New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-04-17
A DETECTIVES STORY.

weeds, accompanied by gentleman SAD
to be her bro her, came to New York, and
engaged house on Fourth street. Her
rich dress and refinement of manner, COM
bined with great personal attractions,
rendered her neighbors most DESTROYS OF
obtaining an Introduction to- her, and
curiosity was rife as to where she came
from and who she was. Her brother, for
be really stood in that relationship to her,
was young man enjoying the command
of ready money to considerable amount.
who easily made acquaintance among
others of his own age. His manners were
very pleasing and his demeanor was
polished, while his attire, though ex-
tremely quiet and unpretending. was al
ways in the best possible taste. So favor
able was the impression which he created
in the minds of his new friends, that sew
eral OF them invited him to their own
homes, and in short time his circle OF
intimates increased to such a degree that
he, in his turn, was enabled to give recep-
tons in Fourth street.
His name was Vaughan, and his sister
had been married to colonel of the Con-
federate army, who had been killed il &C.
ton during the war. Young Vaughan
succeeded to handsome competence on
the death OF his father, and Colonel Will
son, who had also been man of properly,
had left sufficient behind him to support
his widow in a manner becoming his po-
sition. This tale was supported by the
evidence of two or three other young men,
frequently to be met in Vaughsn's apart
ments, who were also from the South, and
was SO fully borne out by all the circum-
stances of the period and their mode of
life, that the brother and sister were tacitly
permitted to take their place in society as
fashionable people.
Among many others who visited Mrs.
Wilson was Mr.. Johnson and his family,
who possessed large store on Broadway.
To this gentleman the widow was es-
pecially attentive, and vowed that her pur-
ehases for the future should be made from
no other person than himself. Day after
day she visited his store and bought
largely, invariably paying ready money,
until his confidence in her was fully es-
tablished, and he told her he should be
most happy to give her credit, if at any
time it would be more agreeable to her.
She replied that she was only a woman,
and consequently knew nothing of bust
ness, SO she preferred to pay at once, that
she might know exactly how she was
situated, but promised to avail herself Of
his kind offer should she ever feel the
need of it. One benefit there was, how
ever, which he could confer on her. Would
he be so kind as to show her over his
store? She had ne yer had an opportunity
before Of becoming acquainted with the
resources of so large an establishment.
Mr.. johnson, only too wiling to be polite
to SO excellent customer, Immediately
acceded to her request, and laid his treas
ures bare before her, and exhibited some
of his most costly goods. She asked at
what hour business was commenced, at
what hour concluded, and after thanking
him sincerely for his courtesies, took her
leave. 1t was not long before the worthy
merchant had cause to regret this moment
of weakness, and subsequent events
proved to him how easy it is for a good
looking woman to cajole man, however
wide awake he may be.
New York at this time was infested by
gang of rogues who had introduced a
new system of shoplifting, and had sue
cessfully victimized many of the larger
storekeepers in the city, AS their course
of action was entirely fresh, new name
had to be invented for them, and they
were christened "sneak" thieves by the
police, from the cunning vay in which
they effected their depredations and the
difficulty experienced in detecting them.
Mr.. johnson, o but few days before
had been boasting of his immunity from
theft, was much annoyed when on arriv-
ing one morning at his store was informed
nv his manapinp man that some very vall,-
able articles had been distracted during
the night or early in the morning. The
goods were safe enough when the store
was closed on the preceding evening, as
he had himself seen them, but were miss
ing when the clerks arrived in the morn
ing. Nh. johnson at once called in the
police, and an experienced detective was
sent to gather ali the information on the
subject he could. On hearing the cir
cumstances of the case, this gentleman at
once recognized the agency of sneak
thief, and impaired his suspicious to the
proprietors of the store, with his reasons
for them.
81 should like to have few words with
your porter" he said
"CertaiDly, but hope you don't sus-
epect him, as he is an old iavorite, and has
been in our employ for years.
"Not in the least; but l fancy he can
help us for all that. Did you ever hear of
. sneak theft"
"No. What are they?'
eff you will send for the porter, and
stay here while question him, you will
soon understand tbat?"
The porter soon entered the room. look