The Scotsman, Wednesday 29 October 1851, p. 3. A report of three young women accused of pickpocketing in busy Edinburgh shops. The newspaper identifies two officers involved in their arrest: James McLevy and Shaw.
Original newspaper report
FEMALE PICKPOCKETS.—On Monday three well-dressed girls, from twelve to eighteen years of age, were brought before the sitting Magistrate in the Police Court, charged with five or six acts of picking ladies’ pockets. The thefts were generally effected by entering shops at busy moments, and while making slight purchases for themselves, watching their opportunity to steal the customers’ purses—those of the ladies especially, as being more easily abstracted. The delinquents, after a prolonged and diligent search, were at length captured by criminal officers M’Levie and Shaw. The case of the prisoners was continued till yesterday, when they were remitted to a higher court for trial.
Historical context
The account describes the alleged method of theft and how the suspects were apprehended after a search. It shows McLevy working alongside another named criminal officer, Shaw. The three accused were between twelve and eighteen years of age. Their names and the eventual outcome of the prosecution are not given in this clipping.
Source: The Scotsman, 29 October 1851, p. 3, “Female Pickpockets”. View the original clipping in the research collection (access may depend on Drive permissions).
