The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-23
WOMEN AS aEUIHS
They are Employed in Stores
to Watch the KIeps
AND NAB SHOPLIF TIERS
One of This Quiet Craft Re-
IateS Some Experiences.
AND NAB SH0PLIF TIERS


New York. Feb. pa private carriage
recently stood before the door of fash
lonable s shop, the coachman ready and
alert, and the footman eying the entrance
where his mistress might be momentarily
expected to appear. Presently the broad
| glass doors swing outward and a gracious,
comely figure steps forth with that ease
of bearing which marks the woman of
fashion. She Is halfway across the pave
ment. the carriage door is held open for
her, and she is about TO step in, wnen
woman's hand is laid upon her arm-a
small hand in an unobtrusive tan-colored
glove touching her velvet sleeve lightly:
You have goods belonging TO the house
that you have neglected to pay for. Come
back with me a moment" says the woman
detective for such she proves to be-. In
stantly the luxurious customer has sum-
moned her best brow-beating manner to
put down interferences.
do you know who 1 ann" she said
loftily. II have an account at this store
and am often given first views of their
newest importations. This is nonsenser'
and she made as though to enter the car
rage.
81 must insist that you come back" was
the quiet rejoinder, but this time the tan
gloved fingers were laid on the lady's slen-
der wrist with something of warning and
authority.
well! It's a bother; but certainly I'll
go back" sa id the lady with abrupt
change Of mien. I'm only sorry for you
that you should make such a mistake
You work here for your living, I suppose.
and the house VIII not be likely an insult
to me-"
Walk ahead of me please don't care
to have people notice US was the profess
sional woman's only reply, and they made
their way through the busy store to the
private apartment on the second floor,
where business of this nature was habitu-
ally transacted.
She declared to the last that she had
nothing, that the house would have to pay
for my blunder. and that I would rue the
day when I selected her for victim the
detective told the manager afterwards in
TONER'S case. "She was so -stiffnecked
and persistent, and took so long to weak
en-, that. if 1 had not had my eye on her
every instant from the minute she took the
goods, l would have almost believed she
had thrown them away and really did not
have them on her person. But 7 stood by
my guns and finally convinced her that I
had seen her put two lace handkerchiefs
in her bodice and tuck the gloves in her
muff. We never search anyone without
their consent, or without witnesses. I told
her. and il is the wish Of the house that
matters Of this sort be conducted as Sc
cretly as possible-simply give back the
goods and you go scot free, on condition
that your account IS closed here at once
and you never enter the store again. Per-
sist in refusing and the courts and publ
city will be the result. Then she handed
out the stuff, said she wanted the gloves
three pairsl for present for her maid, !
who was a great comfort to her, and in
tended making gifts Of the handkerchiefs. /
She didn't know why she took the things |
except that it was easy to take them and |
that she had taken several articles be- |
fore-which fact knew or suspected with |
cut being absolutely certain.
1--WE have papers in the desk here that |
the parties concerned would give thou |
sands of dollars to get hold Of" said the |
confidential employee OF this exclusive |
shop when asked as TO her experiences.
The papers are all dated and classified, |
and contained the addresses and signed con- |
fessions of the shoplifters whose TRANSACT
tons with this particular store are closed |
forever, but who are swimming along IN |
undisturbed secrecy so far as the public |
Is concerned. Because Of the social stand |
ing Of some, the integrity of their rela- |
tives, and the money they are supposed !
10 have at command. their slips were as |
great A surprise to US as they would be !
to their personal friends were the facts
made public. A high-cIass store had rather !
lose hundreds Of dollars than become asso- !
ciated in the public mind with police-court F.
trials and sensational arrests. and the de-
teeive. to serve them efficiently, must not /
only be cautious and discrete. but must /
never make an accusation unless so alb !
Solu;ely sure Of her ground that the goods |
can be secured quietly on the spot.
Il seldom arrest anybody in the store.
but wait until they are clear of the doors.
~ that il they offer resistance or make a /
scene It won't attract attention, and I /
never bother with any theft whatever that /
does not amount in value 10 g orS4 L /
does not pay. and besides IN eperson who 1
VIII take small matters like THAI and Is
not interfered with VIII be certain To come
in another time and take something mora |
valuable. Il = the thieves who operate /
on a large scale thae have especially 10 |
watch for Jew.sH and Italian women /
particularly are adopts NJ the trade. and :
a number VINO have become too wen known /
in London or Paris or other foreign CEN
tres come here -opursue the game. These /
work regularly on commission and some /
are VIGOROUSLY successful have known /
them ~ ,ake whole pieces Of six. worth 4
s.. $ ana so a yard. IN quantity 81 heavy .
that strong man could scarcely carry II /
without effort. and Yet they would walk +
along as naturally as possible Strong.
plant women tAey are and WIKI wonder
ful nerve.