Whiz Mob: A Correlation of the Technical Argot of Pickpockets with Their Behavior Pattern

by David W. Maurer

Overview

Whiz Mob is David W. Maurer's classic study of the world of pickpockets. Similar to his best-known work, The Big Con, in Whiz Mob Maurer explains the colorful expressions and vivid words used by pickpockets and uses them to provide a window into the life and experiences of the professional criminal. Although he is quick to point out that he never had any actual experience on the racket, Maurer spent many years interviewing pickpockets and learning about their way of life. The result is a fascinating look at the work, lives, morals, and dangers of this element of the criminal subculture. Whiz Mob is essential reading for sociologists, linguists, and everyone interested in the mystery and intrigue of the criminal underworld.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781461647041
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	06/01/1964
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	222
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

David W. Maurer was a well-known linguist and professor at the University of Louisville for many years. His other books include Kentucky Moonshine, an examination of the language of moonshiners, and The Big Con, which was the basis for the Academy Award winning movie, The Sting.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction
Chapter 2 The Nature of Professional Crime
Chapter 3 The Pickpocket and Legitimate Society
Chapter 4 The Place of the Pickpocket in the Underworld
Chapter 5 Usage Levels of the Pickpocket
Chapter 6 The Act of Theft
Chapter 7 Different Types of Mobs
Chapter 8 The Mark
Chapter 9 Money and Valuables
Chapter 10 The Thief and the Law
Chapter 11 Skills and Training
Chapter 12 Places to Work
Chapter 13 Ethics and Morals
Chapter 14 The Word-Finder List