[Ads-l] crook (1872)

[Ben Zimmer]

"Crook" in the sense 'a thief or swindler; dishonest person' is in HDAS
from 1877 and OED2 from 1879. Earlier uses appear in Chicago newspapers,
with the Evening Mail leading the way.

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https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-chicago-evening-mail-professional-cr/135280702/
Chicago Evening Mail, Sept. 5, 1872, p. 4, col. 1
Twenty professional "crooks" counted between the Sherman House and Madison
street bridge -- and it was a poor day for thieves too.
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https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-chicago-evening-mail-roughs-crooks/135280717/
Chicago Evening Mail, Sept. 9, 1872, p. 4, col. 5
A crowd was in attendance. composed largely of roughs, "crooks" and
villains, such as would naturally take an interest in the state of their
confrere, or rather leader, in outlawry.
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https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-chicago-evening-mail-cracksmen-and-c/135281315/
Chicago Evening Mail, Oct. 17, 1872, p. 4, col. 4
Bill Wray, one of the most notorious "cracksmen" and "crook" in the city
who, in the last fifteen years, has accumulated $70,000 in the "business,"
appeared in the Criminal Court this morning.
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https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-chicago-evening-mail-the-crooks-got/135280730/
Chicago Evening Mail, Dec. 16, 1872, p. 4, col. 3
It is believed that the latter was the more profitable of the two, as the
"crooks" got away with some $500 worth of jewelry.
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--bgz

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