The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-23

Some of them wear long capes, taIIllS
TO the hip and the Only I can tell they
are working is by the movement Of their
arms, which shows from the back. Their
outer skirts are made with long sits down
either side, which sits are concealed by
the gathers but admit 10 the pockets IN
the kick or working shirt worn beneath
| Oftentimes this kick is made Of the thin
nest open work material so as 10 secure
Lghtness in the weight. 1t can hold nearly
a dozen pieces of silk and the shOplifter
nearly always has a cab in waiting.
"Other professional hoplifters, and the
ordinary shoppers who steal so frequently
that they become adopts, carry off valu-
ables under their arms BY holding the
| in certain position really important
thefts can be made. Handsome remnants
of costly silk; folded pieces of sash rib
bon; feathers. handkerchiefs, passemen-
terie; even book and blocks Of stationary
! can be carried off in this way. l have
| known women to walk out with two seal
! skin Jackets or fur capes under their
dress-skirts, which they secured in the 1T
! ting room, and many one has got off
with expensive undergarments they have
! contrived to appropriate while trying on
! the different styles, even with the sales
| woman right there in attendance. Cool
ness and assurance are the main essen
| tials for the shoplifter. Some of them, I
believe. like the excitement of stealing just
as a gambler likes the excitement of a
game Of chance.
Being a detective makes you grow soft
er-hearted," went on this astute woman,
as she Strengthened out the gloves she had
| rescued from her carriage customer.
when I first went into the business six
years ago l was as hard as flint. l had
no pity, and thought in every case that
the thieves got Just what they deserved.
I know the world better now, and know
peoples temptations ard so am not so
harsh. The other cay I saw a pretty girl
lingering gold pin, one Of several I'M
usually pretty ones stuck in a cushion.
She examined It again and again, and
finally when she thought no one was look
ing she slipped it in her muff. She was
refined looking, and I was sorry when she
put that pin away as though she were
some relative. She moved about examin-
ing other things; bought some little knick-
knack or other and then l saw her watch
the chance to put the pin back on the
counter. I thought her conscience would
not let her keep 1t, and turned my atten-
ton elsewhere but in a little while l saw
the same girl before the cushion OF pins
again: she looked longlngly a one she
had previously selected, stretched out her
hand and was just going to take it when
I touched her on the arm. "My dear, you
don't want that" I said, and l looked
at her for moment, and then turned
away. She followed me Cher face Grim
SOM and thanked me effusively. 4 don't
know who you are she said, but you have
saved me from becoming thief. / was
crazy for that pin, but had not the money
to get it. and I should not have fingered
rounu and looked at it as did.
Children not more than eight or nine
years old are among our shoplifters. Some
carrying off things of their own accord,
planning their own mode of doing it, and
others are instructed by their mothers be-
fore they come, and frequently fix the
goods for the mothers to get hold of, doing
this while the women engage the clerk in
conversation or otherwise divert attention.
I saw a woman pinch a child's arm sharp
ly one day when the little one did not take
the beaded pocketbook that had been show
ed just in front Of her. 1t had probably
been a prearranged tick that the child was
to take certain things, and when she fail
ed to do this, the pinch reminded her. One
successful woman thief comes in here with
two beautifully dressed children. a girl and
a boy. the latter only about four years
old. She slid different small articles that
she took down the child's back, and was
carrying off several ramnants of fine en-
broidery and pieces Of nainsook when I
stopped her out on the pavement
every detective has to be especially
careful about guarding her identity, be-
cause once her face and figure become
familiar to the clan her usefulness is gone.
my name is never called in the store, and
If a friend of mine should come and ask
for me. they are careful 70 make sure
that she is really friend before she us
granted an interview. All sorts Of pre-
texts are resorted to by those who wish ta
discover the detectives identity. One Of
a clan Of deceivers will pretend 10 have
lost her purse and ask 10 consult with
the detective about it. Another will come
with cock-and-bull story about some re-
lative being III and having sent for me in
a hurry.
when two women work together they
can perpleX a detective. and one not long
at the business. no matter how clever,
would he very likely to fall into their trap.
One trick is for woman to take some
article (while ostensibly trying 70 divert
the clerks attention from her mo.ions)
and 70 do this 50 clums;ly that he takes
note or the occurance and warns the de-
tective. Later when the counter from
which the woman took the goods Is crowd
ed. she puts the article back II the de-
tecdve was not sharp enough to see this.
she accuses the woman wrongfully and
gets into trouble
''one day when was working in a store
where arrests were frequent a woman sent
in a urgent request that I would see her
on important business. I found her close
~ yelled. and. although neatly dressed I
could see enough Of her face TO feel q sort
Of horror at its expression. She spoke
very well and stated that che had reason
q suspect some person living in the same
apartment house with her. Of having de-
signs on some valuabIes that she had in
her flat. She vas anxious 10 Eet woman
detective 20 stay a night or Two with her.
and offered Eood pay for tire s-Ivics. she
was afraid 20 stay alone. rot only 70
fused ,hc Offer then. but refused on two
Subsequent --cas. o-s 10 - - IRIS same
address On the same erraud Something
told ne 10 lei the police investigate the
matter and the address proved 70 be the
rendezvous Of gang II notorious outlaws. Z
river thieves. >hopEfters exc. The p,sn