Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-28
FEMALE DETECTIVES.
Cases on Which Women Do Better Work
Than Men.
Prom the Philadelphia Record.

From the Philadelphia Record
Although for a long time detectives of the
fair sex-and some of them of good social
status-have been employed for the discovery
Of crime and grave political Offenses and also
for making private inquiries where delicacy
and tact is requisite, female detectivism has
but occasionally been employed in the United
Kingdom for public purposes. and even then
with merely Insignificant results. In a recent
government report upon the Scotch police by
Capt Monro, her najesty's inspector for
cOnstabulary for Scotland. he says that the
employment of a few women on the detective
stan IN large and pOpulous places might
possibly be of valuable service. Owing to this
statement, and the important fact that the en-
plOyment OF women as private detectives in
London has made great progress, a writer in
the London Queen has carefully investigated
the subject of this article. on which he has re-
eeived some appreciable information from
those who are the most competent to speak
with authority on the question.
A regards the engagement of women for the
detection of crime in this country. IT is not only
very limited. but merely extends to few
Ohenses, the most important of which appear
70 be shOpiiftlng and pOcket-picking cases and
other thefts. In these and other instances
they generally act under the guidance and
close supervision Of regular members of the
Of omnibus proprietOrs always engaged women
TO md out the dishonesty of the conductors of
these vehicles in robbing their masters of a
portion of their fares. and it is stated that
women are even now employed for this
purpose.
As competent and Trustworthy women are
difficult TO secure for secret service in police
forces, and no efficient means exist for train
ing them for this delicate duty and as thew are
mdlfferently paid for their work, there is a
general feeling among the policemen of all
ranks that under present regulations il would
be unwise to permanently employ women on
detective stafs, or "a agents or assistants to
the members OF such in connection with GRIM
insl and political Investigations. On the other
hand. in Paris, Berlin. Vienna, St. Petersburg
and other large centers of population on the
continent the detective service rendered by
women 10 the police in these cases is very valu-
able. The social position of ladies' employed
Is often of a superior order. while their gen.
eral knowledge is very advanced The diplo-
matte corps OF some continental nations en-
gage ladies as detectives out Of their own
country. IL is stated that few of the fair sex
are employed IN London on behalf of the
French and German embassies. and render
very efficient help to those to whom they are
responsible for such.
Now for the private detective work in Eng
hnd-as that required in divorce cases. trac-
ing missing friends and other secret inquiries
a great number of women are employed and
their number and services have immensely in
creased during the last ten years or there
abOuts, when female detectivism as a system
Is said to have commenced by firms of private
inquiry agents N the metropolis. The writer
has been informed by the principals of two i'm
portant private inquiry offices in LOndOn-in
both Of which a large staff OF women are en-
plOyed-that the latter are far more efficient
Tor their duties than men would be- Great
care Is taken in their selection. and they are
better paid for their services than women who
are temporarily employed in police forces in
proportion to the time they are respectively
engaged in their work.
One metropolitan firm. at least, not merely
engages a great number of female detectives
permanently TO devote their whole time TO pri-
Nste inquiry business, but pays them liberal
salary. IN addition to giving them a bonus in
respect OF each investigation which they have
been mainly instrumental in bringing to a sue
eessful termination The amount received by
The employers of these women .in several OF
such cases Is very large, and the latter are paid
accordingly. One firm of inquiry agents has a
very clever lady in their service, who. in the
discharge of her duties, has travelled many
thousands of miles Her remuneration has APP
preached goo year from detective work
alone Another firm has paid one of their far
sex detectives as much as $50 for a month
services IN private investigations. In addition
70 the high remuneration the more efficient of
these detectives obtain from the EMPLOYERS
their incomes are materially supplemented by
handsome gratuities they receive for success
ful services rendered to those who paw their
masters very literally for such