The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-11-01
HOW 'LIFTERS" WORK.
Tho Way Fair Thieves Prey on a
Dry-Goods Store.
Ssz,ue Women Faint When They Are Caught
with Piunder in Their Pockets-Oth-
srs Become Hystcrical and
Courageous by Turns.

A tall, handsome woman, fashion
xbly attired, walked into leading dry
goods establishment in Chicago one
;7fsernoon and was soon lost in the
shrong of busy shoppers. She stepped
l5riskly from one counter to another,
x:ri5ically examined many goods of fine
texture, but apparently could not find
Che article she desired. Approaching
Che jewelry department she glanced
hastily over her shoulder and then sat
DOWN at the counter with languid, ex-
hausted air. Several trays of jewelry
were brought out for her examination,
but the peculiar design sought was not
among them.
LET me see those bracelets" she
said. indicating tray in one of the dis
play cases farther down the counter.
When the saleslady's back was turned
the tall woman resumed her examina-
Sion of the rings. Her movements
were more deft than before. A large
hand bag hung at her side, and before
the saleslady returned handful OF
jewelry had been transferred to it.
None OF the other clerks had witnessed
the theft, but when the tray of brace
lets was deposited before the critical
customer the young saleslady silently
signaled a foor-walker. Her expe-
.rienced eye had detected the loss. The
tah woman pushed back the tray of
bracelets, with the remark: "It is
strange that you have every design but
the one l want. l am sorry to have
troubled you, but will not purchase to-
day"
When she stepped into the elevator to
descend the fioor-wallier was at her
side. Reaching the main floor, she was
ON the point of walking out the main
entrance when gentle tap on the shoul-
der arrested her attention.
'"Win you please step to the rear
moment madam?" the foor-walker
asked, pointing the way.
~'What do you mean, sir?"
''Simply that you can not leave this
s6are until you have been searched.
You are suspected of having goods Sc
creted in your clothes that were stolen
from 'ths jewelry department"
al will neither step to the rear nor be
Es:srched" she replied, excitedly.
~How dare you accuse ladies who come
EIere to make purchases?"
The aoor-waller approached closer,
end said in low but emphatic tones:
Madam, you can take your choice be-
.asween going quietly and being arrested
by an officer We are not mistaken.
You have stolen goods in your hand
bag"
The tall woman did not stop to argue,
5ut stepped quickly TO the office of the
.rt MT nd of T,uo
ssaIesiadies we're waiting to receive her.
Going into small room they made a
hasty examination of the critical GUS
shomer's apparel. When they came out
zone of them had the stolen jewelry in
iaer hand. The tall woman broke down
zsud begged the superintendent to spare
aer.
s'This is the first time / ever took a
ching that did not belong to me, and 1
will willingly pay you for all the rings,
although have no use for them. Do
E2ot expose me, / implore you, before
Eny friends"
MADAM, neither you nor all your
.Hriends combined have enough money
fso buy those rings now. You will be
Eyxosecuted like a common thief We
make no distinction between profess
:. sioDul shoplifters and first offenders
q ere" A moment later the weeping
ssoman entered carriage and was
...lken 70 the police station. Yesterday
I1orning she was fined twenty dollars
ud allowed to depart Her friends
anne TO the store in large numbers dur
ding the day, protesting that she was re-
oxpectable, a member OF an influential
Family and had never been guilty of
sEaAaiing before, and begged the firm to
xxI1hdraw the charges. Their plead
Gngs we're in vain and an hour later the
-<soman sat among common lot OF Of
ajsnders at the armory.
This scene, with slight variations, is
sznacted almost every day in some OF
rtae large dry-goods stores in the cities.
.s.ihsg,lifters seldom invade exclusive
fexelry stores, although the big whole
zszis dry-goods establishments that sell
S<~esry sre compelled TO exercise more
ahzz usual vigilance in that depart
xnn&nt tvIt WAYS OF working are