The record-union., 1891-01-30
A SKILLED OPERATOR.

"a richly dressed lady OF commanding
presence and gracious address, attired in
long, loose raglan of glossy sealskin, a
heavy black silk dress, and stylish
close-fitting bonnet, entered a large New
York store and fitted about from counter
to counter in desultory manner, after
the fashion of leisurely shoppers, occa-
sionally purchasing some small article,
from which she paid from a well-tilled
portmonnaie; but more frequently she
tossed over profusion of rich laces, silks
and velvets, apparently seeking some
thing she could not find, for she made no
purchase. For some unaccountable rea-
son. a small, quiet man, apparently a
f1oor-walker or curious salesman, fol-
lowed the lady for little way, and pres
emily, at sign from him, a saleslady
suddenly put on her hat and cloak, and
went all about the store making pur-
chases at whatever counter the handsome
customer tarried.
'"They finally passed down to the main
entrance, and were about leaving the
store when the quiet, inquisitive floor
walker detained them, and invited the
lady to step into little retired room and
relieve herself of various articles con-
cealed about her person which did not be-
long to her. Arrived at the room the lady
fell on her knees and called on all the
saints In the calendar to attest her inno-
cense, threw her arms about the girls
neck who wanted to search her, pleading
with her with tears and SobS, kissed her
and stroked her hair, tore the diamonds
from her own ears, neck and fingers,
piled them in glittering heap on the
table, together with diamond-studded
watch, and offered them to the searcher
II she would only believe her and not
submit her to the disgrace of public
search; told her of a husband who would
kill her and of little children who would
learn to despise their mothers name; she
dashed her head against the brass work
of the radiator, beside which she knelt in
suDplication, and called for poison to end
her miserable existence.
1.-The supposititious poison was instantly
procured and handed to her, whereupon
she promptly rallied from her mysteries
and submitted to the search, which re-
suited in recovering SlG0 worth of goods
and in finding beneath the lady's over
skirt long, large bag of silk which COW
cred the entire front Of her dress. with IN
opening at the side large enough to take
in roll Of silk or piece of velvet. The
woman also wore five skirts, in each Of
which was pocket which opened into
pocket of the skirt beneath. Her long,
loose stockings contained several articles
OF value, and in her bosom We're concealed
many more. At the prosecution which
followed her mCcll-feared husband ap-
We
he had secured for her able counsel, and
promptly paid her fine.
"A devoted little mother with a two
monthS-old baby on her shoulder recently
entered an uptown store. Over the
baby's embroidered robe Il long double
cloak was wrapped, and the child seemed
10 require Il great deal of attention be-
meath this cloak, all of which was given
by the mother with many smiles and
citresses. AS she was about leaving the
store she, too, was quietly invited into a
retired apartment, and beneath the baby's
cloak was found secreted something like
$50 worth OF goods.
THE PARASOL DODGE.
Another stylish lady nsed to come in
here with very elaborate parasol decor
ated with lace and ribbon, and having
heavy silver monogram on the handle.
She had preference for the notion coun-
ter, and as she sat there one special sale
day, when the people crowded about the
counter. | took the parasol from her re-
luctant hand and opened it suddenly. A
shower of little articles fell, covering a
large circle on the floor, and in the Stir
that followed my Lady escaped. When 1
looked around she was gone, and L had
only the parasol left. I have it still-lace
and fiillS and silver monogram and all.
Large amounts are lost to proprietorS
of large stores through shop-lifting. In
some of the stores in New York where
no detectives are employed, three and
four sealsl1in cloaks have been stolen in
single day. and rarely do the detectives in
stores where they are employed search a
person for stolen goods that they do not
find concealed about them articles belong
ing III other stores. In some of these
stores plumber is regularly employed
to keep the ladies' toilet in order, for into
the sinks are thrown pocket-books from
which the money has been taken, small
parcels, when the shop-lifter finds she is
being watched, cards and tags on goods,
anda whole piece of lace or embroidery is
sometimes crowded down out Of sight TO
avoid detection"