JOHN RILEY

Alias: JOHN MURPHY

Specialties: PICKPOCKET, SHOPLIFTER, SNEAK

No: 166 Last Displayed: 6/13/2022

Description:

Fifty-one years old in 1886. Born in Ireland. Married. Printer. Medium build. Height, 5 feet 8 1/4 inches. Weight, 142 pounds. Light hair, blue eyes, sandy complexion; whiskers, when worn, are sandy. Has letters "J. R." in India ink on his left arm.

Record:

JOHNNY RILEY is an old New York pickpocket, sneak and shoplifter. He generally works with his wife, Annie Riley, and pays considerable attention to funerals and markets. His wife is a very clever pickpocket, John generally doing the "stalling" for her. He has served terms in prison in Philadelphia, Sing Sing, and on Blackwell's Island, New York. He lives in New York, but is well known in several of the Eastern cities. Riley, Annie his wife, Fred Benner, alias Dutch Fred (81), and Mag. Sweeny. alias Bell, were arrested in New York City on August 1, 1885, for picking the pocket of a woman named Eliza J. North, in Washington Square Park. Riley and Benner were sentenced to one year in the penitentiary on Blackwell's Island on August 12. 1885. Mrs. Riley and Sweeny were sentenced to six months in the penitentiary the same day by Judge Gildersleeve. Riley's picture is a good one. taken in May, 1877.