry.
Alternatively, and best of all, and it is here where the almost purring Angie licked her lips, was a most scintillating scenario…
Angie could explain what had happened and offer to share a cab downtown with her new friend. Angie would comfort the worrying, sobbing (brought on by how Angie would describe what had happened) girl riding alongside her in the back of the bouncing cab. Angie would comfortingly stroke the warm figure encased in the richly slick, scrumptiously smooth silky gown, as she cooed words of encouragement in Olivia’s ears, Angie’s lips touching the diamond earrings dripping down from their lobes.
Then she would let Olivia go inside alone, as not to cause her cousin any further embarrassment. Then Angie would watch as Olivia hurried away, admiring the flow of her shiny gown in the light from the entranceways lamps ,and while also basking in the provocative sparkle of any remaining diamonds that Angie had not managed to spirit away during the ride down to the police station.
Angie shivered happily, as she gave one final drag on her cigarette and bent down to place it in the ash bin.
Suddenly Angie’s senses perked up, and she raised her head, shooting her gaze down the long corridor..
A lady was leaving the ballroom, unescorted, heading down the long hallway to the exit. She could tell by the quality of the long slinky gown that fell in ruffles from the hem of the long black mink she wore, and by the rings glittering from the hand that held the thick mink, that this specimen was well worth some effort. Angie rose, not yet noticed by the fur encased broad. One for the road, Angie thought to herself, bemused. The lady kept looking back, like she did not really want to leave and was afraid she would miss something exciting. That fact, along with the narrowness of the passage made for an excellent opportunity… A well place foot, and expertly placed bump, a few seconds of confusion, and the lady and Angie would part company, and Angie would have parted something else from the broad, and be a richer woman for it.
It was a formula that Angie had perfected and executed many profitable times. As a matter of fact, it had only been a few days prior that a young daughter, quite fetchingly (and targetable) in a pretty lavender satin and lace gown, ornamented regally with pearls and a flashy blue rhinestone tiara, had quite literally, but not accidentally, come under foot. Allowing Angie the opportunity to artfully nick the girl’s fine strand of gleaming white pearls (with a sapphire gemmed drop!) that had obligingly bounced up into Angie’s waiting fingers.
Angie now watched this rich lady headed towards her, with the very same thoughts in mind. But she needed to know what jewels the broad had hidden under that pricey mink. As the lady came close Angie tried to “will” her to open up. “C’mon honey, its warm, you must be burning up in that pelt, show mama what you got.” But the broad did not obligingly peel back the mink for Angie, and Angie would never know what riches may have been in the cupboard, or perhaps it had been bare, though Angie seriously doubted it. The lady reached her, shooting Angie a nervous smile. Angie smiled back, wondering if the lad realized how close she had come to being relieved of one of her fancy trinkets.
As the woman passed by, Angie watched her backside, musing to herself, Fine, I’ll just have to settle for Olivia. Angie then started down the long deserted corridor with a brisk walk, her satin dress bouncing in rhythm.
**
Reaching the Ballroom proper, Angie stopped and gave the room a vigilant scan for security, and as she had figured, it definitely had loosened up. She then searched in earnest for the young miss clad in her expensive purple silk “tickling gown”( see addendum rr). The naïve young thing had been ever so carelessly displaying those delectably exquisite diamonds of hers with such reckless abandon that it would be a wonder if she still possessed all of them. It will be a wonder if she still does after meeting me, Angie mused. She almost was purring in anticipation as she thought about those diamonds, especially the long necklace and the way it had flung from side to side as the girl had walked past Angie the first time that evening(and several more since). Angie envisioned the diamonded box clasp at the back of her bare neck (long hair was high in a bun) that held the necklace around her neck, for now! She hoped that Olivia had not removed her shiny hairpiece to let her long hair down, Angie prayed, it would make things so much the easier.
As Angie thought about this she slowly edged her way along the wall, dodging in and out amongst the happily chatting guest, constantly on the lookout for Olivia.
Angie was suddenly, unexpectedly blindsided from behind as something incredibly soft, slickly bumped up against her back. Like a cat, she kept her feet and whirled around in time to catch a handful of pure heaven in the form of one of the be- gowned young “princesses” that seemed to be everywhere this gay evening. She found herself nose to eye with a young miss, resplendent in a long slippery gown as black as ink, and as soft as young chinchilla. The sleek gown literally poured tightly down along her perked figure to the floor, covering over her shiny black high heels. The colour of night that was her gown was broken only by the whiteness of her bare shoulders and neck, and by an exquisitely large, leaf like brooch of clear diamond banquets that covered her right side at least 8 inches above and below her slender waistline.
The young “princess” giggled nervously as she profusely apologized over her “silliness” at tripping over her own gown as she had stepped backwards. Angie oozed kindness as she spoke soothingly to the girl, watching her melt like putty in Angie’s light fingered hands. As Angie spoke calmingly to the girl, her eyes were indiscreetly soaking up the dazzling white diamond necklace that surrounded the nervous girl’s bare white throat that was now eye level to Angie. .Angie looked down at the girls gloved hand resting upon her full bosom , admiring the softness of the satin gloves (dyed to match her gown) that stretched up past her elbows, drooling secretly over the enormous cocktail ring that graced one of her fingers. The princess raised up her hands, giving them to Angie, who took up the satin clad hands, holding them as tightly as she was holding the girls gaze, before letting the girl slowly slip them from her firm grasp., .
The girls eyes finally broke away, and Angie smiled exuberantly, giving the girl an enveloping hug to show there were no hard feelings, letting her hands slip ever so gingerly down to grasp the girl by the waist, giving her a squeeze. She then let the young thing slip out, free to go on her way, as Angie turned and did likewise. As Angie sauntered off, she happily thought that it was sometimes funny how occasionally, when least expected, one gets very lucky. As she thought this, she moved her clenched fist to the top of her dress. Pulling the dress out, she dropped down her cleavage the rather large, expensively glittering , diamond brooch she had so carefully slipped from the rather ditsy young ”princess” black satin clad waist. The damsel had not so much felt a prick when Angie had lifted the jewel, snapped the clasp open, and slipped it from her figure as her hands had squeezed her scintillatingly soft waist. She now felt it wonderfully slip down, joining Ginny’s purloined bracelet already resting securely there. Angie stole a careful look back over her shoulder.
The clueless young” Princess” was now happily dancing away with a tuxedoed young man. Her handsome partner, with a neatly trimmed beard, had one white gloved hand holding up her hand in black satin, the enormous cocktail ring shining out like some richly coloured beacon ; the other white gloved hand lay upon her back, mere inches away from the simple hook in eye clasp of the necklace of white diamonds. Angie drooled, how she would have liked to have had her hands in either of the positions that the man’s were now laid. Taking the ring and necklace would have been a piece of cake. Angie did sometimes secretly envy men, who could get close to jewel-laden ladies in ways that Angie could not! Angie imagined these wicked thoughts to herself as she allowed herself to be mesmerized by the blaze of fiery diamonds that for the time being, were still wrapped around the “princess’s” slender white throat.
