The Helena independent., 1889-11-28

TRIALS OF A DETECTIVE.
Female Lawbreakers the Most Try
ing Element the Officers Have
to Deal With.
Their Tricks and Evasions to Avoid
Arrest Ahead of Those of
the Men.
The Gaze of Merchant Whose own VIE
Robbed the Money Drawer and
Was Caught

There is no question but that the average
detective had rather deal with five male
than one female lawbreaker Catch
woman breaking the law. and she Will re-
sort 10 a score of tricks and subterfuges
unknown 10 men, and if she is not hard
ened she will always manage 10 invent an
excuse calling for mercy and opening way
of escape. And it is very seldom that an
officer gets any credit in a 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 Ga
lena, Illinois, 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, and 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 instance, a
$40 bill was taken in at certain hour. An
hour OF two later il would be missing from
the drawer, and each and every one would
deny having paid il out. While he wanted
TO have confidence in every clerk he was
forced TO conclude that one of them at
least was a thief He wanted 10 go slow
until sure, and he alone knew what my
errand was.
In the pi sliminary skirmish found that
the merchant had been married only year,
and that he lived in rooms over his 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. helping
herself to thread, ribbon, or whatever she
fancied or needed. She was woman not
over ~ years old, handsome and intelligent,
and knew all about what was going on be-
low. Indeed the husband had cautioned
her to keep her eyes open for a clew. | WAS
introduced TO the store and the wife as a
cousin of Mr.. Thompson's. Luckily, he
had not told his wife who was before
suggested my plan. was from New Hamp-
shire and on visit, aud was to be an in
mate of the family for week or so. This
gave me opportunity 10 sit around and
watch, and felt certain that would solve
the mystery.
At 4o'clock in the afternoon of the fifth
day one of the clerks took in $50 gold
piece. / was at hand, and saw il go into
the money drawer ON the left hand side of
the store. ! took a seat where could
watch that spot, and at o'clock the gold
had not been paid out, ascertained this
to certainty by sending the merchant to
the drawer At this hour was called out
for 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. | took the
young man into the store room and told
him who 1 was and what ! WIS there for.
While he was surprised he was not alarmed.
He offered to submit TO a search, and made
it without finding anything. Then asked
who he had seen near the drawer, and he
could remember nobody but the merchants
wife. He readily agreed to keep quiet and
assist me, and two days later the climax
came.
The merchant lad his dinner at noon. n
also one of the clerks. When they were
through the other two clerks went out Ia
theirs, thus leaving only two in the store AT
once from noon TO 1:3O. Az about 1870
when | came down with the merchant,
fixed it with Sandy, who WAS TO go later. 10
keep as clear of the money drawer last
robbed as he could until time for him "a
leave. | sent the merchant out on the
street, and then took my position TO watch
had been there but fifteen minutes wheI
the wife came down stairs, tripping along
and humming tune, and she went TO n bon
and got paper of pins. On her way bacl
she stopped nt the money drawer, took oui
two bills. and then hurried up stairs. | Al
once asked the clerks what bills were in thu
drawer, and they agreed on two fives and d
one. When they looked the fves were gone
went out and told the merchant what
had seen. He could not believe il, ol
course, and | suggested that he send til,
wife out and give Us a chance to search. In
the course of an hour he got her away, ano
Il. nj
bum in trunk we found S720. including
the $50 gold piece, and there was no Longer
room for him to doubt. My work was fin
ished, and went away. How they settled
it do not know. There was separation
for few weeks. but they got together again
aud ure still man and wife for all know tC
the contrary.