The San Francisco call., 1895-11-17
HIGH SCHOOL THIEVERY
All the Teachers Have Assumed
the Active Role of Anna.
teur Detectives.
So Far They Have Only Captured a
Simple Old Woman With a
Skirt to Sell.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALL,
O02 Rrnadmau Nnu

OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALI
908 Broadway, Nov. 16.
The teachers and pupils of the High
School are greatly exercised over a num-
Der OF thefts that have been committed in
the school during the past month. On
several occasions cloaks and books have
been missed, many of the pupils have been
deprived of their lunches and several
purses have been stolen, it is suspected, by
the methods usually pursued by pickpock-
cts. After some investigation the conclu-
sion has been reached that the evildoer is
a pupil, and that the pilferings are being
carried on with the help of an associate on
the outside.
The affair reached a climax two days
ago, when the teachers stood at the doors
and carefully scrutinized the parcels and
books carried by each pupil. There was
some Indignation expressed at this method
of trying to detect the thief or thieves, but
it was explained that it was the only
method by which the criminal could be
discovered, so now each scholar is suspect
and eacn teacher is a detective. None of
the guilty parties have so far been found,
but various circumstances have come to
light that have induced the teachers to
think they are on the right track.
A few days ago a satchel was observed
on the steps of the school. No one
seemed to claim it, and watch was kept
on it. A woman was noticed approaching
the satchel, but she looked around sus-
piciously, and, appearing to detect that
she was watched, she walked away. The
satchel was then searched, and was found
to contain several articles, including two
purses, with money in them, that had
been stolen. The affair created much ex-
element, but every effort was made to
prevent the unpleasant affair from becom-
ing known. An old woman with bundle
caused much merriment few days ago.
She was noticed going from one room to
another with a bundle under her arm.
She was inquiring for Miss Williams. and
everybody was rejoicing that the thief had
been caught. At length the woman was
called into room and her bundle
searched, and to the dismay of all it con-
.ained an old skirt that the owner said she
intended to try to sell Miss Williams. 1t
was very evident that the woman was
partly demented, and she was allowed
to go.
''This system of thievery has reached
great proportions" said teacher of the
High School to-day. land we are doing
everything in our power to stamp it out.
There must be a large amount OF conf
dence placed by one pupil in the honesty
of others, and when this is violated no one
is safe. Many of the pupils work at night
and attend school during the day and for
one of them to lose an ornament or their
purse is great hardship. OF course it is
not pleasant to have to keep an eye on all
our pupils, but what can we do? Wemust
blot out such stigma on the school and
when the offenders are caught l am sure
all will want to make severe examples OF
them"
In the meantime any stranger that is
seen in the halls of the large High School
building is kept under espionage, which is
passed along from one vigilante to an
other till he has left the building.