Angie was not worried about the young lady raising a squawk over a missing brooch. Clumsy Dames like her were used to having jewelry misplaced. Angie wondered if they ever realized how many times those jewels were not misplaced, but stolen by light fingered thieves who, like Angie, knew all too well how to read the signs and reap the rewards. If only she had had time to be better prepared, she sighed, turning her attention reluctantly away from the diamonds.
Angie moved off, filled with the confidence that the tides of her fortune had turned for the better. Rounding a corner Angie spied Celia off to one side, and toyed with the idea of slipping off her remaining diamond clip now that Maud was still chatting up one of the Guards (another one out of commission!) Then, for a split second, on the other side of the room, she saw the silky wisp of purple that singled out her prey. Now, down to business she said, licking her lips. With a cat like gleam in her eyes, she swiftly stole into the crowd of dancing couples. Soon she was lost to sight, swept up in a rainbow coloured sea of slinky swirling gowns.
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Addendum rr (excerpted from :Cutpurse: skilles, artes and Secretes of the Dip by “Gaston Monescu, 1826”)
A perfect tickle thief setup, as Angie renamed it, was a ploy for use on a lady “waering a long gown or skirtes” that was easily trip able, when a foot stepped on it from behind, sometimes added with a soft nudge, sending the wearer tumbling. Ones fingers, in the process of steading or helping would glide(tickling) over the material ( the sleeker the better) to reach and pluck free the fair ladies’ targeted bauble.
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Interested in reading more about the shenanigans of Angie?
Then Check out the following albums:
Angie Picks Chicago
Angie being Receptive
Angie being chartable
Angie at Play
Angie Trick Or Treat( coming soon)
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These photos and stories are works of fiction. Any resemblance to people, living or deceased, is purely coincidental.
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1899, the United States of America
With the heat in Valentine having died down , Bill thinks it’s finally time to hit the bank. Karen, Lenny, Bill and Arthur Morgan rides to Valentine. They arrive there and Karen asks the others how she should do the distraction: Should Karen make the lost girl or the Harlot? Arthur decides the “lost girl” version and the 4 outlaws walks to the bank, which consists of red bricks. Over the door is a big sign “Bank”. Around the bank are some people : one man connect his hourse, another man feed a dog with meat, a farmer chops wood and collect it and a fourth man go to work. Lenny, Bill and Arthur put on their masks and Karen go into the bank with her dark red dress. After her distraction the 3 other Van-der-Linde gang members assault the bank. Can they survive and escape with a lot of money or will they die?
This is my 7th MOC for our Red Dead Redemption 2 collab with Tuxedo Greedo. The bank is my biggest creation and I had to order a lot of parts that I can build it. From the beginning of our collab I wanted to build a bank rober because it was one of my favourite story missions in the videogame. I chose the first one ( yes there are more bank robberies) because Valentine is my favourite town in the game. I had a lot of fun building it and I try to catch the reference as best as possible. To reach that goal I spend a lot of time in front of the bank in the game to observe NPCs and I took many pictures of the bank. I hope you like the MOC and I would be pleased to get feedback.
Greetings Kevin
“Armed carjackings, assaults, robbery, shootings and serious sexual offences, including rape, are common in Papua” says the Foreign Office travel advice to travelers!
The papua tourism office has a hard work convincing more people like me to come to PNG!
Once a year takes place in Mount Hagen the biggest tribal meeting, called a singsing.
The “Men bilong pait” (the Warriors) ,the” pipels” (the women), and the “pikinini” (the children) are all here. Hundreds of papus are preparing themselves for the Singsing. It’s in open air, but you feel like being backstage in the latest fashion show in Milano or Paris as men paint their faces in red,yellow,white,black, women take grass to make skirts or kilts and cover their bodies with clay, mud, or even pigs fat!
Old wise men are building the giant headdresses made of eagle, parrot and bird of paradise feathers. Each feather is packed in newspaper, to protect them from insects. It will take hours…
Some warriors wear also marsupial jaws as necklaces! “If you do not have jaws, you can put dogs teeth, it works too” they tell me!
Bones, shells, pigs tusks, or twigs are put in the noses. I meet a Highlands warrior who has gave up the traditional shell that he used to put in his nose, and now uses an electrical meter!
Papu like to put a modern touch in their jewels or decorations, as we like to put some tribal stuff in our so called designed houses!
Now it’s time for parade. All the tribes are marching. It’s a mix of sounds and sights, not a love parade, rather a war parade!
The Mount Hagen festival was launched by the Australian colonial governor in 1964, to promote peace in the country.So…The warriors simulate fights! But the stone axes, the arrows, the shields, the spears, the bludgeons are real! There won’t be any violence during the festival, but everyday, tribal fights still take place, with guns instead of axes, and people die…
You can hear war songs, drums, and the tribes start to march in circle, in column, or in line .
The tribes keep on dancing until sundown, and have to listen to an endless speech from a local political while the few tourists go back to their hotels, stoned by the loudspeakers noise!
© Eric Lafforgue
****************************************************************
Symmetry
A plot in Motion
As excerpted from
“An Odyssey Less Taken “@
Tallie looked into the mirror as the bound Olivia stirred, a self-satisfied smirk lighting up her pretty face. It was time to administer the syringe containing the liquid that would render Olivia unconscious until late the next morning, giving them plenty of time. Olivia would wake thinking she had been the victim of a robbery. She should have no clue that the real reason was a simple piece of paper she had had tucked away inside her gold purse.
A couple of hours earlier:
Tallie had jogged into the upscale inn’s main lobby wearing a black running suite with her long,hair tucked up under a neoprene running cap. Playing the part of a guest who had gone out for exercise, she was also wearing thin gloves, wide wraparound sunglasses, small backpack and listening to music on her I Phone. She took up station in a corner of the inns’ huge lobby, like she was resting, while listening to her music. Ten minutes later, Olivia, whom Tallie had been shadowing, came in. Olivia had been easy to follow. An eye catching figure clad in a gold silk dress and pearls. She was carrying a shiny gold purse, and holding a bag containing a deep purple satin gown. Olivia had headed straight to the elevator, tapped her floor button and disappeared inside.
Tallie spent an uncomfortably anxious 10 minutes deciding what to do. Olivia had not gone to the front desk to take her jewels from the safe. Although her jewelry was not a main part of the plan, Tallie had loftier goals in mind, they did present a rather profitable bonus. Tallie decided to proceed, not wanting to blow the whole operation for a few pretty baubles. She had just risen when the elevator tinged. The doors opened, and Olivia exited into the lobby, still clad in the gold silk, and headed to the desk. There, she had the manager retrieve a black case. Showtime Tallie thought, relieved now that she had waited, watching as Olivia once again left in the elevator. Ten minutes after that, it was time to put the plan in motion. Using her I Phone, Tallie rang Olivia’s room pretending to be a hotel employee. “Someone had found something of yours in the lobby; a manager is on her way up with it.” She hung up not giving Olivia any chance for response.
