Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-11-24
From ths BARRE Gazette.
SINGULAR AND SURPRISING THEFT
BY A WOMAN.

SINGULAR AND SURPRISING THEFT
BY A WOMAN.
A great degree of excitement has pre-
vailed in our town for day or two past, IN
consequence of the discovery oil large
quantity of stolen goods IN quarter where
thew would have been last looked Tor. 1t
has been known for more than year past
that a very extensive game OF pIlierlng from
several dry goods shops in this town was
carried on, and suspicion has changed into
various quarters without settling with GER
tainty upon any one. On Tuesday wo-
man was seen in the store of Woods, Field
g. Co.. to put an article slyly in her muif.
To be farther satisfied, another suitable ar
ticle was placed in the way aud that disap-
peared in the same receptacle. On being
charged, she confessed the theft and re-
turned the articles specified. 1t subsequent
" appeared that at the same time she took
several other articles, which she carried
home.
The woman was Mrs. Harriet Smith,
wife Of Mr. Josiah Smith.
Suspicion of further theft having been
excited the family were called upon, aud
at the request of Mr.. Smith, who was in
formed of the detection, the house was
searched. A large quantity of goods was
found, which Mrs. Smith confessed to have
stolen from shops in the village, chiefly
from those of Woods, Field g. Co. and Jen-
kins, Lee g. Co. Upon being farther press
ed, she owned the taking of many other
things which had been used or which she
had sold to neighbors and relatives. The
list taken down comprises silk dresses, laces
caicoes, chusans, de aines and other art
Giles of ladies wooden and cotton dress goods
cambrics, silks, muffs, shoes go paIrs) ho
siery, cardinals, shawls and almost every
other conceivable article of ladies' wearing
apparel. The whole amounted to SCrerd
hundred dollars Traces of many other arti'
cles have been discovered, and means are
taking to bring the whole TO light. She
owns only such as are pressingly charged
although she confesses to have carried OIL
the business of pifering for three gears
Mrs. Smith is a native of this town, and
of most respectable family. Her husband
one of our most respectable farmers, and
they have two children, patterns of propre-
ty. Mrs S. is member OF church, and
BY whole community has been considered
as model to be held for imitation as a
wife, mother, friend and christian. There
is not woman in the whole town who
would have longer escaped suspicion. The
developement of such unmltigaled and long
continued dishonesty has cast an expression
of gloom aud surprise over our little com
munity.
No suspicion rests upon any one, as hav
ing been connected with her. 1t is to pre-
vent thousand wrongful rumors that We
have been desired to place the facts above
related, in our columns. Under other cir
cumstances than those we have mentioned
we should have refused to add more public
ly to the matter. The forgeries Of William
Goddard did not create deeper sensation
among us, than these developments, runin!
as they do the reputation Of one who ha
stood fairest among our fair, and blasting
as it does, the peace and happiness Of
family that had often been looked upon wit
envy. When such things occur, well ma
the expression leap from the lips-'whOr
can we trust
We understand that legal steps are to b
taken in the matter which justice and eve
security demand. Painful as is the publict
of such occurrences, it is preferable to thei
being smothered or overlooked.