Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-01-22
DETECTIVES IN PULL DRESS.
reouaa Of the Methods Employed. BY EI-
perts In Criminal AnAirs.

freeing one hand from the tight connnes
of the kid, and said:
Il understand you send detectives to
weddings?"
"Yes, sir, we do"
We'll, l wish you would send a good
man to my house next Thursday night"
What kind of people do you expect
to have there. The same as were at the
De Notwithstanding wedding?'
The gentleman put on his eye-glass,
and stared savagely. He did not ex-
actly remember the De Belleville-Sei-
denberg affair, but he managed to re-
mark. with a touch of sarcasm in his
tone, 81 don't exactly catch your mean
ing, sir, but desire to say that the peo-
pie who have been invited to my sisters
wedding are supposed to have some
slight claims to responsibility. l live
on West Walnut street"
That's all right. sir; that's S all right"
exclaimed the detective. 81 only
wanted to know if you could describe
any people you wanted watched in par
ticular."
No, can not. but great many val
liable presents will be exhibited, prob
ably S25, 900 worth. and we can not tell
Just who may get into the house.
II will send a man. but you will have
to give him an invitation"
THAT shall be attended to, said the
gentleman as he moved his eye-glass
and walked out.
.Is that sort of thing customary"
asked reporter who had witnessed the
interview.
20. yes." replied the detective. 1--WE
send men by request not only to we'd
dings, but to churches and fairs. One
of our men is up now at the st. Chrys-
ostem fair at the Bellevue"
..Why is a detective required at a
wedding. where everybody comes by in
vitation?'
because it is not only the profession
al crook YOU have to look out for.
There are plenty of wealthy klepto-
maniacs. When rich and well-dressed
woman steals a diamond ring she is
called a kleptomaniac. When a dirty
beggar steals pair of shoes she is call
ed thief We detectives think that
this is "A distinction without difference.
Then YOU must remember that every
now and then a professional thief gets
into a private residence where fash
ionable wedding is being solemnized.
notwithstanding that he has no invita-
ton
"How does he do it?''
Walks right in. The most expert
and successful of petty thieves always
dress elegantly, and have the appear
ance of the greatest respectability. 1t
is peculiar thing, too, that they can
control some of the handsomest and
most accomplished women. A thief
gets a mash on an apparently respect
able woman, and sometimes marries
her. Some thieves l know of have
married into fine families, and the peo-
pie never knew they were crooks. If
the thief doesn't marry the girl, he
keeps her as his mistress. When he
makes a good haul of 5000 or $4,000,
he throws $500 into her lap. They live
on the top of the heap, and dress as
well as the finest. 1t is the easiest
thing in the world for couple of such
as l have described to get into rich
mans house where a wedding is going
on. They drive up to the door in a
handsome carriage. What if they have
no cards? Plenty of people come with
out them, although the invitation bears
the explicit inscription, Present this
card at the door" The usher can not
afford to insult such Observation-Disclosures
ing guests, so they pass in. Once in
side, what a harvest is spread before
them! Frequently at weddings of the
rich S50,0OO or $50, 900 worth of jewell
~. silverware, and all sorts of most
valuable articles are spread out in a
room without any protection whatever.
Then look at the CHARGES there are to
steal jewelry and ornaments from the
ladies present. The thief is given bet
ter opportunity than in a crowd on the
street, because everybody is totally un-
suspicious. All the women wear the
most valuable gems and ornaments they
possess. l am pretty good judge Of a
diamond-can tell one when l see it
and have seen woman at wedding
with $4,000 worth displayed on her
person, in her hair and ears, on her
throat and breast, and on the shoulders
of her short-sleeved dress. An expert
thief does not want an easier job than
to slip off pin here, or brooch there,
and it does not take him long to collect
enough to support him in the most law
ish extravaganza for months.
Then the kleptomaniacs, the high
toned thieves of good families who
have been invited to the wedding, pick
up a silver spoon here, tish-knife
there, or some knickknack that is never
missed from among the large number
of presents. At one wedding remem-
ber some years ago, the wife of a very
prominent Philadelphia dropped her
caba containing some jewelry just as
she stepped from the carriage. Some
one on the outside picked it up and
banded it in the door. 1t was received
by lady. and that was the last heard
Of it. We worked on that case for
months. but were never able to get a
single clew."
..What course does a detective pursue
at a wedding?'
well, in the first place, you know,
he appears as a guest, and not in an
official capacity. He wears dress suit,
even if he has to rent it for the Occa-
sion, white tie, and a gold stud in
his shirt-bosom The work is extreme
ly difficult. Really, all that can be
done is to watch the presents closely
and see that nobody carries any of them
off. Sometimes, in large room, two
men are required. Of course, We can
not prevent the crooks from working
the crowd unless we happen to know
them. If We spot any We know they
generally get out as quickly as possible
without making any trouble. After
everything is over one man usually
stays all night, because, as a rule, there
are great many strange servants in
the house who have been employed for
the occasion, and they need watching"
philadelphia Express.