From then, it had gone like clockwork. Tallie, with delight, watched the shocked look on Olivia’s face when she opened the door expecting a female hotel manager, but instead came face to face with a Taser wielding double of herself, Tallie! Firing the Taser, the shocked girl slumped into Tallies’ welcome arms. Kicking the door shut, Tallie pulled Olivia into the bathroom, where she was then bound and gagged. To make it look like a robbery, Tallie stripped Olivia of her pearl necklace, earrings, bracelets and rings. Then she quickly looted the apartment of any other small, but valuable items. Placing these items, along with the small backpack, into a leather clutch. Tallie then went to the dresser top and opened the black case sitting there. She whistled to herself as she savored the shiny contents. Looking them over, she made a selection, then poured the remaining jewelry into the clutch, glittering explosive fire as they went. She placed the selected diamond jewelry on the bathroom sink. Tallie found Olivia’s gold purse and opened it and pulled the ticket out. Studying, with eager eyes, the prize they had worked so hard to obtain. The small ticket was the key to the whole plot, worth potentially millions.
Carrying the purse to the bathroom, Tallie started to get ready. De bagging Olivia’s purple gown, she slipped it on. It poured over her curvy figure perfectly, as they had known it would. Tallie had switched her calfskin gloves for a pair of Olivia’s satin ones. It was as she had been putting on Olivia’s glittering diamonds that the tied up girl started to stir. Walking over to the groggy eyed girl, Tallie pretended to fumble with the ropes knots, and administered the hypo containing the knockout drops. After checking the heavily sedated Olivia’s Pulse, Tallie finished putting on the unlucky girls jewels.
Tallie admired herself in the mirror, almost not recognizing herself. She had dyed her midnight black hair blonde to match Olivia‘s and had put in blue tinted contacts. The clingy gown fitted snugly in all the right places, tightly outlining her perky breasts and nicely rounded butt. Very nice, thought Tallie beaming. After putting on Olivia’s stiletto heels, Tallie pronounced herself ready. Picking up the purse, she patted it for luck, and went into the bedroom. Tallie called the front desk, asking to have a limo called to pick her up out front, then she also ordered a wakeup call with breakfast for eleven o’clock the next morning. Hanging up the phone, Tallie still had 12 minutes left to kill. She spent it retracing her steps around the entire apartment making sure nothing had been overlooked, and then double checked that Olivia was going to stay out of the picture. When her time was up, Tallie snatched the clutch up from the satin covers of the bed, heavy now with Olivia’s valuables and her running suit and backpack. Tallie left the apartment, closing the door after hanging a do not disturb sign on the lever. Tallie entered the empty elevator , pushed the down button, and focused on the task at hand.
Finally, after seemingly endless months of careful plotting, preparation, rehearsals and dry runs. It was time. The whole scheme had been planned to the minutest detail, it had to be. The main prize was the tens of millions of dollars’ worth of jewels worn by the female guests attending the annual formal Casino Night by the Bay Ball. The annual black tie ball was a Republican Political Fundraiser by special invitation only and Olivia, who had been carefully selected and shadowed for weeks now, had been one of the lucky ticket holders. As a final coup de grâce , Tallie would attend the ball wearing Olivia’s luxurious gown and her brilliantly expensive diamonds, fitting right in with the other attendees. Security would be checking ID’s at the door. But Tallie now resembled Olivia almost to a T. She would fool those rent a cops easily as they checked her against Olivia‘s driver’s license for identification, bending over and showing a little bosom for added distraction. Tallie couldn’t wait to mingle and rub elbows with the galas ultra-rich patrons. She would mark her time by mingling and endearing herself to as many of the male guests as possible in the short time allotted to her. She would use her rich welsh brogue to the fullest to win over the posh male Yanks. All the while admiring the shiny gowns and scoping out the shimmering jewels that would be adorning her fellow female guests. Those jewels would include the Dahlkemper pearls, the Caboyt diamonds with the brilliant sapphires that placed the “Hope Diamond” to shame, and, of course, the famous matching waterfall diamond sets the Dempsey Twins would be wearing (Not to mention their Mother’s emeralds and rubies) . The sets, which had been presented as gifts at the twins ultra- fancy coning out ball, were insured for over 1 million dollars by the girls parents.
Then at the appointed hour, Tallie would slip away to a seldom used back stage door, conveniently hidden neath a stairwell. Security would not have this door covered. It was there that Tallies’ husband and his troupe of fellow masked thieves would be waiting to make their entrance. If all went to plan and it would, she was sure of that, they would proceed to hold up and rob all the guests. Relieving the lot of their fat designer purses, thick leather wallets, gold Rolexes, and of course, their jewels, Lots and lots of shimmering, pricy jewelry. Not to mention the piles of loose cash lying on the gambling tables begging to be collected. Tallie’s heart beat faster at the enticing visions.
After the last guest had been relieved of their valuables, Tallie’s next part of the plot would come. This was where Tallie’s experience as an actress would pay off. The thieves would grab an innocent hostage (Tallie) by knifepoint Then, while threatening the life of the frightened squirming hostage, order the rest of the guests to strip off their clothing. If Tallie had played her part well, mingling and playing the doe eyed innocent who reminded those she met as someone who they would love to protect, her fellow guests would not want to see her harmed and be obedient to the robbers threats, not wishing any harm to come to her. The guests would be threatened to not to try anything for the next hour, or they would eliminate their hostage. The gang would then leave with their loot, as well as their hapless hostage. Then they would make, what in Tallie’s opinion, was a rather brilliantly orchestrated get away.
This was not the first time out for Tallie and her husband’s team, but it promised to be their last. The gang had been operating in Europe and Latin America, seeking out small, but lucrative, gatherings of the privileged and ultra-wealthy. They had gotten quite adept, fine tuning a formula that successfully paid attention to even the minutest detail.
Tallie loved playing the part of the inside victim. Getting as close as possible to the female guests (usually by flirting with husbands and boyfriends) to get a close appraisal of their jewels. Then, after letting her husband and crew loose, observing the well-dressed guests being herded to line up along the wall with raised hands. Usually creating a colorful array of swishing lace, satin, silk , velvety gowns and dresses, all flowing along forlorn figures. It was a thrill to watch their facial and body expressions and reactions. Especially of the women and girls present, as they were forced to hand over their flashy gemstones, their Shiny gold and silver, opulent pearls and other assorted fine jewelry were handed over reluctantly from about their persons.
Then would come the part that really aroused Tallie. The thieves would reach her and tell her to “fork over the jewels miss,” and depending on her mood, would do so, either acting defiant and forcing them to take them off her, or frightened(especially if the thief was her husband) , and timidly handing them over. She would be squirming inside with a deep, delicious delight as she took off , or had the thief wrench off, each precious piece. It was a reaction she did not fully understand, but just knew and accepted it as a scintillating feeling. Tallie, shivered, licking her lips at past memories of being a robbery “victim”.
The band had no qualms about was fair game, boldly invading Weddings, Receptions, Fancy dress dances and even the upscale prom or mansion party. All had been meticulously planned, all had been very lucrative. Their last raid had been carried out on a coming out party for an English Earl/ Minister and his titled wife’s only daughter. It had occurred at the minister’s isolated country manor located deep in the moors. Where, in addition to the jewels worn by the guests that ill-fated Saturday evening, the manor’s many bedroom safes yielded a dazzling array of cases of unworn jewelry brought by the guests for the four day weekend.
