The truth is, that the class generally known as Professional Criminals number about 3000. Besides these, there are about 5000 women of ill-fame, known as such, living in 600 houses of prostitution, and frequenting assignation and bed-houses, about 7000 rum shops, 92 faro banks, and about 500 other gambling houses, and lottery and policy offices, within the limits of the City of New York.
The professional criminals are those who live by thieving, and who occasionally vary their career by the commission of a murder or some other desperate crime. They rarely resort to violence, however, unless it becomes necessary to ensure their own safety. Then they make their work as simple and as brief as possible. They form a distinct community, frequent certain parts of the city, where they can easily and rapidly communicate with each other, and where they can also hide from the police without fear of detection. They have signs by which they may recognize each other, and a language, or argot, peculiar to themselves. Those who have been raised to the
business use this argot to such an extent that to one not accustomed to it they speak in an unknown tongue. The following specimens, taken from the “Detective’s Manual,” under the head of the letter B, will illustrate this:
Badger.—A panel-thief.
Bagged.—Imprisoned.
Bag of nails.—All in confusion.
Balram—Money.
Bandog.—A civil officer.
Barking irons.—Pistols.
Bene.—Good, first-rate.