Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-05-12
kNows ALL TIE THIEVES.


The Pzlvsss Dstsstive Ne Mnsaes With
In. rhre.s ~ HssAl.p sAspDsn !
A tan, naughty young Woman, wrappe6
IN furs, with laEge diamond earrings,
moved lady through the thrnng 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 .
young and styftshly dressed companion,
casting naughty looks Of displeasure at
the more vulgar shoppers whenever, g
frequently happened, they ware rude
enough to jostls against her. A handsome
japanese leather shopping sstchel swung
from her left arm, and, in harder tostle
than any she had yet received, the spring
snapped and the satchel swung open. In
side lay q purse, some loose grecnbacks
and odd change femptingly exposed to
view. The fair owner continued her ele-
giant walk utterly oblivi0us OF the danger
threatening her purse.
A stylish young fellow who had been
darting hither and thithef In the throng
suddenly rested his eyes on the open
satchel They twinkled for 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 hid it from view, and slyly stole his
hand into its depths. He was about to
withdraw il again, when he met with
sudden and unexpected shock A stout,
heavily built man, with his overcoat
buttoned up to the ears, who had been
moving slowly with the crowd, appar-
entity Indifferent to everything and every
body, had suddenly taken violent inter
est in the dapper young man, and 1t was
his hand which had arrested the thief just
as he had started to remove purse and
money from the open satcheL
The young lady turned around with
slight scream, much disturbed, and there
was q commOtiOn in the immediate neigh
borhO0d.
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.
A reporter who had watched the fore
going. followed the two men into 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 cafelessly and sub
mitted to being searched without
murmur.
aWhat's the Odds he returned, with q
grin. The bosses wont have us arrested,
80 we run no risks. Once in . while We
strike duffer when you're on galivantine
with the daises That was . pretty Lay
you spoiled Just now, though" he added
regretfully. wont you come out and
have something:'
Not Just now" replied the stout mar
ironically, 3but I'll see that you get out.
II am the house detective" he said Lit
tie later, after having conducted his charg'
out of side door II have been . detect
i've nearly all my life, and owe my pres
ent place to 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 owl
master. / have several assistants also
but am responsible for all. II q pocket
book is lost, an article taken from coun
ter, or q clerk knocks down, l am held Il
answer, SO that am obliged to to keep my
eyes open all the time.
@People are very careless. A dozen time
at least every day have to warn ladie!
that their shopping sachels are open, o.
that they have laid their purses ON thu
counter while examining goods.
1t is a rule of this house to avoid pub
licity as much as possible in the matter o
arrests. II find a thief, even in the act o
stealing, simply take away his booty
search him carefully for other stolen goods
and then put him out. II l find him in tn
crowd, even when he is not plying hi
trade, search him just the same and pu
him out use no disguise. The thieves
know me and know them. They submit
to search rather than to arrest, and In tia
way we keep from the public the fact tina
thieves frequent this place-"-New Yorl
Sun.