Tallie fondly remembered that raid. She had gained access to the family by going as the guest of a rather vain bachelor she had “happened to make an acquaintance with,” in London. The dinner gatherings and nightly parties that had led up to the night of the debutante’s ball had been all over the top, as only very old money can pull off. Tallie had almost suffered a system overload by observing the bounty of rich offerings at her fingertips. Beckoning jewels so very close, and as of yet, so very far. The Saturday evening ball could not have come soon enough. But come it did, and the minister’s daughter did not disappoint, nor did her mother or any other of their female guests. The young debutante had made her grand entrance in a long slinky blood red gown and matching gloves. Among the child’s perfect jewels was included an authentic family heirloom tiara, dripping with pristine diamonds, holding up the wavy curls of her silky fawn hair.
Tallies mouth had watered as she kept stealing looks, keeping her eyes glued to the precocious miss all evening. She inwardly was squirming with anticipation, up until the delightful moment when the begowned debutante limply removed and handed over the tiara, along with the rest of her gleaming diamonds and pearls to one of the gang of masked robbers who had had the “audacity “ to crash the party..
Now, Tallie was traditionally allowed to keep one piece of jewelry from the loot taken from each job as part of her take if she so desired. She always enjoyed picking out pieces she would like to have as she mingled with her fellow guests before her husband’s gang charged in. In the coming out party it had been the sad puppy faced debutante‘s cascading diamond earrings that Tallie had claimed for her own from the minute she first saw them dangling from the pretty girl’s delicate ears. Tallie had subsequently worn and been “robbed” of those earrings several times on jobs since then.
After the Manor house’s guests had been relieved of their valuables, the gang had made its getaway, seemingly vanishing into the moors misty air. The mechanics of that escape would form the basis of their getaway attempt after this evening’s robbery of the wealthy guests attending the “By the Bay Ball” Actually the symmetry of the two events did not stop there. The profit realized by the take from the Earl’s family and guests had given the gang the seed money for the enormous expense in planning tonight’s complex raid. And tonight’s successful raid on the ball, appropriately enough, its diamond jubilee, would be splashed over all of the countries newspapers, like the Manor raid had been. And like after the Manor raid, Tallie and her husband would be reading those papers in the safty of their isolated island retreat.
******************
As Tallie dwelt on that remembrance, the elevator completed its long, uninterrupted journey by tinging its 1st floor arrival. Showtime! Tallie thought with wry amusement as she stepped into the now crowded lobby. Tonight would be more of the same tingling robbery experiences, only ten times better and since it may very well be her last time , Tallie was going to savor every delicious minute.
Tallie left the elevator and moved quickly towards the sitting area she had occupied when watching for Olivia to come in. In one of the chairs sat a young man wearing wraparound sunglasses reading a blue covered novel. She swished by him, allowing her satin clad leg to brush along his. She watched with enticement as he straightened, uncomfortably, in his chair, his reaction to her teasing pleasing her immensely . Going around him, she placed her clutch on the chair behind him before turning and primping herself in front of one of the long mirrored walls that lined the sitting area. Seeing that no one as of yet was looking her way, she smiled to herself and swished her way back into the main lobby, leaving behind her clutch. She again passed the young man, who, even with the sunglasses, bore a striking resemblance to a young Sidney Poitier! No signal passed between them. The blue novel meant everything was going as planned, a red novel would have meant danger. The clutch on the chair behind him signaled the young man she had teased, Jessie by name , that everything was a go on Tallies end. After she left, Jessie would retrieve the clutch and rejoin Tallies husband and the rest of his gang.
With the prearranged signals exchanged, Tallie happily made her way to the fancy Glass doors where a uniformed Doorman was opening for arriving and departing guests. She could feel more than one pair of jealous eyes following her as she weaved her way through the crowd, her long gown swishing deliciously along her pretty figure. The pretty blond in the purple satin and shimmering diamonds was soon lost to sight, as she exited the doors to the misty street below. Those watching her were totally oblivious that the pretty blonde passing them was setting into motion the complex wheels of a rather ingenious scheme. Meanwhile in a ballroom some miles away a large group of extremely well dressed and decked out guests attending a certain excessively extravagant Ball , were innocently mingling, jewels sparkled with a frenzied riot of colours! These heavily gem encrusted guests were also totally oblivious as to what fate had in store for them in a few hours.
*************************************************************************************
@ Chatwick University extends its compliments to the unknown artist whose worthy photo and captivating title proved to be the spark that ignited the genesis of our Tallies Odyssey….
Name: Mark Schidlossky
Arrested for: not given
Arrested at: North Shields Police Station
Arrested on: 3 October 1914
Tyne and Wear Archives ref: DX1388-1-256-Mark Schidlossky
For an image of his accomplice, Thomas Dodds see www.flickr.com/photos/twm_news/21412005023/in/dateposted/.
The Shields Daily News for 5 October 1914 reports:
“GOING THROUGH SEAMAN’S POCKETS. ONE MONTH FOR THIEVES AT NO. SHIELDS.
Today at North Shields, Mark Schidlossky, seaman, Russia and Thomas Dodds, labourer, South Shields, were charged with stealing 5s from the person of James McLeod on the New Quay.
McLeod said he was proceeding to his ship, which was lying at Smith’s Dock, when he was accosted by two men, whom he now recognised. They pushed him up against the wall and took everything from his pockets. John Michael Graham, Lawson Street, said he saw the two men holding the prosecutor and going through his pockets.
PC Pallister said the Russian said in answer to the charge “I got no money” and the other man made no reply. The first prisoner had 2s 10d and the other 1s 2d in their possession. The Bench committed the defendants to prison for one month each”.
These images are taken from an album of photographs of prisoners brought before the North Shields Police Court between 1902 and 1916 (TWAM ref. DX1388/1). This set is our selection of the best mugshots taken during the First World War. They have been chosen because of the sharpness and general quality of the images. The album doesn’t record the details of each prisoner’s crimes, just their names and dates of arrest.
In order to discover the stories behind the mugshots, staff from Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums visited North Shields Local Studies Library where they carefully searched through microfilm copies of the ‘Shields Daily News’ looking for newspaper reports of the court cases. The newspaper reports have been transcribed and added below each mugshot.
Combining these two separate records gives us a fascinating insight into life on the Home Front during the First World War. These images document the lives of people of different ages and backgrounds, both civilians and soldiers. Our purpose here is not to judge them but simply to reflect the realities of their time.
(Copyright) We're happy for you to share this digital image within the spirit of The Commons. Please cite 'Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' when reusing. Certain restrictions on high quality reproductions and commercial use of the original physical version apply though; if you're unsure please email archives@twmuseums.org.uk.
~ @rayan_beorn Joey Shorts (Located @ Mainstore)
~ @rayan_beorn Kayden Hoodie (Located @ Mainstore)
Beorn Mainstore:
maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Candy%20Shop/52/67/2002
Left to Right :
Common Moorhen - - - - - ( Gallinula chloropus )
American Coot - - - - - ( Fulica americana )
Ring-billed Gull - - - - - ( Larus delawarensis )
A moorhen and coot watch as another coot dives with his bread to keep the gull from stealing it.
