The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-09-06
SHOP LIFTERs AMoAG SHOES.
Curious Gossip About the Women
Who Hang THAR Booty Under Their

Who Hang THAR Booty Under Their
Skirts.
From. the Neto York Graphic.
"rhe shoe stores arc favorltes OF shop
hfters," said big retail dealer yesterday.
How do you prevent theft|
NEARLY every dealer has a different sys-
tenn Mine is to leave but one pair of shoes
within reach at a time. When a clerk
hands over one pair, if he follows my IN
struchons, he puts TIE pair that has been
examined away. II done IN the right way
this never give; offence"
DO women ever try to steal shoes"
BLESS you, yesl Women are worse than
men. Men seal because they need some
thing, but women seem to appropriate
things from a love oil adventure. AT a. y
rate, l have never caught poor woman at
stealing, but l have found out many one
to whom money was not the question at all.
A kleptomaniac-a big word, meaning a
rich tEief-will steal a Daby's snoe if sue
can't get a chance at something better"
What do you do when you catch
thefp
Il never make a fuss, but simply put
the price up to double or treble the value of
the goods, and MAKE him or her settle on
that basis. You know-F and here the
salesman mentioned a well-me chant;
NOIl. Ulic puuSI Nltl1 HIS VIE Cdlllb uElO "a III
bought pair of shoes, paying 81 for them.
While she was trying them on she deftly
Struggled an 50 pal' beneath her skirt, and
hung them to hook she had sewed onto
her garter 1t was mighty slick scheme,
l thought, and she did too, until she started
to leave the store. The clerk who waited
on her knew that she had stolen pair of
shoes, but be didn't see her hide them, or
know where they were hidden. He de-
&a;,, al he. Nv owyi, hat I,n xUtSh cd RI
show her lovely style of slipper just i'm
ported. She sat down, and he ran to me
and told me that she had stolen pair of
shoes. l told HIM to bring her into my
private otfice and also one of my lady
clerks. When both came in, bluntly told
Mrs.--that my clerk accused her OF steal
ing pair of shoes. Was she madf Well,
/ should reiterate! Her threats sent a cold
chill all over me, but the bluff didn't go.
l said said she must be searched. Then she
commenced to cry. I left my office for
three minutes, came back, and the stolen
Shoes were lying on my desk. She didn't
tell me how she had concealed and fastened
them, but my lady clerk did"
How did yon punish herW
81 let her off very lightly. She fell on
her knees and cried like a child. She said
that if exposed her she would kill herself
| that tif her husband found it out, he would
$500
| dren would be forever disgraceu."
Il have no sympathy for you madam"
| said, "but l shall not expose you. l will
| simply charge you for the shoes and the
trouble of searching you, The price of the
shoes is IS; the time add trouble
of searching you, S12; total, $50.
Please pay the cashier"
did she demurW
| "Demur9 No, she was ready to dane,
with delight She paid the bill-but I'm
afraid I've lost her future patronage"
Suppose your clerk had been mistaken
| that she had not stolen the shoesW
"Once | was called into court for accus
| ing woman of taking away pair o.
shoes that did not belong 10 her. She hac
| bought them at another store. Since theI
| have never accused any one until per
fectly sure of my ground. would nevel
| prosecute a person for stealing pair o.
shoes. 1t is shorter, simpler. and better t.
charge the thief just double or treble thu
| price OF the goods. This is taking the Law
| into my own hands, know, but it work.
| well, and l have not the time to go tx
| court and be bothered about the matter fol
the sake of abstract justice.
| Speaking of stealing shoes, I'll tell yol
a story. One day a rather seedy-lookinI
fellow went into a shoe store and asked tx
see the proprietor Immediately.
| "Well, what is itY asked the owner.
" I stole this pair Of shoes here last night,
| said the man in virtuous tone.
"'Ah you did? And you found you hac
| a conscience after all, in spite of your many
efforts to kill it, so you came to return them
and claim the usual reward for honesty"
"'Oh, no., said the tramp with a sur
prised air; 4 thought you would be kind
enough to exchange them. Those are two
and half sizes too large. The fraternity
all know me as Small footed Jim. ,"