The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-05-29


business Houses.
An admirable female detective sys-
tenn is in vogue in number Of the lead
ing dry goods houses Of this city.
1t has been proved beyond doubt
that the female thief catcher is more
effective in the unveiling Of shoplifters
secret service department Of the city OF
Boston. Thief catchers like the veteran
Joe Knox, for instance, cannot Ply
their vocation with any degree of sue
cess for any length of time in large
and 6ourishing dry goods house, This
is because Of the fact that their identi.
ties become known to the dry goods
thief after time, and 1t goes without
saying that the shoplifter will not begin
operations until all danger Of discovery
from that quarter has passed away. The
professional sboplifter is as familiar
with the figure Of the inspector as she is
with her own likeness. For this reason
unassuming and unsopbisticated maid
ems are put on the qui vive to ferret out
willy shoplifters and bring them to
speedy retribution. The girls assigned
to prosecute detective labor are well
adapted for the work mapped ont for
them. The superintendent or chief floor
walker is pretty certain to select a girl
with accomplishments befitting the de-
tective. II she is lacking in acuteness
and fails to perform her work satisfac-
torily, another is substituted in her stead
and the benighted one is given posi-.
tion in the store.
Nor does the competent detective de-
pend entirely upon her wits in deter
mining who is shoplifter and who is
not She is generally a reader Of char
aoter and is very apt to ascertain by
study of face whether its owner is a
designing person or not The shoplifter
often exoites the suspicion Of the spot
ter the moment she enters the store
There are certain airs Of uneasiness in
her department that catch the prao-
ticed eye of the young sleuth at once.
Women who invade dry goods houses
for the purpose Of larceny have not the
fullest confidence in their dexterity to
purloin an article from the counter
without exciting suspicion. The PRO
fessional" never attempts theft with
out first feeling certain that she is not
watched, yet it frequently happens that
when she is convinced that there Is no
danger Of detection the eyes of the fe-
male spotter are upon her, and she is
trapped in the act
Miss Fannie Leahey and Miss Kittie
MoNamee are the young detectives who
are employed to keep vigilant lookout
for evildoers at a big concern in Penn
berton square, and very watchful and
conscientious detectives they are as their
efficient services distinctly show. Miss
McNamee is modest little girl Of II
years, with jet black hair and cheeks
like blush rose, and is considered the
most prepossessing girl in the business.
Her partner. Miss Leahey, is an attract
i've blond, with natty figure Each has
her own district to patrol daily. but
sometimes both can be seen in deep con-
versation in the little Office on the Penn
berton square side. The most cautious
shoplifter would fail to detect in the
.dsmeanor Of tho twain the nature Of
their calling. and thus it is they are
able to expose moro wrongdoing in the
store than any Of the inspectors at po-
lice headquarters.
When q sboplifter is caught dead to
rights. she is asked il she will not pay
for the articles" stolen. This interroga-
tory is merely made in order to elicit
an admission Of guilt from the thief
She is then taken to the office to await
the arrival Of an inspector from police
headquarters II she has the appearance
Of woman Of means, she can easily
procure bail and thus escape the pain
and detection of a night in prison.
In speaking Of her experience, Miss
McNamee says that large percentage
of shoplifters are women Of good fam
lilies and comparatively well off in
worldly goods.
1--WE have to watch pretty carefully
to catch the professional shoplifter. " she
began, You see. they are up to all
sorts of chioanery and can easily hood
wink the salesgirl. who may be busy
with half dozen customers at the same
time You would never believe, to see
those women on the street in all their
,ha shon,;t,a,s o-a horn thieves Thav
ham, tba drv goods bonses and s,eai ay.
arv time thsy Dat \ obanca Won NAV
not believe it. but | can tell at first
Zeal deliberatelv
"Her ewes are a spre index IN her
,bonoh,s and when Won see a woman
sIanc,ng saarch;ngIv about her Won oan
Sanend nnon ,t that shs means n s,.,aI
Women with an untronbled conscience
| do NO, a., IN ,h,s v.v
Thara thraa dataotiyaa Sr ono