Lake Emerald, in Oakland Park, Florida -US- near Fort Lauderdale.
Shot from my balcony, Sunday afternoon, March 18, 2007.
Best viewed LARGER.
See WHERE. ( When map appears, click "Hybrid" and "+" sign for best map view.)
As the hostage negotiator failed to make contact with the bank robbers, the incident commander decided to deploy the Special Tactics Unit to resolve the incident.
The Special Tactics Unit move into position and deploy tear gas into the bank. As the team made entry, the two bank robbers surrender and the team arrested them peacefully. All hostages are rescued and unharmed.
New Worlds / Magazin-Reihe
- Lan Wright / ...Is No Robbery
art: Bob Clothier
Editor: John Carnell
Nova Publications Ltd.
(London / England; March 1953)
Reprint / Comic-Club NK 2010
ex libris MTP
raphael photography - Models
A brief recap
In the early spring of our 13th year, my twin brother, Cousin Micke, and I were at a dress-up party celebrating our grandparent's 60th Anniversary.
The three of us had left the Parish reception hall to amuse ourselves on the playground of the church.
This was after we had visited the Golden Retriever puppy kennels that the Parson and his wife maintained.
That was the story told in puppy encounters.
After spending a couple of hours at the playground I sadly made the statement that “ We should be getting back soon.”
Micke and I were on the swings being pushed by my brother as I said this.
From behind us I heard him clear his throat and ask...
“Tell me again what those spinster church ladies told you earlier as you left ahead of us?”
I explained that they felt it was unsafe for us girls to be outdressed as we were.
“What could happen? “
Micke asked, cutting my brother off...
Of course, my brother then answered in his way, and I recognized that he had something up the silk sleeve of his shirt.
“I know what could happen...”
I cut him off at the pass..,
“I full well know you do lad, already tried your tricks earlier on me, now didn’t you.
(See ‘Puppy Encounters’ for full details)
“But this is different. he said softly in a friendly cajoling way trying to tempt us into playing his sneaky games.
“Can I show you two?”
He asked, his voice quivering in excitement, getting raspy and deeper as it does when he has a desire to play-act.
“Just a game he promised, a role play game.”
Micke looked at me grinning, she had been a victim of my brother's tricky robbery games before.
“Ok I said, a bit warily, but agreeably, enough what do we need to do, pretend Micke and I are innocently walking about ?”
“No.” He said, shaking his head with an air of mystery before instructing us on our roles...
“Just stay here on the swings. Pretend a friendly-looking bloke (me ) has been watching the two of you playing here alone. “
He turned his head snd nodded towards the top of the hill before continuing...
“He is at that bench on the hill. You both assume he is from the same party. So neither of you are concerned when comes down as your swinging.”
“Here,” Micke said, reaching inside her purse, she held out out a thin silver brush to him. “ You may need this to use for your pistol?”
He shook his head, smirking mysteriously as he replied.
“Nothing like a hold-up, something a bit more dodgy . Just be gullible, and do what he instructs. Pretend your those church ladies as young nieve girls, about to encounter a suave man wise to the world!”
I giggled at suave, but with us, girls both now quite curious over those firmly planted thoughts, we nodded our heads.
He turned and left for the benches.
We both watched as he jauntily made his way to the starting point.
I knew he had been a bit daydreamy as we played, I figured that we were about to find out what he had been mulling over in his thievery plotting devious mind?
“Game on…! Micke said, giggling as we both put our backs to him and started to swing.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^*
Two days later we talked over the playground story that my brother had had us all acting out while riding in the backseat of mum’s car on our way back home from our grandparent's house.
As we each told our side, I really enjoyed my twin’s telling of it from his point of view as the sinister character he envisioned.
I found his telling of it deliciously provocative, even though the scenario was I’ll admit slightly unsettling.
The character he played had been a true charlatan. Of a sort that the actor Robert Carlyle may have been typecast perfectly to play the role...
So that is why I will now tell the story from the point of view of the sly character my brother was role-playing.
With Cousin Micke and I in the role of his gullible Victims
¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥
Playground Puppies
Chapter 1 Playful Puppies
A well-dressed man is watching two young girls playing quite alone on an otherwise deserted playground
These words are from his point of view :
As I watch the richly attired whelps with bated breath, my mind churns, my fingers tingle, as a delightfully warm devious feeling overwhelmed me.
The pair looked as cuddly cute as the squirming Golden Retriever puppies held in the kennels I had so recently trodden past.
But that was not the source of my surge of devious feelings.
That had developed as my eyes were caught up with the enticing glitter of the shiny baubles they are so indiscreetly wearing!
Pricy baubles that would fetch someone a nice selling price.
And someone should teach these young ladies about the hazards of wearing such pretty things when venturing out alone.
It was high time to tutor them on that, I told myself, as I mulled over how fortunate the fates were that had freely handed me this opportunity.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
It had been, and still was, a bright and pleasant sort of afternoon.
I had taken my usual shortcut through a church cemetery and was passing by the woods between the cemetery and the ancient stone church, heading towards the attached playground and the woods beyond.
There was a party going on in the church basement, that much was apparent, judging by the number of cars parked there. Rather fancy cars I might add. But I was known in the area, so decided to pass on a closer look.
As I passed through the cemetery, I heard the yelping of young pups from the kennels, which was not unusual.
What was unusual was that I heard, up ahead, the squealing voices of children playing just over the hill.
Unusual since the playground below was usually deserted, now that the school had long ago closed. The children now played at the much bigger, newer playground down the road.
As I reached the small knoll overlooking the playground, I was mildly surprised at the scene I saw playing out down below.
I immediately sat down on one of the antique wrought iron benches that were set out upon the knoll and took it all in with contemplation.
^^^^^^^
There were two of’em. Tweens I would guess, both girls, scurrying around at the playground, looking cute and soft as those puppies.
The richly attired pair of young vixens were wearing adornments that sparkled with a bright frenzy in the sunshine!
By their chattering, overhead as they went and sat upon the swings, I soon figured out the pair were cousins. One a jolly blonde, the other a serene redhead.
As they cheerfully played on, I caught snatches of their conversations…
The pair were attending the posh party being held at the church reception hall, and had gotten permission to play as long as they stayed clean!
And the darlings were being cutely careful, as they had been instructed to!
The affair the children had been at was a fancy-dress party with affluent guests.
This I ascertained, not by what the children said, as much as how these particular children were dressed up in their fancy party attire.
The two girls wore expensively shiny tops, green and yellow, and elegantly swishing midnight black,sleekly swishing skirts
^^^
The red-haired cousin is wearing a long-sleeved green satin blouse with ruffles at her throat and wrists. A long black skirt ending with ruffles hangs down from her waist.
A double-strand pearl necklace with an emerald pendant holding the strings together bounces invitingly along from the front of her blouse! The rest of her jewellery matches the necklace; pearled Earrings, bracelets, and Rings are all set with pearls and bright emeralds.
The blonde-haired cousin, the one with the black skirt hanging in tiers, is wearing a silver necklace and yellow sapphire gemstone set pendant, with matching sapphire and silver earrings. Her ring and hairpiece both are jewelled with gems that match the colour of her yellow silk tank top!
