WOMEN AS SLEUTHS

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 June 1923, Page 8

WOMEN AS SLEUTHS

COAT THAT WAS FOUND. i When women set themselves out, to get what they want, they invariably get it. They may coax, cajole, coerce, or connive; there are dozens of ways besides being peeved (remarks the Christchurch “Sun”). But here is a case of three women resorting to ? a tidy piece of “sleuthing” to recov- ' er a valuable coat that was mourned as lost. It was mentioned in “The Sun” on Saturday that a valuable coat was sold by mistake at a jumble sale a fortnight ago The coat, a silk-lined Burberry, was bought about twelve months ago for £22 10s. There was a 10s note, purse, and a pair of gloves in a pocket. Yet, the saleswoman at the sale sold the coat, money, and gloves for Is Gd. Every second-hand shop in the city was searched for that, coat, advertisements were reported to, and the detectives were informed. Well, on Saturday, the erstwhile owner of the coat took two of the assistants at the sale on a quiet little motor-car jaunt around the jumble sales of Christchurch. Jumble sales are very popular in Christchurch; there were four on Saturday. At the i’outh sale one of the women sleuths sought out a face that was not unfamiliar. There was an element of doubt.,. . Did the sleuths rush in and say: “Where’s that coat?” No. Quietly, one - woman slipped out and telephoned for a detective. The professional sleuth did not arrive pronto, and the watchers in the hall say their quarry, tired of a show that hqld no more bargains in Burberry’s, walk out. Discreetly, the women followed, and they followed far, the trail leading past the Pumping Station. The quarry entered her abode. Then the detective camo into the picture. His enquiries met with head shakes and denials generally. Finally there came an adrhission. She denied, however, that there had been money in a ■ pocket. She said that she did not know that the coat was valuable or that a search was being made for it. At all events the coat was restored, Is 6d was repaid, but the 10s note and the purse and gloves have gone for ever. Naturally, the good reward offered for the return of the coat was not paid. ;