The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-02-08
KleptOm aniacs.


time, and they amused themselves and
an Enquirer reporter telling stories and
"reminiscences. Little Charley Wappen-
stein, as usual, was Dragging about his
wonderful craftsmanship, but when
Steve Mead offered to stand 1p and let
him shoot an apple from his head,
Wappy wilted. The talk turned on
kleptomaniacs, and Wappensteln re-
lated the history of a well-to-do married
lady, living at present not hundred
miles from headquarters, who, a few
years ago, became possessed of q mania
for shop lifting, and was arrested many
times, but always released, as her hus-
band came to the front and settled for
the things taken. IT wouldn't be fair to
give the woman's name, now that she has
been cured of the mania. But for convent
ence let us call her Mrs. G. The first
time Mrs. G was apprehended was in q
prominent Fourth street store, where she
didn't happen to know, and in spite of
her protestations an officer took her to
the Central Police Station and she was
searched, registered and locked up in the
fly cell. She was large, fine-looking
woman of about 43, with iron gray hair
that gave her very Aristocratic look.
Still there was something about her that
would lead some to take her for pro-
fessional shop-lifter. Entering the
Fourth street store :. she asked to be
shown some ostrich feathers. The young
lady clerk set large box of valuable
plumes on the counter, and in few
minutes noticed Mrs. G. conceal one
under her cloak. Another plume disap-
peared in q similar manner, Mrs. @. re-
marking that she guessed she would
make no purchase then, started to leave.
The clerk called the attention of one of
the proprietors, who confronted the lady
and caught her by the arm, saying. You
have stolen some feathers" The lady
became very indignant, asserting who
she was and declaring that the shop
keeper was mistaken. The proprietor,
to be sure, called upon the clerk and
asked if she was sure the lady he'd taken
the feathers and the reply was in the
affirmative. At the same time the clerk
ran her hand up under Mrs. G. S cloak
and pulled out the missing articles. At
this discovery the lady appeared greatly
astonished, and accused TIL clerk Of
placing the plumes on her person. A
went to the police station. 1t happened
that gentleman we'll acquainted with
the G. family saw the arresting party
passing the corner of Seventh and Plum
streets, and accompanied them to the
station, Offering to go bail for the lady,
but the lieutenant in charge said bail
could not be accepted until the doc r
keeper appeared ahd preferred charge.
The gentleman then informed Mr.. c.,
who was so overwhelmed with astonish
ment that he actually faint ed, and when
he came to he was completely out of his
mind. 1t was some time before he fully
recovered himself, but he 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 GER
tainly she must have become suddenly
demented. Calling his carriage Mr.. G..
proceeded to the station-house, where he
found the Fourth street merchant. and,
after private talk, the lady was re-
leased, and her name erased fro N 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 month Mrs. G. was
again detected while leaving another
Fourth street store with large bolt of
silk under her cloak. She was known by
the proprietor, who detained her until
her husband could be summoned. The
same scene was rehearsed, the lady de-
claring a clerk had given her the silk. 1t
then dawned upon the mind of Mr.. c.
and his friends that bis wife was a
kleptomaniac, and for several weeks she
was closely watched and never permitted
to leave her house unaccompanied by q
relative or servant. But it was impossi-
BILE for her to keep from stealing, and in
q short time she was again apprehended.
She managed to conceal some goods in
her clothing while in store accompanied
by her sister-in-law, and the discovery
was not made until they arrived home
and she showed the articles herself. On
several other occasions did she do the
same thing, until finally her husband
tpok her away from the city and remain
ed long time and she came home
cured.
As Wappy had finished, attention was
called to a middle aged man carrying a
gold. headed walking cane, who entered
the office and said to the clerk:
us the Chief in?"
mo, SIR"
will he be INF"
Eyes, sir, at o'clock"
will he he in at o'clock"
Yes. sir"
"Can see him at 4 o'clock"