She also had been wearing a black satin jacket that is now laid out upon a swing seat next to her. On top of the jacket, the blonde had laid her small, gold lamee purse.
^^^^^^^^
Of course, the children have noticed me sitting on the bench nearby, but have innocently assumed I’m an adult from their party come to watch over them while they’re at play.
If only they knew my real reason for watching them I smirked.
I was advantageously wearing a nice suit after all, since I was heading to a wedding reception held in the gardens of a local Lords massive estate, right next to the new school and the large playground that had made this one obsolete.
This is what gave the girls the idea I was one of their fellow party-goers from the church.
So these two had no idea that I was actually a stranger.
No clue that my interest in watching was not piqued solely by boredom, as I had overheard the blonde mention.
I was also pretty sure the pair are also clueless that the pricey jewels they are sporting would be an alluring target for a spot of clever thievery!
^^^^^^^^^
Playground Puppies
Chapter 2 Coddling Puppies
As I was developing my ideas of how to teach these young pups about the risks of wearing good jewels, I overhear that the blonde wished to stay longer than the hour they have been allowed.
“So, I almost missed this show, if I had been by here 15 minutes later, the playground would have been deserted!”
I murmured this churlishly under my breath as I looked at my pocket watch. My mind now grasping at a new angle.
The redhead sagely says they should head back now… but agreed it would be nice to have a second hour.
I watch as the blonde picks up her slick black jacket.
A longish fancy pin set with more shimmery real gemstones blazes to life from the jackets’ lapel!
“Sweet Jesus, that pin alone would fetch a pretty price!”
I wished I had been there to help her on with the jacket... or off.
I whispered this to myself as I quickly played out in my mind an epiphany of a new angle that occurred to me.
I shook my head in self agreement, if the plan I had dreamed up to dupe the whelps into giving me those jewels didn’t appear to be working, I could at least easy enough come away with the blond’s fancy pin...
^^^^^^^
I arise and quickly going up to them, kindly say I will go and ask their mums for permission as long as I am here watching anyways.
The pair cheer up at that, thanking me sweetly… and both turned as I began to leave.
They had started to prance back the swings to continue their play…
And now it was time for me to play also.
I turn back around, holding them up from reaching the swings, as I call them back to me.
They obediently come, their skirts and hair fluttering in a cool breeze that had started up, foretelling a future rain.
It appeared to me at that point, I was like a fisherman reeling in a pair of hooked fish.
They look up into my eyes, with blinking doe-eyed curiosity.
“There may be some rain coming. You may want to take care if it starts to head for cover.”
“Yes, Sir” they both sweetly said at the same time.
“And also, I would take care of your pretty jewelry, surprised that you have not lost some of it while playing. “
I said this with a false concern in my voice.
They both shook their pretty heads in unison, happily agreeing that they had not lost any, as they eagerly were waiting for me to dismiss them.
Now, as I said that last bit, I am lifting the cousin’s gemmed pendant from her glossy top, admiring the shine!
Then I begin my lecture...
Sternly staring down at their nervous faces, I say that I am surprised that their parents had let them outside without taking any means to prevent losing their pretty things while they played!
I suggest that they should take precautions!
I then proceed to explain to their now worried faces, that if they want me to watch them so they can play a little longer than they need to protect their jewellery!
I suggest to the girls that they should remove their jewellery and keep it inside the blonde’s shiny purse for a safekeeping!
The two darling girls look up into my eyes, nodding their heads in agreement!
I had said my bit with an earnest appeal, having to act quickly before the darlings had any time to think suspiciously about what I was saying.
“Good girls ”
I was also congratulating myself as I reach into a pocket….
I would rather do it this way. But If it didn’t work, I would just back off, suggest I help the blonde off with her jacket, then head away with that consolidation prize.
Well, with the way these two were looking at me, innocently waiting, it would not come to that.
^^^^^^^^^^
Playground Puppies
Chapter 3 Shedding Puppies Fade
I take out a white handkerchief and lay it out onto a bench.
“Attention now my ladies, we will place your jewels upon this handkerchief to keep them all snugly together.
I instruct the two girls each to approach in turn…
I then “generously” help them to carefully remove their precious jewellery from their sweaty warm figures!
The redhead is first.
I help her unclasp her pearl necklace and guide her hand to the handkerchief where she places it down gently.
She removes her bracelet and ring and smiles most fetchingly at me as she places them on top of her necklace.
As she unclasped each of her earrings, I admire her slippery slick-looking green ruffled blouse and pat my fingers down along her skirt.
She smiles at the attention as she added her glittery earrings to the white silk handkerchief!
I then beckon the blonde to come.
The blonde obediently approaches as her red-headed cousin steps happily aside.
I lift her gemstone pendant and she reached behind her neck and unclasps it. I then let it drape carefully over the pile of pearls.
I lift her hand, admiring her ring as she slips it off and places it on the handkerchief. As she removes her earrings I take the time to keep her thoughts distracted by lightly caressing and admire her pretty yellow silk top, and skirt, complimenting her on both!
She started to step back, but her cousin, bless her soul, reminds her of the pretty jeweled hairpiece the girl is wearing.
She nods her head, and delicately lifts it out, then adds it to the pile.
As she reaches up to fix her silky blonde hair, I reach up with both hands and undo the glittery pin away from her soft jacket’s lapel. It was a looker, a jeweled sunflower, diamond center, and gold leaves filled with diamond chips, all on an emerald jeweled stem.
She actually chirped to me a thank you for helping!
I smiled at her as I added it to the shimmery pile heaped on the silk handkerchief.
They both had beamed at my compliments on their attire, not realizing that I am making sure their pockets and clothes contain nothing of value that may have been missed, say a loose ring that may have been taken off
The handkerchief now has a nice heaped pile of glistening silver, gleaming pearls, and glittery gemmed pieces...
^^^^^
As I was doing all of this, I never stop talking to the girls, distractingly assuring them how smart they are to be acting so mature!
I then carefully fold up the handkerchief as I ask if they had been to see the puppies yet.
They both look towards the kennels talking lively about how they had, and how just so adorable they were.
You two are quite adorable also I think to myself as I then make a show of having the blonde open her purse as I place the bundled handkerchief deep inside.
With a winning smile, I then release the beaming young ladies, sending them back off to happily play!
I stand watching the elegantly attired young ladies for a few precious minutes!
It had all gone brilliantly smoothly and was regrettably over far too soon!
I turned and began to walk off.
^^^^^^^^^^
Playground Puppies
Chapter 4 Wiggly Puppies, NOT!
The author's point of view...
I smirked at my brother as he turned and began walking away
Micke just watched us, clutching her purse with a confused look on her face.
“Happy now? I call to him, “We had better be off lad, we can stop by for another look at those adorable puppies. “
He stops to turn and looks at us with a happy smirk upon his sly-looking face.
He waits for us to catch up.
“what now Micke whispered to me, does he steal my purse ??”
“Look inside the handkerchief silly.” I say
Micke pulls it out, opens it up, and looks at the contents astonished. She lifts one end, letting the pebbles it now contained fall to the ground.
My brother began chortle as he reached into a pocket while woefully saying...
