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Stop Thief! (1901)
 

Synopsis

Warning: screenonline full synopses contain 'spoilers' which give away key plot points. Don't read on if you don't want to know the ending!

James Williamson's 1902 catalogue has a detailed description:

Shows how a dinner went to the dogs. Three scenes. 1st Scene - Quiet roadway, tramp slouching along, butcher walks up briskly with tray on shoulder, tramp lifts joint from tray and bolts, butcher after him. 2nd Scene - Roadway and front of cottages; tramp rushes past, dogs after him and then butcher; cottagers come out and look after them. 3rd Scene - A large tub; tramp comes in, dodges round the tub, hoping to escape his pursuers; throws joint into tub, and jumps in after it; dogs following closely behind, sniff round the tub, then jump in one by one, first a large collie, then a French poodle, then a black and white terrier; another small dog runs round, but cannot manage the jump. What happens inside can be imagined by the ragged condition of the tramp when the butcher comes along, and after driving off the dogs, pulls him out, and then finds the bare bone left in the tub. A tussle between the butcher and the tramp brings the subject to a close.