Smyrna times., 1860-04-19
Singular Case of Theft.


The Philadelphia Mercury of the 18th inst,
says:
Some weeks ago, o lady, whom we shall de-
signate as Mrs. L., the wife of an influential
citizen of Wilmington, Del, came to Philadel-
phis, and with a view of making some purcha-
ses, wended her way into one of our largest and
most fashionable Chestnut street stores. Mrs.
L., for moment handed TO her daughter, by
whom she was accompanied, her muft, in which
was her portmonnRie, containing about ss65 in
notes. The daughter, not knowing the con-
tents Of the muif, but supposihg that the port
mennaie was where il should kaye been, viz
either in her mothers pocket or in her hand,
heedlessly left The muff lying with it's treasure
upon one of the stools with which the store is
adorned without, however, going from the
stool more than step or two. In few min
utes Mrs. l., wishing 10 pay for something she
had selected, asked her dBpghier for the mo-
Iney, telling her at the same lime where it was.
Judge of their astonishmsnt to find both money
and porimonnaie --dexterously slipped
from the muii while lying upon the stool. Upon
being questioned, the daughter said that she
saw no one near the spot except a respectfully
attired lady. whose appearance she particularly
described. They could obtain no clue, howev-
er, and they left the store minus $S5 and a
handsome pocket book. MIR. L., the husband,
upon being made acquainted with the particn-
lars. came 10 the city next day, resolved to
trace the matter up, and with degree of en-
ergy that is really commendable, succeeded,
. after visiting number OF stores, in getting q
Q clue to one of the notes that his wife had in
= her possession. Il had been offered in certain
It store by one of the proprietor's regular Gus.
}. toners, and getting her name, Mr.. L. started
for her residence, quite stylish house on one
. of our principal thoroughiares, He saw the
: lady, and after few minutes conversation
was satisfied that she was the person who had
y taken the money, and he boldly charged hei
n with it. Strange 10 relate, she burst into tears
A freely acknowleded her guilt, bat declared il
the most emphatic terms that it was the frs
e time in her life lnat she had been guilty of any
. thing of the kind, saying that her husband wa
r. a respectable man and would make the mattel
l. all right She remarked that she could no
: imagine how she came TO take the money, bu
!, that vague and indescribable feeling caml
N over her when she saw the portmonnais in tn
=. muif, and the next moment she found il in he
d hand. She spent, she said, but little NOR
n than half the money, and through fear Of dis
]. coyery burned the balance up. She conclude
- the interview by bringing from an upper rOor
D. the identical portemonnais!
g Mr.. l.. was about leaving when the husban
d. of the lady come up, aud, upon being made &C
/. quainted with the matter, was much affected
= and promised TO reimburse Mr.. l.. as soon as
s. was in his power. Mr.. L., after learning thn
N the husband was all that the wife had elaine
10 for him, and thai he was partner in one of ou
.s large dry goods houses left for his home, an
! in few days he received per mail check fC
4 the amount his wife had lost. II was, to %
the least. e strange case Of infatuation, on
ch while the lady in question cannot but congratI
late herself upon not boing made amenabls 4
ay the law for her conduct, we cannot too high
extol the energy Of Mr.. l.. in tracing the ma
I ter up as promptly as be did, and thus recoye
U. ing his money. Il