You've got to pick a pocket or two...

May 2, 2016 by Carole Mulroney

 YOU'VE GOT TO PICK A POCKET OR TWO

In March 1908 consternation raged at the Crooked Billet one Thursday evening.

It wasn’t that the beer barrels had run dry, or that the supply of Johnny Dewar was exhausted; such catastrophes as these never happen at a well ordered public house. A cricket supper had been partaken of, and highly enjoyed, and songs and smoke were in full swing when one of the guests—a prominent public man—suddenly discovered that his gold presentation watch and chain were missing.

What had become of it? Lost, stolen or strayed? That was the query and everybody looked at his neighbour for a solution to the puzzle. The owner was naturally angry at losing possession of a valuable article, and his friends sympathized with him in his misadventure. For a few moments, as before said, consternation reigned. But all’s well that ends well......

The watch and chain was discovered attached to the coat of another guest. The whole incident was the outcome of a desire for a bit of fun, and the curiosity of what was possible to be done by an amateur imitator of Fagin.