Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 May 1896 — QUEEN OF THE FORTY THIEVES. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

QUEEN OF THE FORTY THIEVES.

Polly/WartHh Striking Beaaty Won Huvr Victim*. There was recently sent to prison In London sot a term of three years the most skin nil blackmailer and pickpocket In that great English city. Her nam« Is Polly Carr, and the secret of her great snceefls was the extraordinary beaaty of her face and figure. She was known to the police as the “Queen of the Forty Thieves,” and for years she conducted her operations so sklllfuUy that she has Invariably escaped imprisonment The charge on which she was recently sentenced was for kidnaping a child. Polly has associated with bad characters ever since she was 12 years old, when she was first arrested on a charge of theft. She soon became one of the most expert pickpockets in the west end of Londoq. Next she turned her attention to blackmailing, and so successful was she at this calling that her profits never fell much short of S2OO a week. Her favorite scheme was to waylay elderly gentlemen on their way home early In the morning and ask them for the price of cab fare, saying that someone had stolen her pocketbook. Her good looks and Innocent expression would soften the heart of the wayfarer, and she rarely failed Of a victim. The dupe would ask the pleasure of accompanying her to the cab, which Invitation was always accepted. On the way they would pass through some quiet street, and here Polly would turn around and accuse

her escort of assault A couple of her confederates would bo In the vicinity to help matters along, and the elderly gentleman, sooner than face the exposure of the police court, would generally come down with a good, round sum.

POLLY CARR.