The Adventure of the Pickpocket (1914)

When Octavius reads in the morning paper that Coney Island is having many complaints about pickpockets, he decides to investigate and see if his massive intellect can suggest a remedy, so he goes down to Coney Island disguised as a farmer. He arrives as The Flim Flam Motion Picture Company is engaged in taking a few scenes for its masterly production of "No Mother to Chide Her." Octavius doesn't see the camera; he just sees the motherless, "unchidden" heroine in the act of stealing a lady's pocketbook. He promptly gives chase, to the considerable detriment of the Flim Flam Company's scene. The alarmed leading lady, thinking Octavius mad, makes every attempt to escape from them, but he soon catches her and orders her to follow him to the police station; he is himself arrested at the indignant director's command. But because he's a young man of independent means, Octavius manages to fix things with the director--after an unpleasant 10 minutes. Somewhat discouraged as a result of his initial attempt, Octavius decided to have lunch. His sympathies were aroused by a peculiarly-innocent-looking lady, and with his usual chivalry he warned her of the dangers of the place and begged her to accept his protection. While they were at lunch, two detectives, to whom Octavius had disclosed his business at Coney Island, approached and congratulated him on his capture of the lady of innocent appearance, who, it seems, was none other than Chicago Nell. Octavius was not over-slow in taking full credit for his achievement, and managed to suppress any slight surprise he felt, when he discovered at the station house that Chicago Nell had made the best of their short acquaintance by relieving him of his watch and money.

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Summary Details
GenresComedy Short
FilmmakersRole
Charles M. Seay Director
Frederic Arnold Kummer Writer
CastRole
Barry O'Moore
Octavius the Amateur Detective
Julian Reed
Ignatz the Butler
Miriam Nesbitt
The Film Actress
Joseph Manning
The Film Director