The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1883-03-29
SPACE. Nv 2w sw 4w sm m yr
fashionable Women Thieves.

pTuuliHeHb Ild1hSeT OF one Of lne
greatest dry-goods stores in Brooklyn,
in conversation with a writer for the
Eagle about the subjects of thefts in
stores. said:
1T 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
without actual observation So COM
mon has the presence of what is called
'kleptomania' become that the la.roest
and wealthiest dry-goods houses we
have are compelled to adopt definite
line of policy in the treatment of ac-
cused persons. When 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 a con-
fesslon that she has stolen such and
such articles, that she is liable f, prose-
cutlon, and that she expects To he
prosecuted if she ever enters the store
again. In the possession of o,lr own
establishment are several hundred of
'hese documents, A disclosure o. their
contents woJud carry CONSERVATION into
some OF our most fashionable social cir
ciess, and people would stand aghast BY
the disclosure of the names that are
upon the roll of guilt"
''Are these fashionable shopIifters
never prosecuted?"
Rarely, if ever. 1t does not pay TO
prosecute them. 1t would create
scandal, carry ruin into the families of
those accused and prejudice the inter
ests of the house. The system of com
pelling q confession almost invariably
prevents the woman from ever stealing
again. 1t is a matter of policy to follow
the course L have indicated Do | think
there is really such thing as klepto-
mania? Beyond a doubt there is.
VIII give you clear illustration of it:
A woman, we'll known in society, the
vile OF conspicuous citizen, came into
our store not long ago. No suspicion
has ever been entertained regarding her,
but by the merest chance floor walker
discovered that she had acted strangely
and the attention Of the detective em-
ployed by us was called to her queer
conduct. He kept an eye upon her un-
I'll she had gone to dozen different
counters, stolen articles and concealed
them. just as she was passing out of
the store door the detective said:
Madam, they wish to see you in the of
fice.' She Immediately became very
much agitated. 1t seemed as if she was
paralyzed with fear. When she reached
the Office a member of the firm said:
Madam, you have articles upon your
Ial, Oh II,
store. You have been seen at the act.
You must show us what YOU have taken
and give it up She made no attempt at
cOncealment or denial, but she was pale
with fright and overcome with shame
and modification. She searched her
pockets and took out what she had ab-
stracted from the different departments.
She had three dozen pairs of kid gloves,
several pairs of hose, a large quantity
of ribbons, some fancy jewelry. and
some tooth-brushes The wretched
woman, in paroxysm of grief, fell
upon her knees, and in agonized tones
implored mercy, naming her husband,
a prominent citizen, and pleading that
exposure meant the ruin of herself and
the lasting disgrace of her family. She
said that she had plenty of money, was
willing to pay for the articles, and also
to pay out any sum that might be
named to compromise the matter. This
woman signedan admission of her guilt,
and a stipulation never to enter the
store again. To-day she occupies a
conspicuous position in Brooklyn So
ciety, lives in splendid style on fash
ionable thoroughfare, and none of her
friends-not even her husband-knows
of the occurrence which [ have des-
cribed. So it is in most of these cases.
The women don't mean to steal. They
generally are well brought up, sur
rounded by home influences, and have
abundant resources at their command.
They are suddenly seized with an irresis-
tible desire to steal, and they give way
to it. That is why | think kleptomania
is n disease -