Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1874-04-23
LOveIand Justice.

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Some years ago It was my fortune TO become
acquainted with profession detective. He
was not OF elegant sort, whose labors were
confined only to the exposure and punishment
OF crimes OF the higher grades, but he was a
man who, to use his own language 10 me one
day, was ready for anything
he told me several stories Of his own expe-
Renee. he did not present documentary evi.
dence OF their authenticity, and some of them
were too much for mJ belief. Others were
plausible enough to be true, and as the man
seemed always 70 have plenty of money, L con-
clnded that he was an expert at the business
One evening he told me his experience In
working up case Of robbery, which will en-.
deayor TO give as near as possible in his own
words.
"a dry goods merchant on Broadway had
lost considerable amount of property at vari-
Gus times, but ON no one occasion was there
large quantity taken.
OF course the CLERKS in the establishment
were suspected, but there was no way Of dis
covering whether they were guilty or not. A
close watch had been set on all of them, but
nothing could he discovered. was engaged to
work up the case, and 10 enable me to do so,
was employed in the store as an extra clerk and
salesman.
1t was thought that the foreman and the floor
walkers might be guilty Of the robbery, and
therefore were not taken into the secret. The
head OF the house explained, however, to the
foreman, that was relative of his wife, and
had been thrown upon him to provide for. It
was therefore understood that was not 10 be
required TO work very hard, and was to be al
lowed TO go out whenever asked permission.
With this understanding went to work at my
new business.
did not know anything about dry goods,
nor about selling them, and consequently they
put me on the commonest articles, which were
not in very great demand. This gave me
plenty OF time for looking around and observing
Tho habits of the clerks.
became acquainted with one after another,
but made no Roadway for several weeks in
discovering the secret. l accompanied the
clerks 10 their rooms occasionally, and some
times we were nj the theatre together. | knew
the salaries that were paid in the establish.
ment and knew just how much money each
man could AFFORD 10 spend and my object wa,
10 find out what man among them was living
beyond his income.
All Of them appeared to be quiet, well-behay.
ed young men. Some of them were members
Of the Young Mems Christian Association, AMI
Others patronzed the Mercantile Library, and
spent most OF their evenings there. Three o.
four were q little inclined to fast lives, but eyl
IDENTIFY did not have money enough to carry
out their wishes.
After time found out that one who was
the most quiet, anu unobtrusive of the who'll
lot, seemed to be living beyond his MEANS
Upon him fixed my suspicion, and watche,
him closely, both when in the store and out o
It.
He and became fast friends. We wen
alb out the city together; We visited the theatre
and beer gardens and on Sundays took trip t
Coney Island, where We occasionally spen
several dollars in entertai ming ourselves an
chance acquaintances but the young mar
whom, VIII call Johnson, was constantly o
his guard, and whenever | propose any ne'
amusement or any additional expense, he
ways opposed 1t, and said that he could not al
ford it, though somehow he did afford be for
he went.
found he had sister living in Harlem.-
Occasionally, but not often, she called at tb
store. She rarely bought anything, and neve
remained longer than a few minutes. He vi
tied her every day, though sometimes wee
or two might Intervene between his journey
70 the place where she lived. Several time:
when he was absent and knew lie was 10 |
away for the evening, visited his room al
searched 1t carefully; but never a thing could
nnd 10 implicate him In the robbery. Not
scrap OF silk or lace or anything OF the SO
could ever be discovered in the room,
next managed TO be introduced to his 81
ter, and of course | pretended a great likir
Tor her. She was living In a very quiet wa,
in boarding house, and was a teacher, on
ANAL salary, in one Of the public schools.
Having ascertained her salary, and calculate
her expenses, making an estimate OF the val,
ofher clothing as nearly as could, was IS
isnsd that she was living somewhat beyond h
means,
One dsy Johnson told me that he was goi
with his sister TO picnic. He had obtain
leave OF absence from the store, and thoug
It an excellent time to make an examinatio
so went TO his sisters boarding house, nqu
cd Tor the young lady, and OF course was tol
she was away. | explained 10 the landla
thAt had received message, saying that 81
would be al home several hours earlier tn
she expected, and that was to meet her III
afternoon togo on another excursion. | 81
IL was about lime for her 10 reach home, al
uthe lady had no objection, would wait
ths parlor. As l had been there FREQUENT
and the landlsdy knew me, she made NO obj
ton. Luckily she went out few minutes
ter,andlgave me more freedom 10 operate tha
expected.
81 Immediately went TO the young lady's ro
of course it was very impolite for me to do
and searched IL thoroughly. II is of no
telling you all | found there, unless you ha
never been in lady's room, aud do not kn
what II contains. She had very good wa
robe, better than most young women In her
sition. 1t struck me as very odd that she
four dresses of rich black silk, which did not
pear 10 have been made very great while
supply for a school teacher on a small sala
and l made up my mind the silk came from
dry goods store where johnson was engaged
"There is great difference between bell
ing thing and proving it. You mas be c
tain OF IL from circumstances, but IL may
be very easy for you to go into court and sh
its reality. Now, here was my predicament
thought four dresses were too many for
young lady, just as once thought when
searched a mans trunk, and found fourt,
coats OF different sizes, and no trousers or vel
that 1t was a remarkable wardrobe for In
to have. But how was TO get at the fact,
connection between the wearing apparel Of ii
johnson and the Broadway dry goods store
"TO help matters along made love 10 N
johnson in the regular way, referred TO my
lstions with the dry goods house, and obtair
An endorsement from the head of the firm, q
relative OF his wife. 1 was getting along W,
only did not want 10 propose and get an
gagement, because that might make the sit
ton little awkward. 1 deferred the day
proposal on the ground that my uncle in
country, from whom l had expectations, '
opposed TO my marriage, except TO lady Of
ehoosingi and that should be obliged 10 "
until lie had handed in his checks, which wo