“ I had hoped to see looks of surprise, was sure I had fooled you both. Should have known better, you were all too an unquestioning victim sis.”
“How?” Asked Micke bewildered.
“Two handkerchiefs my Lass,” my brother said cryptically,
“Gran told me a gentleman always carries two, one to give a lady if she needs it. I switched them as you two were prattling on about seeing the puppies !”
He then added with smiling relief...
“But it is a relief to know you two would not have been fooled if I had been a real con man.”
I praised his ingenuity:
“It was a great scam you came up with, very original luv.”
“Not mine.”
He admitted with a wee bit of reluctance”
“Read it in One of our uncle's true crime mags. Three young girls in Scotland, one loaded down with 14 caret gold jewelry, the second wearing pearls, the third wearing good rhinestones.
The ninnies had snuck out and playing alone outside in a park, next to a hotel where the wedding reception they attended was held. A stranger worriedly approached them expressing concern over the likelihood of their jewelry being lost as I did. Told them he would have them go back inside unless they did something about making sure their jewellery was safe. “
My brother took a breath. Then continued
“Though the handkerchief was my idea, the man who conned them Scottish girls used a small brown bag to collect the jewels up in, which was later found to contain nothing but loose gravel! “
From behind us, I could hear Micke snort
“Gullible twits”
Fini
15th August 1733, Epping High Road, Essex, England. The Essex Gang hold up a stage coach on its way to the City of London. Dick Turpin, the famous Highwayman, leads the Essex gang on another robbery.
Dick (Richard) Turpin was the son of a farmer, born in 1706, and trained as a butcher before taking to a life of crime. The Essex gang invaded isolated farm houses and stole valuables from the female occupants. For a time the gang hid out in a cave in Epping Forest, where they watched the nearby road robbing nearly everybody who passed by.
In one robbery Dick Turpin stole the horse from a man name called Major and give his jaded mount to Major. Major didn’t take the loss lying down and after a number of events Turpin decided that he couldn’t stay in the London and Essex area any longer without getting caught and went to live in Yorkshire and took on the name John Palmer.
After a string of events in the area justice finally caught up with Dick Turpin and he was tried, found guilty, punishable by death. He was hung in Knavesmire, York’s equivalent of London’s Tyburn on 7th April 1939.
Wally went home after he helped me take care of the bank robbery. For such a small task I’m sure he thought I called him because I was distracted. He’d be wrong though, I called him because I love working with him. In some ways I’m glad that he got his powers, but in others I’m afraid that he’ll use his powers when they’re not needed and get caught.
Barry makes his way up into his room and checks his watch. As he does he remembers that he has a date at Carmine’s with Iris at eight and the time is seven fifty-five. He quickly throws off his shirt and pants and runs to his closet to get a new outfit on. He grabs a dress shirt and a jumper and pulls them over his head. Before he leaves he grabs his favorite bow-tie and wraps it around his neck quickly. The bow-tie was given to him by Iris, his wife, on their first date. With his bow-tie tied he quickly grabs his wallet and watch and makes his way to Carmine’s to meet Iris. Before he gets to Carmine’s he makes a quick stop at a flower shop. He sped through the shop and grabbed a bouquet of flowers and left the right amount of money on the counter within the blink of an eye.
Yeah, that might have been a dumb idea, but I have no time to waste. I need to get to Carmine’s quickly and I have no time to deal with the shop owner. After I grab the flowers I make my way to Carmine’s. I stop about a block away in some alley and walk from there. This is mainly to throw suspension of me being the Flash and to give me time to adjust my clothes so I don’t look like a ragamuffin to Iris.
Iris greets Barry with a big smile and her smile grows bigger as she notices both the bow-tie and the flowers. She wraps her arms around his neck and gives him a kiss on the cheek. Barry returns the gesture by wrapping his arms around her.
“Right on time. You didn’t forget about me, did you?”
”Of course not.”
“Shall we go in?” Iris says, prompting Barry to walk to the door and open it wide. Barry lifts his hand and waves it across his body as to say “After you.” Iris follows the command and walks into Carmine’s. The two join hands and walk to their favorite table. Moments pass and the waitress comes over to their table and sets two waters on the table.
“Do you know what you’re going to have tonight?” She asks as she takes out her pen and paper.
”She’ll have the chef’s salad with extra dressing, and I’ll have the spaghetti, extra spaghetti.””
“Alright, anything else?”
”No that’ll be it, thank you.”
“Alright, your food will be out soon.” The waitress smiles and turns to walk back to the back room. As she leaves, Iris pulls out a small box from her purse and shows it to Barry.
”What’s that?”
“A present.” Iris hands the box to Barry. He takes it from her and shakes it to see if he can hear anything in it.
”What is it?”
“Well open it and find out.” Iris says. Barry quickly opens the box and sees a dark red bow tie inside. He looks up at Iris with a puzzled face.
”But I…”
“It was your father’s, Barry. I found it in the attic with some of his old stuff. I also found a picture of your parents wedding. Your father had that tie on in the picture.” Barry sat in silence as he admired the bow-tie. He knew full and well that this was the tie his father wore in his parents wedding. Slowly, Barry got up from his seat and wiped away a stray tear from his cheek. Iris got up from her seat as well, and as she did so, Barry wrapped his arms around her gave her a big kiss. The two kept hugging for a while until the waitress came back to their table. She stood silently as to not disturb the moment. Barry looked over and noticed her standing there.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to break up the moment.”
”Oh, it’s fine.” Barry and Iris sat back down as the waitress placed their food in front of them. She placed down the silver ware and walked off.
“Enjoy your dinner..."
Just after 9 am, 2 masked male armed with AR-15 style weapons enter a bank in Victoria City. Bystanders immediately call 911. Constables from the Victoria City Police Department respond to the call. As the bank robbers leave the bank, they encountered the constables responding to the 911 call. The robbers immediately retreat back into the bank and barricade themselves with hostages. Constables call for backup and the Tactical Response Unit quickly arrived on scene.
To be continued...
Things have gotten so bad in the town of Tablescrap that a bot can't even take his dog for a piss without being accosted by a no-good-tablescrap.
Elijah took note of the vehicle as it screeched to a desperate halt outside the window, he was half expecting a robbery, but who robbed a coffee shop? Upon seeing the sharply dressed man exit the vehicle he knew immediately that this wasn’t some drive-by, spur-of-the-moment robbery, it was something else, but what? As the man outside began to shout, he would just watch through the dirty windows, waiting to see what would happen next. To his surprise, the man that was yelling suddenly fell silent upon seeing Syhreena and appeared to tuck his tail between his legs and get to opening a door for her. Elijah raised a brow, finding this rather curious behaviour, not just the man’s, but also Syhreena’s, he thought they were about to sit down and have a cup of coffee together, but it seemed she had other plans. Now that he was sitting alone, he raised the fresh mug of hot coffee to his lips and started to drink, he hoped that maybe the woman had taken his advice, maybe this was her way of just saying ‘fuck it’ and leaving the city before it could get its hooks into her, but at this point, he really didn’t know. Not wanting to be sat there alone with no one to talk to but the waitress, he would stand up and head for the door. He would raise his mug, gesturing towards the waitress, “Taking this to go.” He said politely as he returned to the job, protecting the streets, with a coffee in one hand and a gun on his hips.
