The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-24

First Public Appearance of Mrs. Eunice STAN
ley, Detective.
shes mort setter"
A pair OF old-time thieves, long believed by the
police to be dead, and wearing the garb OF
tramps, wandered into the jefferson Market
Police Court yesterday and sat down on the
front bench near the radiator They paid close
attention to the proceedings before Justice Cor
man, and were overheard to make use of the re-
mark given above just as a yelled young woman.
attired in seaskin and silks, laid down the Bible
which she had kissed.
By reference to George Washington Matsel's
rogues' ''richardsnary" it was discovered that
mort setter" meant female shadow" or de-
tective
The old robbers were right
Although she had been a professional 'shad-
ow for seven years, and had aided in the capture
of many celebrated criminals, never before had
Mrs. Eunice Stanley publicly revealed her iden-
tity The case was only one OF larceny from the
person. but to prove that a robbery had been
committed by Mary I Lyons. of West Farms,
it was necessary for the female detective to tes-
tify.
Justice German heard that there was q female
detective in court before the case was called,
and at once became interested. While he was
administering the oath!he ad justed his glasses
to take good look at her
Unlike the usual run OF women found in po-
lice court, Mrs. Stanley was neither braZen nor
nervous. She was cool and collected, and in as
laeyllke manner as possible sh3 narrated the
circumstances of the crime and capture of the
miserable and shivering creature at the
clear. Mrs. Stanley testified that she had
Swallowed" che prisoner through the throng In
Macy's saw her take the purse out of the pocket
of Barbara Whitman, of No. 1924 West Twentieth
street, return it again and take it out second
time. 1t was then that the arrest was made
Mrs Lyons was caught with the purse in her
hand
When questioned concerning the robbery Mrs
Lyons did not deny the accusation. AS an ex.
cuse she said: 81 did not take the pocketbook
with the intention of stealing it."
Justice German did not consider this expla-
nation satisfactory, and held the prisoner for
trial.
After the case had been disposed of Mrs. Stan
ley drew her veil over her face and disappeared
from the court building by side door. Later in
the day Herald reporter called at the store to
see her In the meantime the female shadow"
had completely disguised herself The sealskin
sacque was gone. and so were her diamond
rings and silk dress. She was sauntering about
the establishment like an ordinary customer
and for the purpose of deceiving any suspicious
character who might be lettering about she pre-
tended every once and while to make pur-
chase. She did not carry any of the articles
away but directed the saleswoman to put them
aside until she called again.
The mort SETTER" to use the language of the
professional rogue, is brunette of medium
nelRnG ana 0ne nguro. ana mas rul 0roWnlsn-
black eyes. She wore this time black walking
coat. tailor made, a dark dress and fashionable
black velvet bonnet, with half veil of dark IL
fusion. and piece of black lace about her neck.
She was on her rounds when the reporter made
known the object of his visit
"lt is really too bad" said the shadow, ''that
am compelled to give myself away; still l was
forced TO go to court. Now that my identity
has been disclosed it will cause me untold trouble
| have been a detective for nigh seven years, and
never before was required to publicly divulge my
calling. Ii you describe me in the Herald, Ill
have to wear blonde wig tomorrow and 'tog
up differently every hour so. Well, no mat
ter; you won't print my picture, will you2'
Being assured that the reporter did not carry
Stanley told something about herself She said
been seven years at the business. During that
Gence against professional criminals, and by con-
cealing her identity had been quite successful.
She had operated in the West and the fact that
Inspector Byrnes had recommended her for her
present position evidence that she was a
smart shadow" Mrs. STANLEY said there was
certain fascination in running down 'crooks,"
but divorce cases were things she would not
touch with forty-foot pole.
The female detective excused herself for
using slang. explaining that in her business
and especially while in the company of thieves
and detectives, she had picked up good deal of
can't and found it hard to break off using some
of the words.
Then she went away to see that no suspi-
cious characters were allowed to remain in the
store,