Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1873-03-20
REsEPTOMANIA.

RLERTOMANIA.
Singular Prscaleace Of the Dissase MI
Chicago Many Respectable Lodiss |
Caught z'ssfsrng from the Stores.
A kleptomaniacal epidemic seems
10 have prevailed in Chicago for the
past two weeks. While it might be
considered harsh to mention the names
of those who have been detected, It lie
entirely proper that the facts should
be made public in such way as to ex-
pose the desds and at the same time
screen the shthors from the mortifca-
ton of a didgrace for which they are
not responsible, and should not be
called to public account:
A merchants wife, lady who re-
sides on the Avenue, is such confirm
ed shop-lift4r that her husband never
permits herlto 60 upon the street with
out an escort IL employed to watch her
movementsxa and prevent her from in
dulging in the qualification Of an un-
natural desife to steal. In defiance of
this watchfulness, the lady occasional-
ly cludes the vigilance of sharp eyes,
and makes tour of the shopping en-
poriums. About two weeks ago she
visited one Of our largest dry goods
stores, lnadeIa few tri1ing purchases,
and at an opportune moment folded
up and secreted under her cloak val
liable camels hair shawl. The article
was soon missed but no one knew the
culprit, although the clerk gave an &C.
curate description to the detective who
was employed to trace the matter out.
About week after the larceny was
committed, the officer attended Nc
Vicker's Theatre and saw the identic.
al shawl, worn by lady correspond
ing exactly To the one described. She
was with her husband. The detective
was confident that he had discovered
the thief but not liking to create q
t'scene," he determined to delay action
until after the performance was over,
and the woman and her escort on their
homeward course. To his great sur
prise, an elegant private carriage was
awaiting them at the door, and the
liveried coachman drove them to q
marble front residence in one of the
most aristocratic neighborhoods in the
South Side. The officer slept over It
yestiration. let the commencement he
what thew ,nirht. Early m the morn.
ing he Repaired 10 the honse Of the
rich merchant. and informedsth o eerv-
ant who attended, the door that he IA.
sired to see the lailv of the house. The
gentleman had inst descended the
richly carpeted stsirwav. and wa nat.
urally curious 10 know what = uood.
looking. dashinp yonnr feliow wanted
at that early hour with his wifa. When
therefore. the ladv anneared. she WAS
accompanied NV her mvstif3ad Inns.
band. Politely, doubtingly, the mes
senger of justice said II shall have to
ask your kind forbearance, for the bus
mess that brought me here is of deli
cate nature. Nav I aak Madame whera
Won Obtained IA shawl Won wore at
the theatre last evening ?v The iadv
said not a single word but sank mon
a sofa and hurst into tears sccnmnan.
led by hvstericel sohs. Know;nr har
pronensitv. her husband at onca cow
pretended the situation of affairs con.
dnct;n0 The nff,car 10 onothar rnn,, y.
related many ;nstoncas If a s;,n;Iar - ~
tnre stated that his w;fe nevar nna~
what Il was to want Snr snvtb;,r tha.
money cnnid nnrchose hit 4has ' 10"
never let an onnortmmitv tn staal rass
by nnimnroved' aTelI Messrs 80
naming the Arm. to send the iii, to mo
together with ernenses and n shall
he paid, AZ matter of course ' tha
nnfnrtnn.ta Iadv,s m;sJamsanou ,r .ne
inoka,i mon a. !. m;ssnrtmn. ro. Mas
than = fanft and ehe Is mow watchod
with greater nrecant;on thor "rorhn
fore. ~ 'A wv ~
AsAncAsr
=, 49, ae... t..s..
.ohi;s IN y, sso . ~ usygoous es-
da,,s La ;a. o o'.y, W..h low
;n:. ?, = Eau h.sh. ~ Is phase OF
istrr. mas D.v19 - ~ - r19{ns;sn4 on'
tnre. and Unidentified nnr;tv If -. r w."
ter-Iis the victim. she sntsre1 ' t ~
store. was greeted with friand,v Wei
come by those who knew her and
passed from one counter TO another
makinp 4 comrlete rircnit of The ns'
An emnlove saw hor
soon after she came IN. aim q nac,ace
Of lace under her muff. Fol,owing lar
and watching with sharn eyas he 90 ~
the lady coneeal many other art;cIaS in
The same MACE. and dexteronslv trans.
far them 10 q canacions nocket inside
her CLOAK. AZ she was abont 10 taEe
her leave The vonnc man stenned mn
and tspping her on the shoulder. sa;d
"Madame. III ia with the greatest main
that I am comnelled Ia detain vnn
aSiro said the iadv fndionantiy awhat
do Won mean 3n aOnlv this y vas the
repiv. avon have taken large nnmhar
of articles. have concealed them ahont
your nerson' and have not maid So,
them" The Iadv nrofested that II Was
false. "Wiil vnn nsrm;t me- IL arsms
Inc the nocket in vnnr cloak ~ Ova,..
whelmed with modification aud sIsma
the woman dronnad her head and ths
tel-tale blush mon her cheaks ysva mn.
llubitable evidence az pnilt The man
nnietIv fonk har aryn sra uv;thn,,t ~
"a sh;onah lo rathor;ro Il ~. store ~
ceeded to the nrivate mice Of The mo pro.
nrietor. There. With CHOKING nttar.
ancaa aha univ soid uEor CcJ,. osk.