The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1895-08-24
WOMEN DETECTIVES.
1T IS SAID THEY sURPAss MEN IN
CATCHING SHoPLlFTERS.
Less Apt to he Recognized by Those Who
visit the Big Stores to stesl-A System
Much In Favor with the Big Boston
business Houses.

Much In Favor with the Big Boston
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 unwilling Of shoplifters
than the most sagacious sleuth in the
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 fourishing dry goods house. This
is because Of the fact that their identi-
ties become known to the dry goods
thief after a time, and it 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 unsophisticated 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 out for
Them The superintendent or chief floor
walker is pretty certain to select a girl
with accomplishments befitting the de-
tective. If 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 reader of char
acter and is very apt to ascertain by a
study of face whether its owner is a
designing person or not. The shoplifter
often excites the suspicion of the spot
ter the moment she enters the store.
There are certain airs of uneasiness in
her department that catch the prac-
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 a 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 big concern in Penn
berton square, and very watchful and
D conscientious detectives they are, as their
efficient services distinctly show. Miss
McNamee is a 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 ha:
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 thu
\ demeanor of the twain the nature O
$ their calling, and thus it is they ar,
Q able to expose more wrongdoing in tn,
0 store than any of the inspectors at pc
lice headquarters.
When shoplifter is caught dead t,
rights, she is asked if she will not pa,
for the articles" stolen. This interroga
tory is merely made in order to elici
an admission Of guilt from the thief
She is then taken to the office to avail
the arrival of an inspector from polio
headquarters. If she has the appearance
of woman of means, she can easil,
procure hail and thus escape the pail
and detection of night in prison.
In speaking of her experience, Mis-
McNamee says that large percentag
Of shoplifters are women of good fam
lilies and comparatively we'll off il
worldly goods.
1--WE have to watch pretty CAREFUL
to catch the professional shoplifter, sh
began. You see, they are up to al
sorts of chicanery and can easily hood
wink the salesgirl, who may be bus,
with half dozen customers at the sam
time You would never believe, to Sc
those women ON the street in all thei
finery, that they would steal Some o
the shoplifters are born thieves The,
haunt the dry goods houses and steal ev
cry time they get a chance You ma,
not believe it, but | can tell at frs
3 glance the woman who comes here t,
| steal deliberately.
0 Her eyes are sure index to he
thoughts, and when you see woman
glancing searchingly about her you cal
depend upon it that she means to steal
Women with an untroubled conscieno
Z do not act in this way"
There are three detectives in on
o store, and still the pilfering of tn
l krm's property goes ON from day t
day. There is the woman who carrie
of articles in closed umbrella, an
. there is the woman who manages {
p convey property to a neatly arranged re
!. ceptacle in her underdress lining. T
I be on to these tricks the female detectiv
Q must be ever on the alert and nip th
II thief on the fly. There are a thousan
a and one devices performed by shoplift
; ers, but not one is unknown to the cur
: ming spotter Then, again, the femal
: detective officiates as sort of forewoma