Evening journal., 1889-07-10
sHoPLIFreRs.
Merchants Have 20 Exercise Judgment and
Nerve In Dealing with Them.

Merchants Have TO Exercise Judgment and
Nerve In Dealing with Them.
/ had an experience said q merchant TO
The Economist, which has had ,tendency
to make me go very slow with apparent shop
lifters. As | entered the aisles where the
ribbon department Is situated | saw a lady
place some ribbon in q hand bag. For O mo-
ment ] did not know what to do. | did not
wish 10 make any fuss or noise, because it Is
not always wise, but as we had lost much by
this class Of thieving determined TO invite
the lady 10 the private Office and have n lady
clerk examine her and demand an explana-
tion. did not wish to have her arrested, be-
cause she looked refined and as If she be-
longed TO family of Importance Going up
to the lady, l said:
"Will you please come with mel would
like TO see you for moment She replied,
naturally and pleasantly,
Certainly" and prepared to accompany
me. had got about half way 10 the Office,
when | was suddenly called aside by mer-
chant friend who fortunately had come In on
some business "Do you know the Iady7r
mo" ''She is the wife of Judge -, and
she will take anything that is not chained
down II she has done anything wrong, take
no notice Of 1t, but send the bin to her bus.
band, ,n-and bowing 10 the lady he passed on.
did not know what 10 do. had invited the
lady to my office, and clearly under the cir
cumstances could not, nor did, wish 10 make
demonstration. In fact, was heartily glad
that need not. had TO do some tall think.
ing in the few steps to the Office. I Ind nc
sooner got In than sent clerk for the sam
pie pieces of dress silks that had just arrived
and before the lady left she felt highly pleased
10 think that she was the first to see the new
styles She appeared little astonished that
| should know her, and take the trouble OF
going to the private Office to show the pat
terms, but explained that if my rivals IN
trade knew what goods had imported, they
would move heaven and earth to checkmate
me. am perfectly confident the lady did
not associate the taking of the ribbon with
guilt, and was entirely innocent Of any wrong
intent l was fortunate in receiving hint
in time. II had not l should have made o
mess Of the matter and my business would
have suffered.
II could send TO prison q dozen shoplifters
if wished tor said another merchant, "bui
the papers would make 80 much of the matter
that ladies would be afraid to enter my stort
lest they be mistaken for thieves. have haf
enough agitation on that soore had u sui
for damages go against me, and close my
eyes to many queer tricks"
At q jewclry sale recently held In one Oh
our largest dry goods stores, where articles oi
considerable value lay around on show case.
and counters, detective was stationed on
raised stand, where he could SEQ and be seen
The writer, seeing the prominent position o.
the detective, said to tho superintendent;
"Any thief who oontemplates getting away
with some of your goods win wait until th'
detectiveN eye is turned away, and will theE
get IN his work"
"Wehave arranged for all that the sn
perinbendent assumed. "You SEQ that lad,
at the second casel Well, IL has got to be
pretty sharp crook that can get the better O
her; 1t is on her we most depend The MAJ
on the platform spots any croolzsor suspicion
people that be knows, and sign sets her b
watching; but, bless your soul, unless we hat
bright people behind the counter to sell th
goods and keep their eyes open, we would los
much moro than we do. It on their watch
fulness that we rely"-United States Econo
/ mist