The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-12-24
CHRISTMAS AT THE STORES
ALL THE PRINCIPAL ONES WILL BE
 CLOSED ON MONDAY.
A Number of Cases of shopIiftins and Petty Thieving-In Spite of Indictment the Largest Thus Far Known,

the Largest Thus Far Known.
 IT the weather lives up to predictions to-day this evening will close one of the most successful holiday seasons thus far experienced by New Haven merchants. In spite of the indictment weather of the few days preceding yes terday and the prevalence of that dreaded epidemic, the grip, the mer- chants are satisfied, and thus far have experienced the biggest holiday busi- ness of their respective careers.
 To-day bids fair to be an ideal one for shopping and the merchants of the pig dry goods stores especially are rub blng their hands with satisfaction at the thought of successful close of the Christmas trade. As sign of their satisfaction they, one and all, have de- termined not to open up for business on Monday, but to give their clerks a much needed and hard earned rest, and many of them announce the fact exultantly in their ads in to-day's papers.
 When asked by the Journal and Courier last evening as to the holiday business done by their houses this year as compared with that of previous years, the managers and proprietors of the New Havens several big stores all replied in the same strain, and with the same tone of satisfaction The losses sustained by shop-lifting and petty thieving is also comparatively light along side of those of previous years, but one arrest having been deemed necessary, the others detected being mostly women who were not thought to be professionals, and were consequently let go with warning.
 At the big store of Edw Malley & Co. last evening Walter Malley in speaking of their remarkable increase of holiday trade said: We are greatly pleased at | the increase in holiday business this | year, the highest mark being reached | in all the departments" Asked as to l cases of petty thieving MT Malley re- l piled that only two cases had been re- 1 ported thus far, both women; one theft 1 being of some books, the other of some | underwear. As the cases were not con- ! sidered serious they were let go with i a warning. No other losses were re- ported. MT. Malley said their store would be closed all day Monday.
 | In reply to a question as to whether { or not he would close on Monday Ewen Mcintyre replied tersely that they wouldn't close because they wouldn't open. Asked as to the holiday business done at his store MT. Mcintyre replied ] that it is the largest ever experienced 1 and away ahead of previous years" At McIntyre's the only arrest for stealing made was that of a boy who was de- l tected by one of the floor walkers steal- i ing a pair of gloves. Close questioning 1 elicited the fact that he was only one l of a gang of young thieves in the bus mess, and on the matter being turned over to the police the arrest of a dozen more young vagrants was made.
 MT. Todd, in speaking for F. M. ! Brown & Go. said that the holiday trade was remarkably brisk, considering the weather, and that the business of yes terday and to-day would, in all prob ability more tban make up for any loss consequent on previous bad wealth. CT. Only one case of thieving was re- ported from F. M. Brown &s Co.'S, that of a woman who was caught directly in the act, but who was let off with a stern warning.
 When asked as to their business dur ing the holiday season Elbrdge T. Howe, of Howe & Stetson, replied: Our business has been far ahead of that of proceeding years and every de- partment has had a most unusual trade. In spite of the weather the Christmas spirit has been very strong and we have felt it to an unusu- al degree Asked as to whether they had suffered from shoplifters MT. Howe
 replied "Shoplifters? No! We have
 been extraordinarily free from that
 class this year, only five or six womeI being caught with purloined goods upon their persons, and as we did not deem
 them dangerous we allowed them tc
 go with a reprimand.
 General George H. Ford of the George
 H. Ford company said last evening
 Our trade much exceeds that of las