WILLIAM PECK

Alias: PARKS, PECK'S BAD BOY

Specialties: PICKPOCKET

No: 157 Last Displayed: 7/19/2021

Description:

Twenty-six years old in 1886. Born in New York. Single. No trade. Slim build. Height 5 feet 9 inches. Weight, 140 pounds. Dark brown hair, hazel eyes, light complexion. Has two moles, and two scars from burns, on his right arm. Generally wears a small brown mustache and side-whiskers.

Record:

BILLY PECK is one of a new gang of pickpockets which are continually springing up in New York City. He is an associate of all the Bowery (New York) "mob" of pickpockets, and is considered a promising youth. He is known in Philadelphia, New York, Albany, Boston, and several other Eastern cities. With the exception of a short term in the penitentiary on Blackwell's Island, nothing is known about him, except that he is a professional thief. He was arrested in New York City on January 3, 1885, in company of another pickpocket, named William Davis, for attempting to pick pockets on one of the horsecars. No complaint was obtained against him, and he was discharged, after his picture was taken for the Rogues' Gallery. He was arrested again in Albany, N. Y., in August, 1885, during Grant's obsequies, in company of a gang of New York pickpockets, locked up until after the funeral, and then discharged. He was arrested again in Boston, Mass., on December 21, 1885, in company of James Wells, alias Funeral Wells (1SO), and Jimmie Murphy, two other New York pickpockets, attempting to ply their vocation in Mechanics' Hall, during one of Dr. W. W. Downs's sensational lectures. He was in luck again, for, after having their pictures taken, they were escorted to the train and ordered to leave town. This is a very clever thief, and may be looked for at any moment in any part of the country. He was arrested again in Hoboken, N. J., under the name of William Parker, on February 16, 1886, charged with attempting to pick a lady's hand-satchel, and sentenced to three months in jail there. His picture is an excellent one, taken in December, 1885.