Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1895-03-19
WOMEN DETECTIVES.
IT IS SAID THEY SURPASs MEN IN
 CATCHING SHoPLlFTERs.


 Business Houses.
 An admirable female detective sys. tenn is in vogue in anumber of the lead. ing dry goods houses of this city.
 It has been proved beyond a doubt that the female thief catcher is more Elective in the unyeiling 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 a large and aourishing 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 wiilnot begin operations until all danger of discovery from that quarter has passed away. The professional shoplifter is as familiar with the figure of the inspector as she is with her own likeness For this reason unassuming and unsophistioated 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 we'll adapted for the work mapped out for them. The superintendent OF chief floor walker Is pretty certain to select girl with accomplishments befitting the de- teotive. If she is lacking in aouteness 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 ia not. She is generally reader of char aoter and is very apt to ascertain by study of face whether it's 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- fioed eye of the young sleubh 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 1t 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 a Yigilant lookout for evildoers at big concern in Pem- berton square, and very watohful and conscientious detectives they are, as their efficient services distinctly show. Miss MoNamee is a modest little girl of IF years, with jet black hair and cheeks like blush rose. and Is considered she most prepossessing girl in the business. Her partner. Miss Leahey. is an attract i've blond, with natty fgure Each has hes own district to patrol daily. but sometimes both can be seen in deep con- yersation in the little office on the Penn berton square side. The most cautious shoplifter would fail to detect in the demeanor of the twain the nature of their calling, and thus it Is they are able to expose more wrongdoing in the store than any of tho inspectors at po- Hoe headquarters.
 When shoplifter is caught dead to rights, she is asked if 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. If she has the appearance of woman of means, she can easily procure bail and thus escape the pain and deiection of night in prison.
 In speaking of her experience, Miss hoNamee says that large percentage of shoplifters are women of good fam -fAes and comparatively we'll off in Worldly goods.
 "We have to watch pretty carefully to batch the professional shoplifter. " she began. "You see. they are up to all Sorts of ohieanery 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 fnery. that they would steal Some Of the shoplifters are born thieves They haunt the dry goods houses and steal ev- cry time they get chance. You may not believe 1t, but can tell at first glance the woman who comes here to steal deliberately.
 Her eyes are 0 sure index to her thoughts, and whom you sec & woman dancing searohingly about her you can depend upon it that she means to steal. Women with an untroubled conscience do not act in this way !"
 There are three detectives in one store. and still the pilfering of the firms property goes on from day to day. There is the woman who carries off articles in a closed umbrella, and there is the woman who manages to convey property to neatly arranged re- ceptacle in her underdress lining. To be on to these tricks the female detective