Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-23
WORK OF THE FOOL Roous.
They Lssd Young Men Astray-storiss Toll
by . Detective.

by . Detective.
THE pool rooms near Washington are ct the
bottom Of more trouble than any one has an
idea OF, said prominent local detective TO q
SrAR reporter. mot long ago I had occa-
sion to take the 10 o'clock train to
| Alexandria and over 100 government clerks
got OF the train at Jackson City. besides any
number Of others not in the DC rvice Of the
government. II would make cabinet officials
eyes bulge ont Of his head to see how many Of
Uncle SANS clerks spend afternoon after after
noon in the pool rooms.
Government clerks are by no means the only
victims Of these resorts and very large per
cent OF the petty stealing by clerks in stores
mas as direct cause the habits and desires
brought on by too frequent visits to the city Of
odds and combinations. Many merchants ap-
preciate the temptations to which especially
the younger clerks are subjected.
Take the case Of a jeweler who came tome
ana complained that there was usually re-
makaoiy poor showing Of cash in his cash
drawer In the mornings. 1 concluded that the
young man who opened the store and ran it
until the proprietor arrived could probably
give an explanation and the next morning sent
2 lady into the store who made purchases
from the clerk amounting t0$1250. When
the proprietor arrived he was told Of the
purchase by me; but on an examination Of the
casn drawer only S2.50 was found. The $40
Dill had been appropriated by the clerk and,
as ne confessed, so had many more ct different
times.
HowA SHOE STORE WAS WORKED.
I I'm another instance l had for some time
suspected young clerk in shoe store Of pro-
viding for his pressing wants for cash by the
disposal Of stock. A close morning watch was
kept on the store and a second hand dealer
was speedily captured in the act Of removing
numerous pairs Of shoes furnished by the clerk,
and for which only nominal price was paid.
"Sometimes clerk makes big hauls out Of
the business and goes into 1t systematically.
At one time here in Washington pretty little
brick house was built on the proceeds Of petty
stealing from big bottling firm. The
firm bottled q large amount Of i'm
ported stuffs, which were quite expensive.
"A young man who had been employed by the
nrm commenced to branch out in o number Of
ways, built house and otherwise showed his
tendency to become q bondholder. A watch
was placed upon him and the first evening in
following him l heard the sharp click Of bottles
striking together. l halted the young man,
who was about the most virtuously
indignant man to be met in years tramp.
however. and underneath the loose shirt he
wore were found half dozen bottles of expen-
sive liquids.
DRY GOODS STORES SUFFER-.
''The dry goods stores are sometimes sufferers
Not long ago an inside employe was discovered
In the act OF sending off by express about
Sl,Soo worth Of laces and other goods. He
confessed that it was only one Of several ship
ments he had made
In very few of these cases is there an ex-
posure. Merchants prefer to give the young
men, who in nearly every case have fallen
through weakness, another chance"