Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1920-11-06
PCtIL(IE MOVE TO CHECK SERIES
OF BOLD ROBBElslE6.
Plain Clothes Men Assigned to Guard
Department Stores.
WOMAN SHOPLIFrER GETS FINII
AND JAIL. SENTENCE.
Oficern Chase Burglars Over House
tops in Shopping District

w. A. Clarke. Jr.. secretary Of tho
Riohmond Retail Merchant Associa.
tisa sad yesterday that city detec-
tive will be placed in all depart
nnnt stores for the next few weoKs
In an effort to check the constant
stream OF pilfcriugs big and little
which recently have threatened seri
Gus losses to stores victimized by shop
lifters.
Mr.. Clarke appeared before Police
Justice Maurice yesterday afternoon
in place of George IG. Wise, Common
wealth's Attorney, when Mrs. Marga
rot Murray, one Of four local women
arrested by police during the past
summer on shoplifting charges. was
placed On trial. He obtained a convic
ton and Mrs, Murray was sentenced
to thirty days in jail, with q fine OF
$25.
Mrs. Grace Hutchinson who ap-
pealcd similar sentence when con
voted Il few weeks ago on the Same
charge. obtained Il continuation OF
her case until November 10. hcr at
torncy charging that police had not
shown proof of the alleged thefts
Joseph Nunnally attorney for Mrs.
Murray declared lie would appeal her
ease to Hastings Court. She was
freed on a $500 bond. There arc said
,u he several charges against her be
side the one on which she was trleh
yesterday. Likewise The police nave
made nearly Il score or complaints
apailSt Mrs. hutchinson and the
osh,r members of The alleged Daho
which they ray has been operating
for MANY months.
,SHOuLlFrERS ARE ACTIVE.
NJ. Clarke says merchants con
tiruallv report to him that various
scl,cmos to remove goods from their
co,,ntcrs arc hc,ng successfully car
r;,d ont Nv women old and young
who frequent their stores day aver
I,v and oven 30 so far as TO take
r.curr in rest rooms provided w. inc
merchants while they conceai "',.''os
,t merchandise or transfer then' IL on'
hiding places on their own pers"'''
Ia .ollcge accompliccs whom 'ne'
have stationed i'll waiting LOT thoi"
So,oc merchants have dlsco'ctco wv
loss OF thir own goods by flhaihs ia
their stocks articles said TO p'ioiih
- n,bcr storckcopers which, 1t ID
oIo;mnd were substituted by the III
nueycd pilferers for things that "ero
We've +, their fancy in other s'ores
visited by them. ro
since last summer the losses nave
heen steadily mounting. said MT
clarke until now they amount 10
ssv,ral thousand dollars each mont"
dos,,tc the fact that store detectives
have mnde every effort TO tran the
susrec, cd parties. With the npproach
of tho holiday season the depreo"'
lion" arc bound 10 become stu hlore
sorfo!; as The shopping throngs arc
,nc,,,nnted. unless concerted action IS
started ut oncc. believe tho depart
mcNt store heads.
CHASED OVER ROorrOPs.
po,v;,c 2rc also on the lookout Tor
y man cr n grown Of men who are
hclicvcd 20 be back Of the recent at
,crr'c 90 enter Broad street stores.
A. window W .he J"coh and Levy
,io,r wac forced the other night ana
nue., MERCHANDISE distracted from
show eases AID tho store rooms.
On Thursday night police had
chase on the roufs OF stores At the
sou nest corner OF Broad ana olA'h
streets. IN which they lost their quar-
w after he had mashed skyhght
in the rot. OF Lcvy's book store.
While they were searching the ROOF
at tnE eastern end Of the BLOCK IN
which the Levy store is located. they
heard y slight no.ac behind them
and saw the prowler lower himself
over the edge OF the roof some dis
tanre up the block and slide like
monkey down the drain pipe. max
ing MS escape.
tRlo: montl; Va, Times Dispatch. Oct.
30, 800