The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1895-04-12
WOMEN DETECTIVES.
1T is SAID THEY SURPASS MEN IN
CATCHING SHoPLIFTERS.


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 unveiling Of shopfifters
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 suc-
cess for any length of time in large
and dourishing dry goods house. This
is because of the fact that their identi-
ties become known to the dry goods
thief after 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 shoplifter 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 we'll
adapted for the work mapped out for
them The superintendent or chief floor
walker is pretty certain to select 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 @
study of a face whether its owner is q
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 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 big concern in Penn
berton square, and very watchful and
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 has
her own district to patrol daily, but
sometimes both can be seen in deep con-
versation III 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 the inspectors at po-
lice 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 a woman of means, she can easily
procure bail and thus escape the pain
and detection of night in prison.
In speaking of her experience, Miss
McNamee says that large percentage
of shoplifters are women Of good FAM
lilies and comparatively we'll 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
inery, 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 it. but | can tell at first
glance the woman who comes here to
steal deliberately
Her eyes are sure index to her
thoughts, aud when you see woman
glancing searchingly 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
must be ever on the alert and nip the
thief ON the fly There are thousand
and one devices performed by shoplift-
ers, but not one is unknown to the cum
ming spotter Then, again, the female
officiates as a sort Of forewoman
over the employees They are certainly
looked upon as superiors by the girls.
yet it is not known that they ever re-
ported any inattention on the part Of
employees to customers 1t has been al
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