MYSTERY WOMEN.

Shannon News, 14 October 1924, Page 4

MYSTERY WOMEN.

HELPING ON-I3QIIOR RAIDS. SYDNEY'S • METHODS. Police vmethdds* which have -been operating in Sydney; for some, time have caused a great deal of discussion o"a thai i employment iof women „in the detection oft alleged sly grog :sellers. Seldom does -a month pass without sometstorytof,a-gay* Lothario of the force having spun a»steel web around suchand such a cafe.ln.the ventuie he is generally.assisted by a fair lady of mystery, whose dashing spirit and sparkling eyesjare only, equalled by the; bubbling* champagne purchased with marked money. But the story only, comes out in-the v Police Court, and all the romance is lost in such a cold, hard atmosphere. Police headquarters has no official women slueths for work of this nature, but men on the detection work can ffrd a dozen or more if the necessity arises for their use. - ... Several of them join in because they love something thrilling; others there are, ofo course, who bring information and work for what they lean get*out of it. There is one constable whose fina"a- » cee accompanies him .. occasionally, no doubt for sheer enjoyment, and another whose lady friend also goes along for the same reason. They k'uow there is bound to be.more excitement in.the excursion than mere dancing. Women police are s never used for such. They are too well known, or perhaps they are "not chic enough for such a delicate mission. Paid Win or liose.,

Several months ago a dancing ship came under notice. Two constables in fancy dress, with two young women likewise arrayed, went aboard a*ad after having what appeared to be an enjoyable time, nearly caused a wreck when they confiscated liquor and charged their genial host. An idea of the activities in Sydney 'may be gauged from the fact that Sergeant A: RussellaMd a constable, who work only a division, brought in £IOOO in fines for sly grog selling alone. That, of course, was not brought about solely with the use of women;

The latter are only used on special occasions, such as for cafes aid dance halls. For hotels-they are never utilised. At the Appeal Court last week one of these women I 'in telling her story said: "We drink what we can get when weareon this-work. We are not paid by results; we get paid, : win or lose*" *

They do not receive a great deal above out-of-pocket expenses. Pew of them are- called upon to give evidences because many of the- defendants splead i guilty, and even if not, there is ;tbe second constable's testimony in support■> of his- comrade: So the skirmishing»goes Whether the employment.of women for such work meets everyone's taste is doubtful. At any rate/ it seems tohave been eminently! successful up to date.