Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-30
A FEMALE SHADOW.
First Pubic Appearance of Mrs.
Euuice stanley, Detective.
T VII VIC y etV 4 Ut 70 II N' NstW'
''She's q mort setter"

''She's mort setter"
A PAIR OF oid-time thieves, long believed
by tue police to be dead, and wearing the
garb of tramps, wandered into the Jeffer-
son Market Police Court yesterday and
sat down on the front bench near the
radiator. They paid close attention to the
proceedings before Justice German, and
were overheard TO make use OF the re-
mark given above just as a yelled young
woman, attired in sealskn and silks,
land down the Bible which she had
kissed.
BY reference to George Washington
MatselPs rogues' "richardsnary" it was
discovered that snort setter' meant q
female ''shadow" or detective.
The old robbers were right.
Although she had been a professional
shadow" for seven years and had aided
In the capture of many celebrated GRIM
lnals, never before had Mrs. Eunice Stan
ley publicly revealed her identity, The
case was only ore Of larceny from the
person, but to prove that robbery had
been committed by Mary /. Lyons, or
West Farms, it was necessary for the
female detective to testify.
Justice German heard that there was q
female detective in court before the case
was called, and at once became interested.
While he administered the oath he adj
justed his eyeglasses to take good look
at her.
THE CRIME AND THE CRIMINAL.
Unlike the usual run of women found
in the Police Court, Mrs. Stanley was
neither brazen nor nervous. She was
cool and collected, and in as lady-hke a
manner as possible she narrated the CIR
cumstances of the crime and capture oil
the miserable creature at the bar. Her
CT fnN kx,;.. c.,1 .lD
Stanley testified that she had Swallowed"
the prisoner through the tbrOng In
Macy's, saw her take the purse out of
the pocket of Barbara Wltham, OF
No. 324 West Twentieth street, re-
turn it again and take it out a second
time. IL was then that the arrest was
made. Mrs. Lyons was caught with the
purse in her hand.
When questioned concerning the rob-
berry, Mrs. Lyons did not deny the &C
cusation. AS an excuse she said: 81 did
take the pocket book with the intention
of stealing it,"
explanation satisfactory, and held the
prisoner for trial.
A NEW DISGUISE.
After the case had been disposed OF
Mrs. Stanley drew her veil over her face
and disappeared from the court building
by q side door. Later in the day Herald
reporter called at the store to see her. In
the mean time the female "shadow" had
completely disguised herself. The seal
skin sacque was gone, and so were her
diamond earrings and silk dress. She
was sauntering about the establishment
like an ordinary customer. and, for the
purpose OF deceiving any suspicious char
acter who might be lettering about, she
pretended every once in awhile TO make
purchase. She did not carry any of the
articles away, but directed the sales
woman to put them aside until she called
again.
The "mort setter" to use the language
of the professional rogue, is a brunette
of medium height and fine figure, and has
full brownish black eyes. She wore this
time black walking coat, tailor made. a
dark dress, and fashionable black vel
vet bonnet, with half veil of dark illu-
sion, and piece OF black lace about her
neck. She was on her rounds when the
reporter made known the object of his
visit.
SORRY TO BE KNOWN.
"It is really too bad" said the shadow
''that / am compelled to give myself
away; but l was forced to go to court.
Now that my identity has been disclosed
it will cause me untold trouble. / have
been detective for nigh seven years, and
never before was required to publicly
dIvulge my calling. If you describe
me in the Herald Phi have to wear
a blonde wig tomorrow aud 'tog up
differently every hour or so. Well, no
matter; you won't print my picture, will
your"
Being assured that the reporter did not
carry a photographers outfit in his vest
pocket, Mrs. Stanley told something
about herself She said that she was the
wife of detective, ana had been seven
years at the business. During that period
she had been engaged hunting for evil
dence against professional criminals, and
by concealing her identity had been quite
successful. She had operated in the
West, and the fact that Inspector Byrnes
had recommended her for her present POI
sition was evidence that she was a smart
shadow" Mrs. Stanley said there was
a certain fascination in running down
"crooks," but divorce cases were things
she would not touch with a forty-foot
pole.
The female detective excused herself
for using slang, explaining that in Der
business, and especially while in the
company OF thieves and detectives, she
had picked up good deal of cant, and
found 1t hard to break off using some OF
tn @ words.
Then she went away to see that no sus-
picious characters were allowed to re-
main in the store.