The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1896-07-24

scar CUING FEMALE OF'TEN-
DERS

When attended at one Of the most
impor tant metropolitan police stations
and sought an lntervlw with the fe
male searcher anticipaten the pleas
IRE of IA little chat with Il perfect
ogress. TO my surprisa. found the
searcher to be mild manner,d.
pleasart-faced ltd woman, with
quite ii cherry smile and an absolute
" motherlv air about her. She drop
ped an old fashioned courtesy whcn
The inspector introduced her to me,
and seemed quite taken aback when
informed that the dignity of BENG
interviewed was to be conferred upon
her.
I've been here some years now, and
the task Of searching the prisoners Is
SO familiar that hardly notice wha'
happens,' said she. ''Every female
prisoner brought in is at once search
ed you know. | take them down to
the cells. and they have then to re-
move every particle of clothing.
Everything found in their pockets or
not necessary to be worn is taken from
them, and, of course. returned if really
them property wh~n they are discha g
ed. Each garment | carefully feel
over us | take it from them, and it Is
now very seldom that miss anything
hat may be there. \ woman was
brought in the other day charged with
stealing watch. Find it | didn t,
thought | searched every inch Of each
article of clothing. Just a. | was
giving up IN despair lhou.htol feel
ing in The shoes which she had
carelessly taken of. In the lift she
there was the missing watch. The
woman had been wa king about with
her foot screwded up and the watch
in the toe OF her shoe.
"Needless to say, | always feel in
in their hair. Several times stolen
articles have been secrcted in the hair,
and when it is worn in bun the
feat Is any easy one. Another prisoner
had rolled her hair around a five dol
lar note. L here are two Of lis here
and if the prisoner is at all violent
both assist in the search. But it is
very seldom that women are refractory.
They known that violence is of no use:
and, needless to say we make he task
of searching us pleasant for them a
it Can be made. Bad language, as you
may imagine, we are used to: and some
prisoners get in il terrible rage when
you light upon hidden stolen property.
When bustleS were III fashion many
al ticles were sCcreted IN them, one
woman having IA dozAn pieces of jewelry
so packed away. ! he weight of the
hustle betrayed it.
81 also always look we'll III their
mouths, making them lift up the
tongue, for some habitual criminals
are very clever at hiding rings and
other small articles in this way. There
was a woman here cha, ged with steal
ing wedding ring. | searched her
thoroughly, examining her mouth but
could find nothing. The prisoner had
had a deal too much to drink: and, as
often happens, | was directed SIT with
her all night. | did. At first she
talked, then went to sleep. Suddenly
sue Stdrteu u SeelIeu DIS IL ABOUT 10
choke, coughed violently and the ring
fell from her mouth to the floor of the
cell. How she had linden it to this
day cannot imagine.
''There is 10 special qualification
for the post of searching at IA police
station. If you know an inspector
and he speaks for you when there is a
vacancy you may get taken on if you
have good character. Plenty of APP
plicants there are always. Most priso-
ners take things very quietly, and five
out of 60 calmly off to sleep. The
drunken ones are Il great nuisance,
some who come here often grow to
regard me quite us Il personal friend
and begin to tell me of their doings
directly take them in hand Some
times they glare at me and say: Don't
lay Il finger OH me-, but with bit of
coaxing usually manage to pacify
them. and the search proceeds peace
fully. "-Phila1eIphia Telegraph.