The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-11-14

shoplifters got wise to it, it would
be useless. To make up for his in
ability to crafty my curiosity in this
respect, however. our friend showed
an eager willingness to discuss other
important matters. He gave us, in
elaborate detail his private views on
the Disarmament conference: dwelt
upon the carelessness with which the
mails were handled, and explained the
most dramatic plays in the late world
series. Finally. when he had talked
! himself into a good humor and we
were nearly in state of coma, he
allowed himself to be steered gingerly
back 10 the subject of his own secret
activities.
Let me see" he said cautiously,
stroking his long jaw; "the case of
Gabrielle Lemaire was in the news
papers, so there can't be no harm in
telling that. Mind, don't say it hap
pened in this store, but it shows the
kind Of schemes every store is con
family having put over on it."
Not long ago, it seems. a certain
store became aware that it was los
ing a good deal of valuable mer-
chandise to an extremely clever
young woman. She was attractively
and fashionably dressed. and always
made favorable impression upon the
sales force. Representing herself to
be the possessor of a large account,
the number of which she gave, she
would order goods sent to her sup
posed address and then, at the last
moment decide to take a few pack
ages with her because she could not
wait to have them sent.
The goods. later delivered to the
true owner of the charge account,
We're Immediately returned. so that
store was not long ignorant of the fact
that it had been defrauded. The case
was referred to the store detective,
who at once became concerned with
one uestion: How did the young
woman know the numbers of other
persons charge accounts? Undoubt-
ed.y. she must have an accomplice
working in the store.
How Thieves Were Caught.
1t was customer who finally
brought the accomplice to light On1
day, when this lady was amazed to
receive a number of unrequested
packages from a second store, she
called the manager on the telephone
Il am sorry" that gentleman re-
piled to her complaint 1T is the
first case of the kind we have had
here, although l understand it has
happened a good many times in Il
neighbOring house. They suspect
that one of their employees is involved,
since only someone connected with
the store could know the numbers Of
so many different accounts.
oh cried the lady, thinking rapid
~, "Tll bet it is that nice-looking,
friendly clerk, who wears such ar
tistic ties. ! gave him the number
of my account at your store by mis-
take the other day, and then changed
it to the correct number at his store,
explaining my mistake"
An investigation proved that this
Young lady was right in her suspicion.
The young man in question had been
supplying his attractive young wife
with names, addresses and numbers
of various charge accounts and the
scheme had worked beautifully. and
might have continued to do SO, had
he not made a fatal slip by sending
her to the other store. Both the clerk
and his wife are now serving a term
in Blackwel's Island.
Most shoplifters, according to the
aforementioned store detective. con