NCJ Number
18075
Date Published
1974
Length
254 pages
Annotation
A SOCIOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF A PROFESSIONAL FENCE WHO HAS BEEN IN THE BUSINESS FOR MORE THAN TWENTY-FIVE YEARS.
Abstract
THE AUTHOR BEGINS WITH A MINIATURE CASE STUDY OF JONATHON WILD, 'THE FATHER OF PROFESSIONAL FENCING', AND THE GREATEST FENCE IN HISTORY. HE THEN TURNS TO VINCENT SWAGGI (A PSEUDONYM), DESCRIBING HOW HIS AVERAGE DAY BEGINS AND ENDS, HOW HE HAS MANAGED TO STAY IN BUSINESS SO LONG, THE METHODS HE DEVELOPED FOR DEALING WITH THE LAW, AND HOW HE JUSTIFIES HIS ROLE IN SOCIETY. IN ONE CHAPTER, THE AUTHOR SUMMARIZES THE BASIC PATTERN OF ACTION FOLLOWED BY ALL PROFESSIONAL FENCES. HE CONCLUDES WITH A DETAILED ACCOUNT OF HOW HE GOT IN TOUCH WITH VINCENT IN THE FIRST PLACE, HOW HE CONVINCED HIM THAT HIS LIFE STORY WOULD BE WORTH TELLING, HIS INTERVIEWS WITH HIM (WHICH SPANNED OVER A YEAR), AND HOW TO KEEP HIS IDENTITY HIDDEN. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)