The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-01-04
KLEPTOMANIA.
A Singular Case In San Francisco.


The San Francisco Chronicle Of December % says
Three or four months ago, q woman who gave the
name OF Kate Smith was arrested In connection
with several extensive larcenies which had ut va
rious times been committed at the residences OF
seme OF our citizens. Anotceable fact In connection
with them was, that at about the same time
woman, dressed completely in black, had been seen
around the premises. With this clue the detectives
went after "The Woman in Black" She was arrested
and admitted all that was charged against her
She gave the name OF Kate Smith, but was known
under several aliases. She is twentyeight years OF
age, about Tour feet six inches in height and Is very
prepossessing in appearance. She has good con-
versationa powers, and converses all subjects,
with great nuency. She is q native of Ireland, and
came to this country when quite young Fourteen
years ago she was first arrested triing ofense
in New York. This was kept up until a few Years
ago, when she made Ler crOwning effort by steaing
$500 in United States Treasury notes from bank
ing nrm in New York. For this she was convicted
and sentenced to imprisonment In the State Prison
at Sing Sing for two years and six months She was
subsequently pardoned out and about year ago
came to this State During the trial in the County
Court yesterday twoihne-ooking children stand.
ing by her side They are OF family OF three, all OF
The nrst witness called to the stand for the prose.
cution was Mrs. Dannenberg. She testified to hay
set OF diamond jewelry valued at $780, it was pre-
sented by her husband; did not know what he paid
fer 1t, but assume that $500 its lowest value
DO not know whose money paid for 1t, mine or my
husbands; am sole trader.
The chief OF the detective police OF the city test-
ned to having arrested the prisoner and stated that
she had confessed to the Dannenberg larceny and
also to several others. The aggregate OF the diff
ferent robberfes was about f20,000. Several other
witnesses testified to the confession.
The prisoner was then placed ON the stand, and
testified as followg:--
My name is Kate White; I am twenty eight years OF
age have been married eleven years. left the East
have at times been addicted 60 stealng nearly always
stole jewery sometimes could to this
with such force that there resisting IT, Icannot
tell how much have stolen in this cty-a great
was tteen sixteen years of have been subject
conyulsons the children in court mine the other
at mothers; when arrested keys were found ON
entered MIS- Dannsnbsrss room went to he Sasoaa
and took the articles which were found took NO
iadys roem on hook in the hall opened the bgresn WITH
key of own convicted OF robbery in New York
for bond robbery; the stolen was sisoOO; was
afterwards pardoned the ground OF insanity IL
trembling and At work have to leave and steal
somethinG never plan thefts; only punished
going TO keep the spoons; in New York / was
always excused whom my misfortune was made known.
always owned up TO my thsfts, sometimes destroy
the stolen property and often give IL away;
called from his seminsane got $500
for all have stolen the bonds stolen from
nto his once and took them threw sS6o into the Ess
river when was arrested in this city did not tell Cap
and that Would have Sstate when got clear V 0sp
tain Lees has been very unkind TO me since arrest
to~bu do not state what when threw The bonds
stole in the night.
Mrs. Dooley, the mother OF the prisoner, was then
sworn She testified to the same facts and crcum-
stances relating to insanity as her daughter. She
stated that the daughter had told her that most OF
the articles were presented from her beaux; her
real nome was Ellen Gibbons; her husband was on
the police In New York was dismissed on account
OF his dssolute habits she has always been subject
to these attacks.