The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-11
A DETECTIVES NOTEBOOK.
SHOWING now LITTLE THIEVES IRE
CAUGHT IN BTG STORES.


II IL small Book, hut Il Tells How Many
Arrests Are Annually Made in some Of
the Great Basaars, md why, and What
II the Value OF the Goods Stolen.
Perhaps you are not familiar with the baby
trick. 10 simple n thing AS tho umbrella
dodge may be unknown to YOU Even tho
gauntlet trick. ancient ami shop worn. may
be u mystery to you. II you are not acauaint.
cd with these. Of course you know nothing
about the garter gains. the shawl trick. or tho
shorlifter's bag. But unless you know all
those things. and many moro. you will never
do for the detective or chief floor walker Of
one OF tho big New York bazanrs.
The moor walker. Of course. walks the floor.
but the detective does not always detect. In
many OF tho large retail establishments in this
city the offices OF floor walker and detective
are combined in one person. and that person
Is ono OF the most important men in the house.
He must have tho politeness OF Boau Brum-
nell. tho judgment Of Solomon. tho gentlcness
oil lamb. tho courage Of n lion. the swiftness
OF stag. and tho acuteness Of VidocQ. He
must be equally ready to smile upon seal
skinned lady or to Grapple with muscular
thlef. With n white tic constantly at his throat.
NO must have pair OF niprers constantly in
MS pocket. He Is a tremendously important
II In his kingly strides about the floors he
carries the air OF owning half tho city and Of
being strongly inclined to sell It.
Whilo In one pocket he carries a pair OF nip
pors, always ready to he put upon thu wrists
OF an obstreperous thief In another lie has his
note book. his register OF crime. In which he
makes an entry OF every case" These en-
tries arc very important to him. and he makes
them with great care. for any day he may have
to testify in three or four cases In the poice
court. and without his noto book his memory
would soon be worn out. He enters the name,
address. and age Of tho thief. description OF
the goods stolen. and q statement OF their
value. and sometimes adds few remarks that
are always interesting and often instructive.
IL Is the temporary possession by Sun
reporter OF note book belonging to ono OF
these foor-walkinE detectives that leads to
the writing OF this article. Tho book belongs
there Is no necessity for hiding eithor names
or facts, to Detective Charles +. Cults of Rid
ieys: and here is something from the gallant
sido OF this detectives nature. tho side that
bows fair ladies from one department to
another as distinguished from the loss plens-
ant side that marches thieves of to the police
station: 1t probably will not" said he. "be
necessary for you to mention my name. But
II you should do it. please do not fail to mon.
ton also my two assistants. Miss Peyser and
Miss Vorzimer."
Before looking ut the book. perhaps It will
be well to let Detective Cults explain some OF
tho mysterious terms mentioned q moment
ago: the explanations will mako tho entries
sometimes moro intclliGible Tho baby
trick he says. lis US old as civilization,
but 1t Is still in use. II you were to como in
here intending to rob the store. or any male
cd in
You would have Il poor chance. because you
have nothing about you to conceal soodn in.
Your clothes are too snug. You might drop
knifo into your pocket, or u ring. or some
other small article: but what could you
do with piece OF silk? The first
requisite is flowing drupery and in the
baby trick tho baby carries the draucry. Small
babies usually wear long clothes. and in their
skirts stolen articles are concealed. Hero Is Il
curious thing that often think OF: There are
probably thousand grown up people walking
the streets Of this city who when they were
infants were carried into the big stores to To
rcccptacles for stolen goods. By their moth
ers? Not necessarily. Babies are often bor-
rowcd or rented for this purpose. The baby
trick is nothing more than carry!n: an infant
into store for the express purpose Of con-
cenlng stolen goods in its long skirts.
1.-The umbrella trick is much more common.
It's name almost explains it. Instead Of Il
baby the woman carries an umbrella. and the
srEsr things may ' carried Of in this wsy
than you would imagine The gauntlet trick
is device fEr the w"rrimGnt Of the !swelry
long g. love. md some small but va uabls ar
ticle drops into it-nccidentnly, Of course
"" have to be on ihs LOOKOUT Tor tile garter
game. Tho thief who is about to. play the
garter game always THI,ap Of course.
srn h "ns S sitter. out is oo fH hfis
small Lrnss hooks fastened to one OF her gar.
tiers. The two shoes Of II mir. you know. are
usually tied together; and while tn. sales
the woman to hing pair upon one Of the
hooks snme Hn not only On, Gne but two Or
and delicate tricks for US to guard against.
Nothing but personal search will hring the
shoes to light. and II search involves an arrest.
upon woman and find no evidence to convict
that is, to say. 10. shoes hanging from her
gHrter-then We AFRO in trouble.
THE shawl trick requires so much nerve and
skill that 1t is So dom used eXceut by experts
A camers hair shawl Is tho fnyorite. Tor there
While the clerks back is turned II valuable
piece of silk d disappears within the folds OF tho
fnvorlte with women thieves: It was simply
large bag SUSPENDED from the waist. but with
II spring attachment by which it could he
pocket. MANY. Il valuable article has disnp-
pearod in the shopliiter's bag; hut the carry,
Ing of such u bag has been made II criminal
offence in this State. and nowtwo smnlier Lags
one on each ide. are substituted for it. You
can soc now why the store detective must have
eyes not only all around his head. but in his
knees. elbows. heels. and the tails OF his coat.
"rhore arc some professional points that
per haps you will wish to mention in your arti-
Gle. For instance. q thief II never arrested IN
the store if It can possibly be avoided. An ar
rest In tho store makes scene and We do not
want any scenes. he plan is TO- follow the per-
son for n block or two nnd make the arrest in
tho street. But no person is over arrested I'M
less the theft has been seen 10y ut least two Of
our employees. When we go to court we must
have witnesses. and it would he almost i'm
possible to secure n conviction with only one
witness. The clerk says yol did aud tho prl,-
onsr says l didn't and the prisoner gets tho
bent eft OF the doubt, il we make an arrest AN |
fail to secure u conviction. We soon become de-
PENDANTS in u suit tor DAMAGE. Mon rarely
give us any trouble. except in the matter Of
pickin. pockets; II man il too conspicuous IN
dry goods ,st"re: tho thieves generally arc
women and children"
The book in which the record OF arrests is
made is not imposing. but 1t Is kent with
III N an n md ~ IL ~ IOny md