Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1875-01-08
kleptOllsallia.

Inc disease called kleptomanla, meaning
thereby species of insanity which manifests
itself in an Irresistible propensity to steal or
appropriate certain classes of articles, has no
doubt II real existence. The medical books
are full of cases showing that there is such Il
disease, in which this propensity springs from
mental disorder or delusion, and is so irreSSti-
bic that the theft may be regarded as involun-
tAry. There is scarcely crime known to the
laws which has not sometimes been committed
under circumstances which left no doubt that
it resulted fu-v diseased mental organization.
The records 81 asylums for the insane show
many such cases. Sometimes the mental dis
ease applies only to one form of crime, such as
theft and on other subjects the mind is clear
and rational. Circumstances and previous
character must of course be consider ed in esti-
mating the quality of the act. Thus, in the
case OF the clergyman who committed suicide
in Washington on Sunday morning of last
week, We tind incongruiiics which are not re-
conciIable with a sound mind and deli berate
guilt. lie is said by the Washington Star to
have been in the enjoyment of a considerable
fortune through his wife, and had = good
salary, enabling him TO abundantly crafty his
needs aud tastes in the way of buying books ::
yet six years ago he was detected in the whole
sale theft of books from avenue bookstore
and though .he confessed his guilt and made
atouenent in an agony OF shame and grief, he
was vet unable TO master the terrible impulse
and keep his solemn vows before God and men
volunteered then upon his Blended knees, and
we find him, in full view of his awful previous
shame and warming, rushing on to his fate
with almost inevitable detection and humilia-
ton hanging over him.
We once heard of case in new York where
a Young lady of personal attractions and re-
spectacle family, was in the habit of stealing
every thing she could lay her hands on, includ-
ing Bibles, which she would afterwards give to
her Sunday school class. Female kleptom MIA
in general seems to lead 10 the appropriation of
articles OF taste and ornament that strike their
fancy rather than books. The Star q ives vari-
Gus examples of this kind as well rs of book
stealing by men. Al the same time, while eve
~ species of crime has been at one time or an
other committed under the influence of an IN
healthy condition OF the brain or other parts of
the physical organization, the cases are excep-
tional and OF rare occurrence. IL is frequently
the fact that insanity, in one shape or other, IS
alleged as an excuse for crime, but not often
that the plea is more than pretense. 1t was
lately mentioned in cable dispatches that the
Grand Duke Nicholas, of Russia, who had S,o-
len his mother jewels and given them to a
Young adventures from Philadel phia, has been
declared by decree OF the Emperor of Russia in
sane, and placed under the guardianship of his
father.
\ curious feature of this disease is that il
rarely prevails among those who are in real
want. 1t is one of the advantages of poverty
that there are few instances record OF its being
subject TO this malad.. Although thief may
be reared i'll perjury and Squalor, and even
trained from infancy TO ignore the distinctions
between meum and tuum, doubts seldom are
suggested upon his trial AS 10 any mental in
trinity, but it is always taken for granted that
he knew better. In this respect Russia and
America are good deal alike A common
pilterer i'll Russia might have been sent to ST.
IBERIA for life, or to Jail at all events, but the
member of royal family cannot do such u
wrong unless he has lost his reason, and then
he ought not to be held responsible. No one
ever heard that the Grand Duke Nicholas was
subject to mania of any kind till he had COM
mitted larceny, and was shown to be insane by
an act which would only have proved ordinary
men protigate or raScally. Such distinctions
are very pleasant for person of such favored
class for time, but they may help to bring
about i'll the end a retribution upon the class
which may prove terrible indtcd.-BaH. San.
1ss- Rev. VIM. II. Chapman, Pastor of NJ
E. Church, Georgetown, ID. c., writes: "Hav-
ing had an opportunity to test the excellent
ana litieS of Dr Rull'S Couuh Svrun I hos;t. 20