The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1870-05-12

"Now, my man, want to ask you
a 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 1 fancy
you can help me in finding out who
has"
every good, sir: but don't know
how"
s'Who closed the warehouse last
night?'
II did, SIR s. ..'rs
"And you are certain that all was
securely fastened?'
Exactly the same as every other
night"
"And the fastenings had not been
tampered with in any way when you
undid them, this morning ?'
."No sir"
dwell, now, who was the first per-
son to whom you spoke to-day?"
II think it was Mr.-,' SS.(Nam-
ing one of the clerks.)
"Ah, but thinking won't do. Did
not any one speak to you, or ask any
question of yeu?"
eyes, a 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 q man was he? can
you describe him ?"
"He was young gentleman, very
pleasant-spoken, dark, with a NOUS
-tache, and very well dressed. He said
he came from the country, and was
traveller to q firm in the same line as
ours, who were going to buy largely
from u.s."
WAS he alone? 2"
/" No, there were two others with
him, sir, both nice-looking young
gents"
"Did he come in ?"
"Oh, yes, he came in; I had just
opened the door, and was sweeping
the floor, so he walked straight up to
me, and" .r
"Did his friends come in too?"
"Fm not sure of that, but I 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 know two of them-the one
who spoke to me, and another who
had carpet-bag in his hand. He
walked little lame."
"That'll do, porter, you need not
say anything outside, but I'm afraid
we have not learned much" .
"All right, sir"
AS soon as he had gone, the detec-
tive turned to Mr.. johnson, and said !:
"You will soon get your property
back, I expect, sir. Those three men
are sneak thieves, and if they are the
same 1 believe them to be, I think I
know them. They always pursue the
same plan. First of all they discover
from confederate, generally fe-
male, 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 OBJ
serving 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
adroitly slip whatever they can into a
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 ac-
count for their being about SO early in
the morning. You will hardly believe
it, perhaps; but thieves carry about
with them external marks of their
profession, which to detective officer
are unmistakable. For instance, they
have peculiar walk, and movement
of the arms; they are generally un-
gloved, and carry nothing in their
hands, while they are continually
glancing on one side or the other, to
see if they are being watched.
would guaranty to pick a thief out
from one hundred honest men, let his
general appearance be what it may"
DETECTIVE WORK.
The detective then took his depart.
ure, promising to communicate again
with Mr.. johnson so soon as he had
anything of importance to tell him
and proceeded to headquarters to re-
port. He had observed three young
men frequently walking about togeth
er, and from their general appearance
had sat them down in his own min6
as thieves of some sort or other, al
though he knew nothing positively
against them. He was irresistibly re
minded of the trio by the robbery il
Broadway; and the description giver
by tho porter of the man who con
vorsed with him coincided remarka
! bly, with one of them who had attract
cd his especial notice. He determined
therefore to keep sharp lookout ant
trace them home, should he again rul
un against them,