The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-01

iaiis to reveal the hiding places of ar
ucies ctual concealed about them.
IN winch case they are dismissed with
apologies. Arraigned for trial they are
always defended by skiIfuIl and crafty
lawyers and frequently escape convic-
tion where there can be no reasonable
doubt as to their guilt.
Probably not one case of dected
inert In 20 is ever prosecuted. Some
tunes tears and proofs of previous good
character. when no actual loss can be
proved, prevail: often. however. prose-
cution Is not urged. because IL would
not pay The various stages of the
ponce court. grand jury and criminal
court, with the. attendant delays of the
Jaw. mean the frequent of
many witnesses and employees, with
great loss of time and money. Except
"nere some noted character has been
caught the prosecution generally ends
a, the lowest court. from the verdict Of
"nicn an appeal secures immunity.
store detectives often make serious
mistakes. involving their firms in ex-
pensive damage suits. This Is largely
que TO the inefficient character OF the
people employed. Recently a lady pur-
chased some artificial flowers at a de-
partment store. Thinking that an over
charge had been made. she entered an
other store and asked the price of the
articles. Informed that they had none
like them in stock she thrust the spries
under her belt and started for the door.
when she was interrupted by a detec-
tive. who charged her with theft. In
VAIN she told where she had purchased
them and displayed the check: she was
dragged to the managers office and
subjected to the i%ndignity OF a search.
after which she was dismissed with
apologies. She refused to be Modified
and Immediately began a suit for 500. 600
An intelligent, trained detec-
tive would never have made such a
mistake.
kleptomania is a well-defned disease.
OF a moral. rather than of a physical
character. Many people are possessed
with an uncomfortable desire to steal.
and that without regard To the value
or the articles at hand. This af1iction
is no respecter of persons. but often
seizes upon people of education, culture
ana wealth. A number of Chicago la
oles are known in every store as ire |
sistibly addicted to theft. They are
closely watched and invited TO return
the goods they have purloined, or paw
Tor the same. Sometimes, by a previous
rrangement. to the end that scandal
may be avoided. bills are regularly sent
to their husbands or other natural pro-
tectors. What is known as kleptomania
seems to be confined to wealthy ladies,
the defense being never thought of in
the case OF a poor woman.
Il have known women" said a lead
ing Chicago detective. ito steal articles
or no value to them and for which they
could have no possible use. One we'll
to-do lady takes nothing but buttons of
the cheapest variety. In her house not
since were found enough to load a
wagon. Another, ar old maid, has a
for p~urloining baby clothes. while
a third finds her highest ambition in
stealing the wooden ladies' from the
pickle jars in our grocery department.
Next to professional shoplifters they are
the most troublesome people with which
have to deal"
Employees do a great deal of stealing
large stores and even detectives
have been detected i'm theft. Sometimes
the shipping clerks enter into a con-
spiracy with others and boldly send
quantities of goods to a convenient
fence" Oftener. however. clerks act
Independently and smuggle goods out of
The store. Girls secrete gloves and other
articles about their persons and i'm
heir hats, while men have been known
10 wrap an entire bolt of silk around
heir bodies, beneath their clothing. De-
are always looking for this class
,f thieves and the services of outside
agencies are often necessary to locate
systematic thieves of this character.
thefts i'm a certain depart
nent are carried on for months without
he perpetrator being detected. In
itances are not wanting in Chicago
where a dozen or more clerks have been
discharged that one guilty employe
night surely be disposed of.
Pickpockets frequent large stores and
AIRY on a thriving trade. especially at
ales. when a great throng is present.
{ a lady lays down her purse for a
moment she is very fortunate If she Sc
'ures II again. and the same Is true Of
'arcels. Pickpockets watch where
are carried and labor hard
q secure them. They are often arrest
d through the vigilance of the watch :
detective. but. as a rule. nothing in
Eliminating Is found upon their per-
ons. so quickly and deftly do they pass 4
heir plumber to a confederate. :