The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-24


Phelps-widely known and highly respected
in our city-was engaged, like ever so many
others, in buying presents for her little
friends. While SO doing, she stepped into
the spacious variety store known as Macys,
on Sixth avenue, then crowded with Gus
toners. The girl who waited upon her sup
uosed she saw her take, or conceal, or have
concealed under her dress, a paper of candy
worth two dimes, and thereupon charged her
with theft. She was wholly among strangers;
the proprietor of the store was absent; and
the accused was very soon in the hands of an
officer and, directly thereafter, on her way to
Justice Cox S police court at jefferson Market.
Here the girl swore to what she must have
believed to be the facts; there was nothing
urged in reply; and, in few minutes more,
Mrs. Phelps was ''sent down to the lookup
below, though not immured in cell. Here
a lawyer who Glanced to be present, saw
her, spoke with her briefly, saw at once that
the whole business was deplorable blunder;
went up and spoke to the Justice, and he
liberated her on her own recognlzance. But
for the mere chance of this lawyers presence
she must soon have been locked up in cell
for the night, and would probably have been
found dead or raving mad next morning
Even as it was, she received a shock which
give her family reasons for serious appre-
tensions.
ALI this, you say, would have been OBJ
waited had Mrs Phelps had tie presence Of
mind to call friends to her assistance when
first accused. Certainly, but if you are quite
sure that y0u would have had the requisite
possession of your faculties ust rest in that
| belief and don't attempt to test its sound
ness. Mrs. Phelps had lived many years
within half a mile of the spot where she was
| accused, and was known to at least hundred
| families within that radius, of ample wealth,
! high character, and ceaseless efforts and
| To n,nfn hn n
! Unaccused of crime, she could have named
in five minutes scores of persons within
easy call who would have con-
vinced the most suspicious detec
tive of her unquestionable integrity. But
on being charged with stealing paltry pack
age and placed under arrest, she was scarcely
sure of her own identity, and could think of
nothing but the astounding accusation
leveed against her. She did, indeed, name n
gentleman not far distant who knew aud
would vouch for her; but the policeman said
there was not time to send so far, as he must
have her at the Justices Court before 4 p. M.
(when the court adiours), or his place would
be forfeited. To Justice Cox she named
Alderman Britton as an acquaintance, but he
was not sent for, the Justice probably being
III a hurry; and it is not now novelty that
"Prlsoners hang that jurymen may dine"
The moral which we would impress upon
ladies especially is-Purchase where you are
known; or, if you must shop where you are a
stranger, take q friend with you. Iu q
thronged store, dexterous thief may reach
under your arm and take article from q
counter which, being missed, it will be sworn
that none but you could have taken. And,
should yourself and the real thief be both ar
rested, the chances are ten to one that you
will exhibit the strongest evidences of guilt,
and the thief Gf properly trained to his pro-
fession) seem the picture OF injured limo
cence. We could not have named a lady
whom we should have judged better qualified
to undergo this trial than Mrs. Phelps; yet
she broke down under it, as it is ten to one
that you would have done. With friend a,
her elbow, she would have passed it in tri
umph; but then a moments explanation
would have obviated all necessity for GOODNESS
or fortitude. The attendants at retail stores
do and must regard strangers with suspicious
they know that thieves are numerous, adroit
omnipresent and capable of putting on ap
pearances that might deceive the ghost of ole
Hays. Shop where you are known, or al
least in company with one who knows you.