The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1901-04-24
Women Detectives.

as detectives in hotels, in shops and |
in police cases. Women hive been
employed as private detectives for
years by the vsriou' agencies in
eases requiring specially fine work.
For procuring evidence in divorce
cases tn y are often emploNed ADD
their aptness bias b6en proved.
The woman detective can charge
her identity with her costume lar
more easily than a man. Ii she is
taotful she can win confidence and
will arouse no susp cioH. These ad
vantages fit her peculiarly ior tue
work.
Women lave in rect mt years made
records in the big depart neut
stores, where they detect shopIifteis
and pickpockets. These women
dress as though on a shopping tour
and are not known to the sales
women. They pass about from
counter to counter examining goods,
but manage to keep an eye on reo-
pie they suspect and follow th' N
about until they see them tn,ily
taking goods from the tables.
In the customs service about Is
dozsn women are employed as cus-
toms inspectors. They look out
women smugglers aud have been
very successful in dete"ting these
fair sWindlers OF the Guverrmy
1t is not the 5Eat"ur smngk. Ter or
the immigrant that these women
look alter, but be womeu who of
late years havA made = profession OF
smuggling, acting in collision with
meu aud apparently making the
trade pay well. They are always
good looking, we'll dressed and liber-
ally supplied With money, which
they d spense in generous tips 10
the stewardess and boys.
Women take naturally to snug
Cling; 20 the professionals are
adopts at the game. Evea the aver
age woman likes the idea Of getting
in lace or jewels or clothes in tais
way and proudly displays her Snug
gled goods aud tell. thu story OF her
| feat whenever an occasion offers.
1t was not until women began 10
make a busiuess Of spcugglirg that
it was thought necessary TO employ
detectives of their own sex to ap.
prehend them. Evidence is usually
obtained against them by one OF the
women inspectors who travels from
the other side "a passenger and
observes or makes the acquaintance
OF the suspected person On the trip
across
II evidence has been secured the
word is quietly passed - the IN
Rp-ctor on the pier, and vixen the
saIugRler prepares TO go ashore she
is asked 10 submit 10 search.
Every known device Ia resort d TO
by the women smugg)ers in their
efforts to conceal gem. aud lace.
frequently the cuntraband articles
are securely sewn between the lin
ing and the material Of a gov,
Diamonds are hidden in the hair
and in pads and bustles, aud some
woman have been found with yards
Of costly lace rolled about their
bodice.
The women detectives 10 the em-
ploy OF the Custom house pass
through civil service examination
and receive 50 day. The work,
while exscting, is not heavy, the
working day usually ending at noon
Sometimes an immigrant woman is
discovered in an attempt to snug.
gle, but the Effort is always a clum-
sy one, easily detected.
But the professional smugaler is
always cool, collected plausible
with plenty Of nerve and many ex
cuses when detected. She always
affects to make light OF the matter
Even when subjected to a most
humilia'iOg search by the women
d..tc;iv o, she never gats angry OF
loses her smooth, easy manner
~ Y, Jourani