Meanwhile back in the city, the sun rose higher into the sky and people began to emerge from their homes ready to face the day ahead. While many were just starting their day, Elijah was about to finish his. Sipping from his mug, Elijah would take note that the name on the side wasn’t his own, in fact, it read ‘Shyreena’, which meant, he had something in his possession that he didn’t want. Casting his mind back a few moments, he tried to remember what the mysterious woman had asked for, then it hit him, she’d ordered a ‘large cappuccino’, his expression would shift to one of mild annoyance as he was looking forward to his bitter, black coffee, but he knew what he could have ended up with could have been far, far worse.
Upon leaving the coffee shop, he would head towards the station, enjoying the sun on his walk, he couldn’t wait to get out of his uniform, it always seemed to weigh so much more on a night shift for some reason. When he arrived at the station, he would slip into the locker room and start undoing the straps on his bulletproof vest and sliding out of each item of clothing, leaving himself standing in the locker room with nothing on but his underwear. Due to the fact, that only other members of the force were able to access the locker room he didn’t really care about who might have walked in. While he stood in just his underwear, he folded his uniform neatly before opening his personal locker and swapping the neatly folded uniform for his civilian wear and began to get dressed. With a fresh set of ‘normal’ clothes on, he was now free to go home.
After leaving the station, Elijah headed home, he lived in a simple apartment, which really didn’t have much in it but the basics, he didn’t feel the need for much else. As soon as he arrived home, he would crack a window open before throwing himself down into his bed with a cigarette and lighting up, letting the nicotine do its job while he closed his eyes and cast his mind back to the strange encounter earlier, that woman, her tattoos, that car, it all seemed to dance around in his mind and it wasn’t going away, he wanted those thoughts to stop spinning around inside his head so he could sleep, but thoughts are a nuisance sometimes. He laid there, trying to relax, and finished his cigarette. Finally sleep appeared.
Elijah had slept away most of the day, as he often did, waking up just as the evening arrived. He was on the night shift which was often the worst of all shifts, the cover of darkness seemed to bring out the worst in people, which he knew, but it didn’t really bother him, as it was part of the job, to try and stamp out the criminal element where possible like the lit ash that had been dropped from hiscigarette. Dragging himself out of bed, Elijah stepped into the shower, washing away the musk of the night before, before returning to his room, wrapping in nothing but a towel.
Eddie drove for nearly an hour before turning into an area that was surrounded by forest. He parked the car and moved to open the back door “We are here Miss “he said softly then again a bit louder. Shyreena shook her head a bit and then stepped out. She stretched and looked around and smiled. This would do nicely, she thought and turned to look at Eddie, he nodded to a huge gate that loomed in the distance, her gaze followed and there partially seen was a huge iron gate with the moon phases highlighted in brass on each bar.
She smiled a little, pleased to see some instructions followed and turn hopping back into the car “let’s begin “she said to him and he shut her door, entered the driver’s seat and proceeded towards the gate, halting as he pushed the button to open the gates, then drove onward up a windy driveway to the front door of the large stately home. He quickly hopped out and opened the door for Syhreena, she looked at him and could sense his excitement, confirmed by the tell tale signs of his jittery body movements.
She turned grabbed her items, not forgetting the cup and stepped out, ignoring his offer to help. She moved up the steps towards the large oak entry door and as she approached the door opened and a female nodded to Syhreena opening the door wider and standing back. Syhreena stopped and turned looking back towards the car “leave the car Eddie, report to the order, you are relieved of your duties” her eyes met his then she turned and entered the manor. Eddie looked down trying to hide his disappointment, knowing he was not permitted to respond he started to walk up the stairs behind her following her into the house then turned a sharp left and walked down the dark corridor out of sight.
Syhreena went to her desk and stood while she tapped away on the keyboard at lightning speed then eased the cover shut and stared out the window. She thought it ironic as the new dawn rose in the distance, the sun seemed to mark not only the start of a new day but the confirmation that the Order had begun. She sank into the chair as her mind settled and drifted into semi rest, she had hoped that she would be at the homestead before the sun rose but would have to make do thanks to Eddie being late.
Syhreena was tired, it had been a long night and she wanted to sleep. She clicked her fingers to the staff standing quietly to the side. Quickly, one followed her to her chambers. Syhreena stood thinking with her arms out as they undressed her and eased a robe onto her shoulders, she hurried them and put her arms through the arm holes and wrapped it around herself, then moved away, intending to lay on the freshly made bed and sleep; the quilt and sheets on the bed had been rolled down , Shyreena turned, flicking a finger in a movement to dismiss the staff before turning and laying down to rest, she was asleep within minutes.
The day passed quietly and when the evening commenced, a bell chimed in the room and Shyreena rose to find a meal had been served. She quickly ate, showered, then dressed in clothing that would be suited to her purpose before she phoned down to the garage informing them that she would be going to town now and headed towards the front door. The car approached and she made note that it was a different driver and hopped into the car. She was eager to move about and explore the town; her town, she was starting to feel it would become, and she was keen to become familiar with the haunts where the underdogs would gather. Her mind kept returning to Elijah, a slight flicker turned in her soul as she focused on him and she chewed her lips as she thought of what it could mean. The driver slowed the car as it reached the town site and instinctively pulled up near the worst part of town. Opening the door, he bowed as she exited and disappeared into the darkness of the evening; he watched until she was out of sight and returned moving the car away from town until he was called for again.
Category: Vignette
Title: The Bank Robbery
Description: An enemy of the sheriff tries to rob a bank. But the Sheriff, even though off-duty, quickly runs to the bank when he hears screaming. But can he stopped the armed robber?
A very fun build. After building this, I had a sudden itch to build a whole Western town (not like I would have enough pieces anyways). Credit goes to Gambort for the cactus.
7/27/2016 Mike Orazzi | Staff
Bristol Police on scene of bank robbery at TD Bank on Broad Street in Bristol Wednesday afternoon.
VIEW THIS PICTURE LARGE ON BLACK
Strobist:
AB800 x1 in octabox on one person at the time, and the same with the car. And then photoshopped everything into place.
Cybersync trigger & receiver.
More and other pictures on my Facebook page.
Amazing Stories / Magazin-Reihe
- Bob Olsen / Four Dimensional Robberies
- Fletcher Pratt [Irvin Lester and Fletcher Pratt] / The Octopus Cycle
- Samuel M. Sargent, Jr. / Dr. Brittlestone's Method
- Edgar Allan Poe / The Thousand-and-Second Tale of Scheherazade
- H. G. Wells / A Story of the Days to Come
- Hugo Gernsback / Münchhausen Is Taught "Martian"
[Baron Münchhausen's New Scientific Adventures]
- Francis Flagg / The Master Ants
- Harold Donitz / A Visitor from the Twentieth Century
cover: Frank R. Paul
(Cover illustrates "The Octopus Cycle")
Editor: Hugo Gernsback
Experimenter Publishing Co. / USA 1928
Reprint: Comic-Club NK 2010
ex libris MTP