“A variety, Nick, to fit any type of man except a humpback or one dismembered,” he replied.
“The descriptions vary, eh?”
“I should say so.”
“Possibly the robbers use a different disguise for each job.”
“Very likely.”
“Or, as nearly always is the case,” said Nick, “the victims of the robbers were so frightened or excited at the time that they retain only vague and exaggerated impressions of their assailants.”
“Precisely.”
“To illustrate that,” added Nick, “I know of a case of a noted prize-fighter, who was held up and robbed of his watch and money in broad daylight, and within fifty yards of Central Park. He declared that the thief was six feet tall, weighed one hundred and eighty pounds, and was backed by two confederates, whom he could not quite recall. We got the crook next day.”
“Yes?”
“He was under five feet, weighed one hundred and thirty pounds, and did the job entirely alone.”