Sacramento daily record-union., 1889-09-01

IuSk'GSiOI owes SOME pOTllGu Ol
his phenomenal success as a rogue-catcher
to the fact that he has not hesItated to
employ women whenever he could do so
to advantage, although all the traditions
of the Central Office were opposed to
them. Hardly a day passes without one
or two of these female HawkShawS calling
on the ig-mustached chief of the detec-
tive squad in the white marble building in
Mulberry street. Few of the women so
employed, however, make the business of
detecting crime regular profession.
They generally have some other occupa-
tion, and merely take up police work as
means of making extra money, or because
they are in love with the notion of play
ing the role of detective Women love
mystery, and the very mystery that sur
rounds the detectives calling aliureS them.
Just as the glamour of the stage fascinates
others.
At headquarters the officers tell re-
markable story of a smart woman who
hoodwinked the entire detective staff.
She was plump and pretty widow of
about %, with pair of swapping black
eyes and figure that would have at
tracted attention anywhere. One day she
called there and informed the Inspector
that she wished to become detective.
81 know l can succeed in tracking peo-
ple," she said, with an mutterable look
out of the depth of her beautiful eyes. 81
can read character at glance, and | only
want chance to show what / can Co."
OF couiss II wouiGlI't do TO let such tai
ent go a-begging and she was given a
chance. The result was something quite
unexpected. The charming widow sue
ceeded in "mashlng" every case she was
instructed to shadow, and made good
thing out of it in financial way; but the
Central Office made no progress. Her re-
ports were turned in with great punctual-
ity and particularly; she told Just where
Mr.. So-and-So passed his evenings, where
he got his money and how he spent it !;
what he ate and drank, and when he went
to bed. She was altogether too agreeable
for detective, and the Central Office re-
luctantly let her go and had to confess
that, for once, it had been duped by mere
woman.
Female detectives proceed upon the
principle that men are mostly fools and
attack them at the weakest point-their
susceptibility.
when l succeed in getting man to
stare at me, remarked one of these saga
cious trappers of men, 81 know Pve scored
a point. With some men it's different,
though. Some have to be moved by their
sympathies, others by the passions. You
see, women have the advantage of men,
too, at the outset in detective work, be-
cause we can disarm suspicion. The first
thing in beginning case is to study how
to approach your man properly. | have
lain awake whole nights turning various
schemes over and over in my mind, and
rejecting them, one by one, until the right
idea was hit at last"
1t is astonishing how deity the fingers
of the women searchers in the Custom
house penetrate the mysteries of feminine
apparel. Seemingly innocent coitfures are
made to yield treasures as though they
were capillary Golcondas busts and
bustles alike sink prone beneath their
hands, and silks, velvets and laces drop to
the floor to the modification of the rapidly
alternating smuggler. Hosiery is shown
to be fayorite receptacle for ribbons and
jewelry trinkets, and on one occasion the
artificial plumpers in the cheeks Of an
elderly dame were found to conceal about
| 50, 800 worth of diamonds, all done up in
tissue paper and packed inside. When
| they were forced out by the finger of the
Inspector the matronly smuggler looked
as though she would fain have swallowed
them rather than have them fall into such
hands.
Several women are employed in semi
detective capacity by the Surrogate's office
for the purpose of serving subpenas and
for gathering facts concerning the antece-
dents of parties in disputed will cases.
The system is for two to call together,
about o'clock in the evening, ostensibly
on friendly visit, and thus they are
brought in contact with the people they
desire to meet.
The female "spotter" is the oldest estab-
lished of all the women detectives. She is
generally an uneducated person, and can
be seen riding up and down the street cars
| on any of the leading lines daily. She is
cordially detested by both drivers and
conductors, but, being woman, they can't
say anything to her. Some of the spoilers
work with package of pins, which they
change from one pocket to another, or stick
into their dress, as they ride along record
ing the fares. When they leave the car
they give the record to the male spotter,
who is employed to board the car at inter
walls and take the reckoning from the reg
ister. 1t is the lowest kind of detective
work and is poorly paid.