The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1882-12-19

Interesting Stories Told by Detec-
uves-Wealthy Women Who
Couldn't Keep from
Stealing.
Cincinnati Enquirer.

The ram yesterday kept the 'ifys" about
the Office most of the time, and they
amused themselves and an Enquirer re-
porter telling stories and "reminiscences.
Little Charley Wsppepstein, as usual, was
Dragging about his wonderful marksman-
ship, but when Steve Mead offered TO stand
no and let him shoot an apple from his
head Wappy wiited. The talk turned on
kleptomaniacs, and Wappenstein related
the history of q married lady, living not
hundred miles from headquarters, who
few years ago, became possessed Of ma
MIA for shop lifting, aud was arrested many
times, but always released, as her husband
came to the front and settled for the things
taken. 1t wouldn't be fair to give the
lady's name. now that she las been cured
of the mania. But many will, no doubt,
recognize her For convenience let us call
her Mrs. G. The first time Mrs. c. was
apprehended was in q prominent Fourth
street store, where she didn't happen to be
known, and in spite of her prstestations an
officer took her TO the Central police Sta
ton, and she was searched, registered and
locked up in the fly cell. She was large
6ne-looking woman of about forty. three,
with iron-gray hair that gave her a very
Still there was something about her that
would lead some to take her for profes-
sional shop-lifter Entering the Fourth
street store she asked to be shown some os
trich feathers. The young lady clerk set
large box of valuable plumes on the count
er. and in q few minutes noticed Mrs. C.
conceal one under her cloak. Another
plume disappeared in q similar manner,
hot no Scod
she would make no purchase then, started
the proprietor, who confronted the lady
and caught her by the arm, saving: "You
have stolen some feathers" The lady be-
came very indignant, asserting who she
was, and declaring that the shop-keeper
Was mistaken. The proprietor, to be sure,
called up the clerk and asked IT she was
sure the lady had taken the feathers, and
the reply was in the affirmative. At the
same time the clerk ran her hand up un-
der Mrs. C's cloak and pulled out the
missing articles At this discovery the
lady appeared greatly astonished, and ac-
cused the clerk of placing the plumes on
her person. A policeman was called in.
and Mrs. c. went to the police station. 1t
happened thai gentleman we'll acquainted
with the c. family saw the arrestiDg party
passing the corner of Seventh and Plum
streets, and accompanied them to the sta
ton, Offering to 20 bail fer the lady. but
the lieutenant in charge said bail could not
be accepted until the store-keeper appeared
and preferred q charge. The gentleman
then informed Mr. c., who was so oyer
whelmed with establishment that he actually
tainted, and when he came to he was COM
pletely out of his mind.
TWAS some time before he fully re-
covered himself, but could not be made to
believe that his wife was locked up for
theft What would she steal for! She
had everything she wanted, and certainly
must have become demented. Calling his
carriage Mr.. c. proceeded Ito the station
house, where he found the Fourth street
merchant, and, after a private talk, the
lady was released, and her name erased
from the slate.
To her husband she reiterated that she
had not taken the feathers, but that the
clerk had slipped them under her cloak.
The affair blew over for the time being,
but in scarcely q month Mrs. G. was again
detected while leaving another Fourth
street store With large bolt of silk under
cloak. She was known by the proprietor,
who detained b sr until her husband could
be summoned. The same scene was re-
hearsed, the lady declaring a clerk bad
given her the silk. 1t then dawned upon
the mind of Mr.. c. and his friends that
his wife was . kleptomaniac, and for sew
eral weeks was closely watched, and never
permitted 10 leave her house unaccom
panied BY relative or servant But n