The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1906-12-11

speciai plain clothes ~ nave.
KIN sworn "a for duty from now
on midi Christmas.
These pisIn ciotttes detective we're;
Placed Oh Duty
monday Tl1ey VIII re stetioned e e
the principal retail stores OF the CITY
and some OF them win make regular
heats from store to store and sys=
tenn of observation wiz be followed e1
ont that viii make Il well nigh il an; I'M,
possible tor the pillagine q naer5
chants stocks BY shopItf ters tins
season as last.
Sfercllants Forced TO It
The merchants were forced 70 take
some protective measure Of this lSind
this year because Of the great cost
shoplifting has been to them and the
present system Of private police was
decided upon only aftersa careful IN
vestfgation and consideration of the
matter. A meeting Of leading mer-
chants Of the city was held few
DAYS ago to take action on this shop
lifting business and the session re-
suited in an agreement TO institute q
private detective system in the stores
OF the city during the holiday rush
A fund was provided TOR this pur-
pose and each merchant subscribed
to pay his pro rata share Of the ex-'
pense Of the police system
WIN save Money.
It Is believed b ytte merchants
that the expense OF maintaining this
detective force during the holidays
win be much less than the loss that
the shoplifte onld cause. IN
fact. they VIII save.Sa considerable
amount Of money Il last years shop
lifting may be taken as q basis o.
comparison.
Shoplifting, or plain ttievery as
1t Is better caller. has become to be-
a Regular Pastime
among number of people in this
city in the rush times at the local
stores. 1t is surprising to what ex-
tent 1t is practfced. 1t Is chiefly
Dracticed by women and merchants
are astounded to know that women
Who wopld usually be considered
above. suspicion indulge in II
Caught In the Act.
Last season a number OF women
ana children were caught in the very
act OF purloining articles from
counters and shelves Of city stores,
but for the sake OF their families and
In the hope that it would be lesson
that they would remember the facts
were not made public
There are numerous ways and
methods in which shoplifting Is
practiced. one plan is to. have q
confederate who engages the atten-
ton of the clerk while the other con-
ceals articles IN chateiaine BAG
Some have
Various Hiding Places
for their stolen articles, Sometimes
the articles are thrust into the bosom
Of a dress. Not frequently smaller
articles are slipped into the stockings
of women who retire behind the end
of a counter or to a corner under
the pretense of fixing their garters.
some bring wrapped up bundles that
are IN reality a box with q
Concealed Trap Door
in one side through which the plum
der is thrust. Some women have ex-
ira large pockets made In their
skirts that are artfnlly hidden from
view. some have large pockets
sewed on the inside Of their skirts
near the bottom to be used as q re-
ceptfcal for their booty.
The fact that some persons steal
articles from stores when they are
actually able to purchase them N
the usual honorable way, leads some
OF the merchants to believe that
these are aaifcted with
KIePtomania
thatirresistible propensity to steal
whenever the opportunity = offered.
However kleptomania does not CON
stitute legal irresp0nslbility and
those who are caught thy to put up.
fhia excuse they VIII be informed 20
this enect In forceful way. other
persons steal and puFioin d l!f e. g
II ana with DELICIOUS intent Tl1ese
are Ia the great majority and g y
abieiiy for these. although # . 9oF
tbe otlsrs " vel. that the merE
chants have concluded y protees
fb selves se6iEiit heir ;la1gl g
this lidistayl on e
isfyslsst tE Is 'e.s .lt
HOOD Horn 81 Aqla % Z
sbeIiE non NJ In th2 g