The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-06-24

Gentlemen In FnultIcss Attire Who
Letter Near the Presents.

Gentlemen In rauIsIe~s Attire Who
Letter Near the Presents.
From the New York SUM-
There are in New York hundred or
more weddings m the course of year,
where ,here is a crush of guests i'm full
dress, where ladies who have passed
their youth feel it allowable to wear q
wealth of diamonds, and where the dis
plays of presents surpass the show cases
of fashionable jewellers. These we'd
dings and other social gatherings of the
same class of persons are very para
disc of thieves and pickpockets, when,
as occasionally happens, they can gain
admission In the guise of guest. This,
rs will be imagined, few professionals
can do without the risk of being bowed
to the door by the host IA strangers in
unwarranted dress coats yet many SIM
pie and shrewd devices are used to
maintain a footing once obtained in
such assemblages. The host and host
ess are avoided. Efforts are made to
scrape acqunintanceships. References
are boldly made to some previous social
assemblages. The thief must have
special gifts and special training.
Yet it Is not professional thieves that
those who get up fashionable entertain
ments chiefly fear. The most danger
Gus class, because the most numerous.
are included among the invited guests,
and are called, when detected, klepto-
maniacs.
For almost every large and fashion,
able wedding there is request made
upon the detective bureau at the police
centred Office for an officer to watch the
array of presents, and III general to pro-
tect the house and it's guests from loss
by theft. Among the central office de-
tectives on whom this duty frequently
falls is George w. Lanthier. He is a
young man of good address and appear
ance who wears a fine diamond III his
shirt front, and whose clothes fit him.
His fellow-detectives say that when he
is arrayed III Prince Albert coat. with
silk facings, for an afternoon wedding.
there is nothing left to be asked for by
the most critical observer; but when he
appears attired in full costume, for an
evening wedding or reception, language
fails. Mr.. Lanthier was interviewed by
Sun reporter. He said his duties
were simple, and for the most part
agreeable.
1.-THE first thingI do, ;" he said, "when
[ go to reception is to take a look
through the house up and down stairs in
order to acquaint myself with the differ
ent rooms as well as with the position of
valuable articles. For this reason usu-
ally 60 short'time before the guests are
expected. While the guests are arriving
Iusually stand in the hall to watch them
rs they enter. am very apt to know n
professional thief by his face. Where
the presents are very numerous and
valuable l generally have the smaller
ones, such as diamonds and other Jewell
ry which person could pocket and
carry away readily, put on a table by
themselves. Then L take n seat near
them. l am supposed by the most of
those who see me to be guest. If any
body guesses otherwise, | am contented
they should have their opinion. l in
form myself about the presents, and
when guests come up to inspect them,
they naturally fall to talking to express
th9r admiration. am able to tell them
about the presents. One guest, there
fore, sees me talking with another. and
he is not likely to remark that L remain
iii one part OF the room all the afternoon
or evening. If | sat still and said moth
ing I would soon become an object of
notice.
CT have never" continued Mr.. Ian
thier, "been compelled TO make an ar
rest at a reception, although L have at
tended many dozens of them, nor have
ever seen All attempt to steal a valua-
bic present. il professional thief gets
into the assembly by chance, he proba-
bly, knows what my presence means,
aud if anybody else has any designs
on the presents he discovers after time
that they are never left alone.
81 have seen many very brilliant ar
rays of presents-large diamonds and
rubies of very great value, chests of sill
verware, pyramids of the finest cut glass
decanters, antique cups and costly fans
/ never saw a lady III such an assembly
whose jewelry was guarded by an at
tendant detective, but L have seen some
of the middle age and older, various
parts of whose dresses were decorated
with great clusters of diamonds. To
these small weddings and receptions
come the same set over and over again,
and n person who attends them soon
learns to know their faces and names.
AS to personal treatment the guests
at the assemblies L have attended have
always addressed me with courtesy, and
L do not see how they could have done
otherwise, even when they knew my
business, for I never sought acquaint-
anceship, while have always been will
ing TO talk on any subject knew any
thing about, and 1 never ak questions
about matters that don't concern me-"