Connecticut western news., 1889-12-25
SOME DETECTIVE STORIES.

average detective had rather deal with five male than one female awbreaker. Catch a woman breaking the law, and she will resort to score of tricks and subterfuges unknown to men, and if she Is not hardened she will most al- ways manage to invent an excuse call ing for mercy and opening way of escape. And it is very seldom that an officer gets any credit in woman case. She is the weaker party, even if wicked, and she will have more or less public sympathy, no matter how clear the case.
 One of my first experiences was in Galena, Illinois, o good many years ago. A merchant found that he was being robbed in a mysterious manner, and was sent down from Chicago to investigate. He had three boy clerks in his store, aud it was in the old days when every clerk had access to the money drawers. As he reasoned, the money was taken during the day, and by some one of the clerks. For in- stance, Q S20 bill was taken in at certain hour. An hour or two later it would be missing from the drawer, and each and every one would deny having paid it out. While he wanted to have confidence in every clerk, he Wns forced to conclude that one of them at least was a thief. He wanted to go slow and sure, and he alone knew what my errand was.
 In the preliminary skirmish found that the merchant had been married only a year, and that he lived in rooms over bis store. A stairway ran up from the interior, and on the first day of my arrival ' noticed that his wife came down three or four times a day, helping herself to thread ribbon, ,or whatever she fancied or needed. She was 8 woman not over 22 years old, handsome and intelligent, and knew all about what was going on below. Indeed, the husband had cautioned her to keep her eyes open for 8 clew. l was introduced to the store and the wife as 8 cousin of MT. Thompson's. Luckily, he had not told his wife who was before I suggested my plan. was from New Hampshire and on a visit, and was to be an inmate of the family for week or SO. This gave me opportunity to sit around and watch, and 1 felt certain that I would solve the mystery.
 Three more honest-looking boys than those three clerks 1 never saw. All were of good families, all of correct habits, and after watching them for three days was dead sure that must look elsewhere for the thief. It might be some one who occasionally came into the store. Half a dozen people who might be tempted to steal were pointed out to me, but failed to at tach any suspicion to their actions.
 At A o'clock in the afternoon of the fifth day one of the clerks took in a 420 gold piece. I was at hand, and saw it go into the money drawer on the left-side of the store. I took 8 seat where could watch that spot, and at 5 o'clock the gold had not been paid out. 1 ascertained this to Q certainty by sending the merchant to the drawer. At this hour was called out for a few minutes, and upon my return the gold was gone. The merchant had not watched the drawer very closely, but he knew that only young Saxby had been on that side since my departure. I took the young man into the store room and told hiro who I was and what 1 was there TOT. While he was surprised he was rot alarmed. He offered to submit 70 a search, and 1 made it without finding anything. Then asked hip- who he had seen near the drawer, sad he could remem- Der nobody but t,fe merchants wife. He readily agreed 70 keep quiet and assist me, and tw> uays later the eli max came.
 The merchant h51 his dinner at noon, as also one of the Jerks. When they were through the other two clerks went out to theirs, thus leaving only half-past 1. At about half-past 12 when came down with the merchant fixed it with Saxby, who was to ge later, to keep as clear of the money drawer last robbed as he could unti time for him to leave. sem the merchant out on the street aud then took my position tG watch. 1 had been there but ffteel minutes when the wife came dowI stairs, tripping along and humming { tune, and she went to box and got { paper of pins. On her way back sh' stopped at the money drawer, took ou two bills, and then hurried up stairs l at once asked the clerks what bill were in the drawer, and they agreed on two fiyes and one. When the, looked the lives were gone. l wen out and told the merchant what l hat seen. He could not believe it, O course, and 1 suggested that he sent the wife out and give us chance t search. In the course of an hour h. got her away, and together we began search. In all old album in trunI we found s720, including the S20 goi' piece, and there was DO longer room for him to doubt. My work wa finished anu 1 went away. How the settled it l do not know. There was separation for 8 few weeks, but the got together again and are still ma and wife for all I know to the con frary.
 Almost the next case I had was i Chicago. A firm employing youn lady as forewoman ill it's cloak depart ment was missing goods from tLat de partment. The sales, too, for som unexplained reason, were dwindlin down. There were four girls in ths department, and for two weeks 1 wa on hand whenever they left the store None of them carried anything away then realized that there must be som trickery in the sales made, and tn only way could get on to that was turn artist and spend a few days in tn department decorating the supportin columns with brush and paint. I kc,