A method sometimes used to commit money drawer or "till" robberies in stores is to select some innocent-appearing storekeeper, usually a foreigner, whom one of the thieves wearing a silk hat would approach, informing him that they had just made a wager that the hat would not hold more than a gallon of molasses, and requesting that the storekeeper measure a gallon of molasses into the hat at their expense, to decide the wager. BLINDING VICTIM WITH MOLASSES. Seeing the prospect of a sale, even if the wager was a peculiar one, the groceryman would concede to this request. The hat being partly filled, one of the thieves would place it quickly on the merchant's head, blinding him with the molasses, while they stole the contents of the money drawer. The "sneak" who commits the robbery, to be successful, usually is of small stature, active, alert and noiseless, as upon him mainly depends the success or failure of the venture. He must judge from the operations of his associates when the opportunity to commit the robbery has arrived. There are no signals or conversations between the confederates and the "sneak" designating the moment for him to act. He must decide this from observation of what his confederates have accomplished in preparing a safe way for him. If there is a suspicion or a discovery by employes, it devolves upon his confederates to do their utmost to confuse and obstruct the pursuers. I once asked an old-time professional "sneak" thief how he was first introduced into a band of first-class bank "sneaks." He explained that he was raised in a small village having a general store presided over by a widow; that she at times would go to the cellar for certain merchandise, leaving the store unguarded. This suggested to him how easy it would be to rob the money drawer during her absence in the cellar, which he afterward did, and which was his first successful "sneak" robbery. Afterward he stole from a small window in the same store, packages of chewing tobacco, pipes, etc., also occasionally again robbing a bakery of pies and cakes, and occasionally again robbing the "till." But one afternoon, before a Fourth of July, in attempting to steal some packages of fire-crackers and some loose torpedoes, a couple of the torpedoes dropped to the floor, causing an explosion and resulting in his discovery and arrest and final imprisonment. In jail he met with other criminals, and finally became one of them, joining with the first-class "sneak" band of professional criminals. This man for years was a most successful leader of "sneak" thieves, stealing fortunes, finally dying in prison and leaving a family in actual want. RARELY USE PISTOLS.