The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-02-05

her, and curiosity was rife as to where she
came from and who she was. Her brother
Tor he 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 yery pleas
ing, and his demeanor was polished, while his
AZURE, thouSh extremely quiet and unpretend-
ing, was always in the best possible taste. So
favorable was the impression which he Great
ed IN the minds of | is new friends, that sew
eral OF them invited him to their own homes,
and in short time his circle of intimates in
creased TO such degree that he, in his turn,
was enabled 10 give receptions in Fourth
street.
His name was Vaughan, and his sister had
been married to colonel of the Confederate
army, who had been killed in action during
the war. Young Vaughan succeeded to hand
some competence on the death of his father:
and Col. Wilson, who had also been man of
property, had left sufficient behind him to
support his widow in manner becoming his
position. This tale was supported by the evil
dence of two or three other young men, fire.
quently to be met in Vaughans apartments,
who were also from the South, and was so
fully borne out by all the circumstances Of
the period and their mode of life, that the
brother and sister were tacitly permitted to
take their place in society as fashionable peo-
pie.
Among many others who visited Mrs. VIII
son was Mr.. johnson and his family, who
possessed large store on Broadway. To this
gentleman the widow was especially attentive,
and vowed that her purchases 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
established, and he told her that he should be
most happy to give her credit, if at any time
it would be more agreeable to her. She re-
pied that she was only woman, and cOnse-
quently knew nothing of business, SO she pre-
terred to pay at once, that she might know eX-
acfly 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,
however, which he could confer on her.
Would he be so kind as to show her over his
store? She had never had an opportunity
before OF becoming acquainted with the
sources OF SO large an establishment. Mr..
johnson, oaly too willing to be polite to so
excellent a customer, Immediately acceded to
her request, and laid his treasures bare be-
lore her, and exhibited some of his most cost
ly goods. She asked at what hour business
was commenced, at what hour concluded; and
after thanking him sincerely for his courte-
sizes, 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 cookbook
ing woman to cajole man, however wide
awak he may be.
"sNEAK THIEVES"
New York at this time was infested by
gang OF rOgueS who had introduced a new
system of shoplifting, and had successfully
yictlmized many of the larger storekeepers in
The city. As their course of action was en-
tirely fresh, a new name had to be invented
for them, and they were christened sneak"
thieves by the police, from the cunning way
in which they effected their depredations and
the difficulty experienced in detecting them.
Mr.. johnson, who but a few days before had
been Boosting of his immunity from theft, was
much annoyed when on arriving one morn
ing at his store he was informed by his man
aging man that some very valuable 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 missing
when the clerks arrived in the morning. Mr..
johnson at once called in the police, and an
experienced detective was sent to gather all
the information on the subject he could. On
hearing the circumstances 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 Tor
them.
IL should like to have few words with
Certainly, but hope you don't suspect
him, as he is an old favorite, and has been in
our employ for years"
Mot in the least; but fancy he can help
us for all that. Did you ever hear of sneak
thief, sir?
No. What are the7?'
"If you will send for the porter, and stay
here while Iquestion him, you will soon under
stand that"
The porter shortly entered the room, look
ing very much alarmed. He had heard of the
robbery, and that a police officer was closeted
rall f11nt
he had fallen under suspicion. The first words
of the detective, however, relieved him from
all apprehension on that score.
"Now, my man, l want to ask you few
questions, and you must answer me carefully.
Don't be frightened, we know that you have
had nothing to do with this robbery, but
fancy you can help me in finding out who
has,"
Every good, sir; but don't know how"
"Who closed the warehouse last nisht?'
81 did, SIR
Sand you are certain that all was securely
fastened?"
Exactly the same as every other night"
And the fastenngs had not been tamper-
ed With in any way when you undd them in
the morning~
mo, sir.''
swell, now, who was the first person to
whom you spoke to-day?"
" l think it was Mr.. - Naming one
Of the cleiks.)
"Ah, but thinking won't do. Did not any
one speak to you, or ask any question of
you?"
eyes, gentleman did ask me what time
Mr.. johnson usually came to the store, as he
wanted to see him about some orders"
what sort OF man was he? can you de-
scribe him?"
" Hewas young gentleman, very pleasant
spoken, dark, with a moustache, and very
well dressed He said he came from the coun-
try, and was traveller to firm in the same
line as ours, who were going to buy largely
from u.s."
"Was he alone?"
"No, there were two Others With him, sir,
both nice-looking young gents"
" Did he come in"'
oh yes, he came in; had just opened the
door, and was sweeping the floor, so he walk
ed straight up to me, and go"
Did his irienls come in, too?"
" Pm not quite sure of that, but think they |
must have, as it was raining, and they wouldn't |
stand out in the wet"
Should you know them again, if you saw |
them?"
Il should know two of them-lhe one who |
spoke to me, and another, who had a carpet
bag in his hand. He walked little lame"
"rhatll do porter, you need not say any
thing outside, but I'm afraid we have not
learned much"
''All right, SIR"
AS soon as ne mad gone, the detective tum-
ed to Mr.. johnson and said: you will soon
get your property back, expect, sir. Those
three men are sneak-thieves, and if they are
the same believe them to be, l think know
them. They always pursue the same plan.
First of all they discover from confederate,
generally female, the place where the best
booty is to be most easily obtained. They
then rise early IN the morning, and wait out
side until the porter opens the door, taking
great care that no one is observing them.
One then enters, and addresses the porter,
telling him some such tale as this fellow told
yours, and while he is talking the other two |
adrotly slip whatever they can into bag |
which they have with them, and decamp as
soon as it is filled. They are always well |
dressed, and would appear TO be thorough |
gentlemen to those not conversant with their |
tricks, and mention that they have just come
up from the country, in order to account for
their bieng about SO early in the morning.
You lou will hardly believe it, perhaps; but
, ,nleSes carry about with them external
ina asr OF their profession, which to detect
~ o hnnd a1e unmstakable. For instance,
they nave a peculiar walk and movement of |
the arms; they are gsneralv nn@loyeJ and |
carry nothing in their hands Viii ti'a,, ara
continually gancing one side or IL my a,e
to see if they are being uatoI,S, Wig oInel,