Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-06-05
KNOWS ALL THE THIEVES.
The Private Detective who MingIes with
the Throng of Needless shoppers.

the Thr"ng Of Needless shoppers.
\ tall, naughty young woman, wrapped
in furs. with large diamond earrings
moved lazily through the thrung of shop
perS in an uptown dry goods establish
ment the other day. She viewed with in
difference the great variety of objects eX
posed for sale, and chatted gayly with d
young and styliShly dressed companion
casting naughty looks OF displeasure at
the more vulgar shoppers whenever, rs
frequently happened, they were rude
enough TO j"stle against her. \ handsome
JAPANESE leather shopping satchel swung
from her left arm, and, in harder jOstle
than any she had yet received, the spring
snapped and the satchel swung open. In
side lay purse, some loose greenbaCks
and odd change temptingly exposed 10
view. The fair owner continued her ele-
CANT walk utterly oblivious of the danger
threatening her purse.
stylish young fellow who had been
darting hither and thither in the throng
suddenly rested his eyes on the open
SatcheL They twinkled for a moment, and
then he became very earnest and appar-
emily very anxious to reach the street. He
forced his way up to the satChel, dexter
Ously Ind II from view, and slylY stole his
hand into its depths He was about to
withdraw ii again, when he met with a
sudden and unexpected shock. A stout
heavily built man, with his Overcoat
buttOncd up to the ears, who had beer
moving slowly with the crowd, appar-
emily indifferent To everything and every
body. had suddenly taken violent inter
est in the dapper young man, and it was
his hand which had arresti the thief just
rs he had started to remove purse and
money from the open Satchel
The young lady turned around with a
slight scream, much disturbed, and there
was COmmUtiOn in the immediate neigh
bUrhOOd
keep your Satchel closed, madam" re
marked the stout man calmly, and before
She had recovered from her fright he had
disappeared with the thief in his custody.
\ reporter who had watched the fore
going, followed the two men into a private
Office AT one end of the second story.
Il should think that you would know
enough to keep out Of here, said the stout
man angrily to the thief
The latter laughed careleSsly and sub
mitted to being searched without a
murmur.
whats the odds" he returned, with
grin. The bosses wont have US arrested,
50 We run no risks Once In while W,
strike dutfer when your off galivantinu
with the daiSes. That was pretty lay
you spoiled just now, though he added
regretfully. Wont you come out ard
have something
Not just now replied the stout man
but III see that you get out"
Il am the house detective he said lit
tie Later after having conducted his ChaIge
out of "A side door Il have been detect
i've nearly all my life, and ! owe my pres
ent place ts the fact that know by sight
every professional thief and pickpOcket in
the country. get large salary for doing
nothing but walk up and down through
the store all day. and am entirely my own
master. | have several assistants also.
but | am responsible for all. If pockAt-
book is lost, an article taken from cOun-
er, or a clerk knocks down, am held to
answer, SO that am obliged to To keep my
,yes open all the time.
People are very careless A dozen times
# least every day | have u warn ladies
hat their shopping sachels are open or
hat they have laid their purses on the
counter while eXaming goods
1t is a rule of this house To avoid pub
icity as much as possible in the matter of
IrrestS. II | find a thief, even in the act Of
dealing, | simply take away his booty,
earch him carefully for other stolen goods, |
md then put him out. If tind him in the
rowd, even when ne is not plying his |
rade, search him just the same and put |
im out. | use no disguise The thieves |
now me and know them. They submit |
D search rather than to arrest. and in that |
'ay we keep from the public the fact that |
hieves frequent this place. New York
uu