The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1883-03-28
Fashionable Women Thieves

6 A promiieht manager Of one Of the
greatest dry-goodS stores in Brooklyn,
IN conversation with q writer for
the Eagle about the subject of thefts in
stores, said: ll.g lr7.s.sl - Ess.as-1 e..EE
"It is an amazing, but nevertheless
an established fact, that nine -tenths OF
the things stolen are taken by women
who are not professional thieves. Why,
the revelations that could be made In
regard to this matter are so startling
that they would hardly be credited with
out actual observation. So common
has the presence of what is called .klep-
-tomania' become that the largest and
wealthiest dry-goods houses we
have are compelled to adopt definite
line of pnlicy in the treatment OF &C
cused persons. When q woman OF re-
spectacle standing Is detected she is
taken to the office and examined; the
proceeds of her thefts are taken from
her, and she is required TO sign Q con-
fession that she has stolen such and
such articles, that she is liable N prose-
eution, and that she expects TO be prose-
cuted il she ever enters the store again.
In the possession of our own establish
ment are several hundred OF these
documents. A disclosure of their con-
some of our most fashionable social cir
cIes. and people would stand aghast by
the disclosure of the names that are
upon the roll of guilt" ~ -.
q sss Are these fashionable shoplifters
never proseeateder a~-eN ,uDss-sii@N
"Rarely, IL ever. 1t does not pay to
prosecute them. 1t would create q
scandal, carry ruin into the families oi
those accused and prejudice the inter.
eats of the house. The system of com
pelling a confession almost invariably
prevents the woman from ever stealing
again. 1t Is a matter OF policy To fol
| low the course / have indicated Do
think there Is really such a thing q
kleptnmania? Beyond doubt there Is
I will give you clear illustration OF it
| A woman, well known in society, tn
| wife of conspicuous citizen, came int
our store not long ago. No suspicion
has ever been entertained regarding her
but by the mere-t chance a fioor-walke
/ discovered that she ac' ed strangely, an
/ the attention of the detective employe,
by us was called TO her queer condnc,
He kept an eye upon her until she ha'
gone to. a. dozeas different counters
stolen articles sndconceaied them. Jus
as she vas passing out of the 9tore doc
-the detectiTe saad: sMadame, they- wis
to see you in the Office She immed
ately became very much agitated.
seemed as II she was peralyze
with fear. When she reache
the Office q member of the firm said
MADAME, you have articles upon you
person which were stolen from tn
Store. You have been seen at the ac
You must show us what you have take
and give it up She made no q
tempt at concealment or denlai, o
abe was pale with fright and overcon
9 with shame and modification. 81
searched her pockets and took out VIII
she had abstracted from the didereI
departments. She had three dozs
pairs of kid gloves, several pairs of rs
large quantity Of ribbons, some fan.
jewefry, and some tooth-brushes. III
wretched woman, in . paroxysm
grief, fell upon her knees, and in ago
ized tones implored mercy, naming b