New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-12-26
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
NACY'S ALLEGED KLEPTOMANIACS.
TIE CASE OF MRS. PHELPS.

'helPH, 'hrg'u WIN stealing package OF candy from
Mays store on sxthaye., UP Saturday before
justice Downing NJ the Court OF Special Sessions. David
Dudley Field and his son attended on behalf OF Mrs
Phelps, Mr.. Macy being represented by Mr. Knox
Margaret GT0tty testified that Mrs. Phelps came into
the store IN the department In which she engaged
and took mp two packets Of candy and after first placing
IL on the counter before her covered IL up with another
parcel and her muf subsequently Mrs. Phelps took two
bOnbon boxes and asked the price them after they
filed; while witness was putting the bonbons
into the boxes, she Mrs Phelps stoop down.
pick mp piece Of white paper and wrap the candy i'm
IT, she next came TO Mrs Phelps and told her that she
had taken The candy in question but this was denied;
after short time, she maintained she Mrs Phelps
drop the package o. candy from 9er Pr@1 where she
she vent To the superintendent and told her that lady
had stolen some candy and requested her to see to the
matter.
Mr.. Fields II true thatyon recompense Il
any one is convicted through your vigilance
WitnosNO, Sir such occurrences a. arrests are fire.
qucn perhaps. but not In my presence do not get any
increase of salary for such things; my salary Is u
week.
Mr.. FiedHow do you know Mrs. Phelps took the
candyi
WItness-Because saw II M the end OF the counter
first, and then Immediately afterward missed IT. did
not what part OF her person she had secrcted IT.
but saw IL drop; after accused her Of taking Il, she
said. "There is some mistake about this, my child"
Mrs Iaforgc testified that she superintendent for
Mr. Macy she said that Tuesday last she her
office in The building when messenger from Miss Grotty
informed her that lady had taken something presently
Miss Grotty down with Mrs. Phelps, aud told the
detective, or shopwakcr, OF what had occurred; Mrs.
Phelps said there was gross mistake somewherc,
aud desired 10 see Mr. Macy the witness told her that
Mr. Macy would not be in until after o'clock In the
evening she said Mrs. Phelps was very indignant and
told her who she and where she lived; consulting
the Directory she found That this information
rect; witness suggested 10 send for and Mrs
Phelps mentioned several names but atcrward said she
would prefer before Police Justice, which she did.
In Characterization witness admitted that great many
ladies were sent to the police station charges theft
and that II was the practice IN Mr. Mays business to
any found stealing goods; she not part
ner, but had commission the rin she would not
that the carriages not three deep outside the store
Mrs Laforge maintained her selfposseason, and made
but few mistakes.
Mrs. Phelps was next placed upon the stand and gave
her evidence WITH GOODNESS and determinations went
out, she said on the day mentioned with the intention
of purchasing few pieces Of box, as II is generally
termed ana Tor this purpose visited nOrst III -Four
tcenthst. After seeing several sorts / took q few
sprigs which he wrapped M in paper for me. Leaving
there passed near Mays and Wishing 10 purchase
little toy for one of my grandchildren went ill., Seeing
this young person, whom thought very intelligent
looking pointing To the witness Groy), and seeing some
pretty little boxes, filed with bonbOns asked her the
price, and she replied stating their cost At This time
broke the paper In which the prgs OF box were packed
and seeing piece of nice white paper on the 1Oor
stopped to pick up, and rewrapped the evergreen in it,
Holding my mum III one hand ana trying to hold tins
parcel also took my pockctbOok 10 pay her for the
b0bOns, when this package dropped: and before knew
anything about the matter III question she accused me
of stealing package OF eandy; l was very indignant
and asked for Mr. Macy she took me TO an Office and
told another person that She had seen me take II on the
counter after this Mrs Phelps stated that for the time
being she thoroughly taken by surprise that she
could not remember 10 whom TO send for the mOment
she told that If she did not send for she
would have to accompany an officer To Jefferson Market
and that If there bail was not Forthcoming she Woudbe
locked up.
Mrs. Phelps-u am in my right senses, never saw
II touched it. have no doubt that tins witness
Grotty believes what she has said, but it doubtless
owing 10 the falling OF the package OF sprgs That the
whole mistake has arisen.
Judge Bowling said that from the evidence adduced
mistake but that in the disposition ne was about to make
OF the ne wished to be clearly understood that II
ought in no was TO reflect upon the character OF the wit
nesses. IL was case IN " lcE The principal witness be-
heved in her mistake, ana her reputation was her
capital he would rather If there should be loss that 1t
fell upon Mrs Phelps. VINO could afford IL better than the
others In his opinion the Witnesses though mistaken,
belle, ed they were in the right but from the evidence
take coupling II with the high character Of Mrs Phelps
aud her benevolent tendencies, the only conclusion he
could arrive al was a full dismissal Of the case.
OTHER SUPPOSED THEFTS.
Mrs Mary p. Bryant of No. III East Fif-
feminist and Sophie Esner of No. 32i Sccondave
arrested Saturday, for the alleged theft of match
safe and bottle of pomade from A1acys store were,
yesterday, brought before Justice Downing at the
TOmbs. The complaints wereinade by Mrs. Laorge the
superintendent Of Mr.. Macys establishment, but she
could give evidence OF her knowledge concerning
the alleged thes. OniceiLewis EiTIil, detailed in Mr.
Macys store, testified that he Mrs Bryant pick up
maichae, value 46 cents from the counter, and walk
her. The lady stated that she had purchased the article
two days before, and, wishing TO have IL changed,
she took 1t back. After yainly waiting for
time in the throng at the counter where she had
originally purchased the article She concluded to re-
tain the safe, and, picking IL mp from the counter where
she had placed H. she starred for the door ANA was ar
rested The officer, on being questioned by the Judge
was unable to whether the article belonged to the
lady, whether II portion OF Mr.. Mays stock.
Her husband, j. G.. Bryant weil-knOwu dealer In law
books, offered to make affidavit that he had the
tce in his wifes possession the previous day, but
the magistrate said II unnecessary; there
evidence that the accused had stolen the article and he
would hOnuraby discharge her.
In the of Miss Eisucr, the officer made affidavit
that her take "a bottle of cosmetic value
cents The accused said that she had been examining
the articles the counter and decided buy
ing the article mentioned She picked il mp and adj
yancng steward the saleswOmsn with the intention of
paying for It, when she seized by the officer
cusrd of stealing it, She also was honoraDy discharged
by the magistrate.
The husband Of Mrs Bryant and the father Of Miss
Eisner announced their intention to commence suits
against Mr. Macy for false Imprisonment and will also
make complaints before the Police Commissioners against
Officer Hill.
THE WESTMINSTER ANNEXATION SCHEME