The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1885-03-07
FULL DRESS DETECTIVES.
How Philadelphia Society People are
Protected.

Wedflltp ulStiiir uIS1cu air anu al
eye-glass, walked into a detectives
Office on Sansome street. As he put
down his cane and removed one OF
his light yellow gloves he asked for
the chief OF the agency. When the
chief appeared the visitor had sue
ceeded in freeing one hand from the
tight confines OF the kid. and said
Il understand you send detectives
to weddings?" ?"
"Yes, sir; we do"
"Well, | wish you would send a
good man to my house nextThursday
night"
"Wkat kind of people do you ex-
pect to have there? The same as
were at the De MISUNDERSTANDING
wedding?'
The gentleman put on his eye
glasses. and stared sayagely. lie
did not exactly remember the De
MISUNDERSTANDING affair, but man.
aged to remark, with touch of sar-
casm in his tone, Il don't exactly
catch your meaning, sir, but | desire
to say that the people who have been
invited 10 my sisters wedding are
supposed TO have some slight claims
to respectability. l live on West
Walnut street"
"That's all right sir; that's all
right" exclaimed the detective. 81
only wanted to know ii you could de-
scribe any people you wanted
watched in particular"
"No, can not, but a great many
valuable presents will be exhibited,
probably $4,000 worth, and we can
not tell who may get into the house."
81 will send 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 a reporter who witnessed the
interview
ooh, yes," replied the detective.
awe send men by special request not
only TO weddings, but to churches
and fairs. One Of our men is up now
at the st. Chrysostem Fair at the
Bellevue"
"Why is detective required at
wedding, where every body comes by
invitation ?"
"Becausc it is not only the profess
sional crook YOU have to look out for.
There are plenty OF wealthy klepto-
maniacs. When rich and we'll
dressed woman steals diamond ring
she is called kleptomaniac. When
a dirty begsar stea ) a pair OF shoes
she is called thief. We detectives
think this is a distinction without a
difference. Then You must remem-
Der that every now and then a pro-
fessonal thief gets into IA private
house when wedding is being
solemnized, Notwithstanding that he
has no invitation
"How does he do il ?"
Walks right an. The most expert
and successful oil petty thieves al
ways dress elegantly, and have the
appearance of the greatest respecta-
bility. 1t is peculiar thing, too,
that they can control some of the
handsomest and most accomplished
women. A thief gets mash ON an
apparently respectable woman. and
sometimes marries her. Some thieves
| know of have married into fine
families, and the people never knew
they were crooks. Ii the thief doesn't
marry the girl he keeps her az his
mistress. When he makes a good
haul OF $1,000 or $4,000 he throws
$500 into her lap. They live on the
top of the heap, and dress as we'll as
the finest. 1t is the easiest thing in
the world for couple such as | have
described to get into a rich mans
house where wedding is going on.
They drive up TO the door in hand
some carriage. What if they have no
cards? Plenty OF people come with
out them, although the invitation
bears the explicit inscription: Pre-
sent this card at the DOOR The usher
can not afford to insult such dis
tinguished-looking guests, so they
pass in. Once inside, what harvest
is spread before them Frequently
at weddings OF the rich $40 0.00o or $780,
600 worth OF jewelry, silverware and
all sorts OF most valuable articles are
spread out in a room without any
protection whatever. Then look at
the chaDces there are to steal iewclry
anu oTHtiutniS iioili iiie idtiit7 pitS-
ent. The thief is given better OPP
portucity than in crowd on the
street, because everybody is totally
unsuspicious. All the women wear
TIE most valuable gems and orna-
ments they possess. | am a pretty
good Judge OF diamond-can tell
one when see it-and have seen a
woman at a 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 col
lect enough to support him in the
most lavish extravaganza for months.
"Then the kleptomatics, the high
toned thieves of good families who
have been invited to the wedding,
pick up a silver spoon here, fish
knife there or some knickknack that
is never missed from among the large
number of presents. At one we'd.
ding | remember, fome years ago,
the wife OF a very prominent Phila-
,lalnb;,n dropnad har .oh, oo,t,;r