The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1869-06-04
A Hereditary KleptOmaniac.

Inc history OF MISS Augusta COlDurn,
tho supposed kleptomaniac, now in Jail at
Concord, N, H., and charged with stealing
an immense amount of clothing, bedding,
fancy articles and jewelry, from many
prominent families IN the above CITY,
where she was employed as sewing wo-
man, is very sad but romantic one. She
was born III Wentworth, N. H., and is now
n little over thirty years of age. Her home
is one of the most respectable in tho county
where she lived, and her parents and con-
ncctions are esteemed for their MANY good
qualities Miss Colburn had the misfor-
tune to have been born while her mother
was III state of insanity, and the mental
inhrmities of the mother were transmitted
to the child. The not unusual result of
such q circumstance was an ineradicabIe
antipathy between the mother and daush-
ter. Subsequently, the frequently recur-
ring attacks of insanity ON the former led
to the placing of the child with her grand
mother, where she was tenderly cared for
and kindly brought up. She developed
into pleasant and sweet tempered child,
and was beloved by all who knew her.
became engaged to most estimable young
man, with whom she had been acquainted
from childhood. He was rich only in good
well he left the granite hills of his native
state, and in the far west he sought to make
a home for his aflianced bride. Fortune
favored him, and in few years he was
nearly ready to return to New Hampshire
to claim her who had so long been the cen
tire of his affections and his hopes. The
preparations for the marriage and the de-
parlure of the two for the west We're nearly
completed, when Miss Colburn received
The sad and entirely unexpected intelligence
of the sudden sickness and death of her
lover. THIS terrible blow cast a blight over
her prospects for life, and gloom and mel
ancholy settled upon her. The infrmity
which she inherited from her mother
showed itself at various times, and sad
results were feared. Suddenly Miss Col
burn disappeared, and it was soon found
that she had gone to work in one of the
factories at Nashua, where she hoped to
forget her trouble. Soon her health COM
menced to fail, and she then went to Con-
cord as seamstress, where she was trusted
and esteemed by many.
About the time of the breaking out of the
late war Miss Colburn was again engaged
to be married, the gentleman knowing all
the circumstances of her previous life.
With her blessing. he enlisted in the Second
Now Hampshire Volunteers, and never re-
turned. His captain said he was one of the
bravest of his command, and that he was
last seen doing his whole duty in the thick
est of the first Bull Run fight. 1t is seldom
that young woman of Miss Colburn's age
is called upon to experience so many trials
and disappointments, and it is not strange
that at Concord, where she is best known
she has the sympathy of all who are ac-
urlaintel with ner or who know tha facts
Of her checkered life. With the exception
of the one charge now laid to her, her .
is supposed to be blameless one. me
terest IN n n re. SAD , case mas neen awakened
eni9s .n1'i =; Wy. .p a. w" .eparing to do
for her all IN thef pow.er, with the hone
tiat tne cioua may yet be removed from
her mind, ana th2.s tho world may yet have
some happiness in store for her.