Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-01-10
WOMEN AS DETECTIVES
Some Cases in Which They Can Do
Better Work Than Men.
woman is Fast Working Her Way to
the Front.

Although for long time detectives of
the far sex-Ald some OF than, of ooo6
social status-have been smni,v a for
the discovery of crime and cravs o iitical
oHenses, and also for making private in
qulries where delicacy and tact is r.oui-
site, female dstectivism has but occasion
ally been employed in the united king
com Tor public purposes, and even then
with merely insignificant results. Tn
recent government report upon the
scotch police by Capt Monro her males
tvs inspector for constsbulary of Scot
land, he says thas the em ploymen of a
few women on the detective staff in LARGE
and popaioas places might possibly be
OF valuable service. Owing 20 this state
ment, and the important fact that the
mpioy ment of woRen as privass detec-
tlves III London has made great progress
= writer Ia the London Queen has care
fully investigated the subject OF this
article, on which he has received some
| appreciable information from those who
are the most competent to speak with
authority on the question.
As regards the engagement of women
Tor the detection of crime in this coun-
try, 1t Is not only very limited but mere
ly extends 70 few offenses, the most
important OF which appear to be shop
hitting and pooSet picking cases and
other thefts. In these and other cases
| they generally act under the guidance
and close supervision OF regular mem
| bers of the detective staff Some wears
| ago large firm of omuibus proprietors
always engaged women to find put the
dishonesty OF the conductors of these
vehicles, in robbing their masters of q
portion of their fares, and it is stated
that women are even now employed for
this purpose.
| As competent and worthy women are
| difficult to secure for secret sc rvice in
police forces, and IS no efficient means
exist for training them for the delicate
duty aad rs they are very indifferently
| raid for their work there is general feel
Ing among policemen of all ranks that
under present regulations IL would be
unwlse 10 permanently employ women on
detective stats, or as agents or assistants
to members of such in connection with
criminal add political investigation. 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 to
the police in these cases are very valu-
doiS- nc pOsl6lOH VI lduleS 6ID-
| plOyed is often of superior order, while
their general knowledge is very superior.
The diplomatic corps OF some contInen-
tai natlons engage ladies as detectives
out of their own country. 1t 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 ara
responsible for such.
Now for private and detective work
| England-as that required IN ttvDr
cases, tracing missing friends, and 9th
secret ipquiries-a great number of
| women are employed, and their number
and services have immensely increased
during the last ten years or Whereabouts.
when female detectiveism as system is
| said TO have commenced by firms OF
| private inquiry agents in the metropolis.
The writer has been informed by the
incipals of TIE two important private
IL q giry Offices in London-in each of
which large staff of women is EN- plOyed
that the latter are far more efficient for
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 EN- ployed IN
police forces In proportion TO the time
they are respectively engaged in their
work.
One metropolitan firm, at least, not
merely engages great number of female
detectives permanently to devote their
phOle time 90 private inquiry business,
but pays them liberal salary, IN addition
TO giving them a bonus Ia respect of
each investigation which they have been
| mainly instrumental in bringing To sue
cessful termination. The amount re-
ceived 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 very clever
lady in its service who, in the discharge
OF her duties, has Travelled many thou
sands of miles. Her remuneration has
approached e4O0 year from detective
work alone. Another firm has paid one
of it's fair sex detectives as much as ESQ
for months service in private investi-
cations. In addition to the high re-
muperation the more efficient of these
detectives obtain from the employers,
their incomes are materially supplement
ed by handsome gratditie5 they receive
for successful services rendered TO those
who pay their masters very Literally for
snch.