Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-08-12
KLEPTOMANIA.
A Clerk Nanratcs Interesting sncA"e'S
with ShOpIitters.

if studied carefully, is one that contains
at least spicy Variety that canno1 M We,
be allowed to pass from the mind. Inc
loaded counters. crowded shelves, cases
filed with fancy articles, boxes plea on
high. the numerous cash boys and atteh
tive clerks. and. above all, the vast crowo
of shoppers, all classes mingled lnuls-
cyiminatelv. intent on the same purpose
oilers a sight deserving of considerable
attention.
As one makes his way with dlfhcuity
among the crowding people that MI the
passages of one of the most extensive re-
tail houses in the city, and after reaching
an elevation. look down upon the eNn-
bition below, he can but wonder that the
opportunities offered for petty thlevlng
are as limited as they really are. with
so many articles lying carelessly about III
the midst of hustle and the crowd, 1t Is
surprising how little really is stolen. Ac-
costing one of the clerks who has spent
a good many years in the dry goods bus
ness. both In this city and elsewhere, the
reporter asked him if it really were fact
that they met with many petty thieves.
Eyes, replied he, 1--WE do, but, at
least in this city, shoplifting is growing
beautifully less Whether it is due to
the extra vigilance used or the smallness
of the class engaging in the business do
not know. / am happy only to say we
are not troubled us we once were. -"
"But YOU do still meet with such
cases2"
''Quite frequently. do'not mean to
say that the trouble is all gone, only 1t
is more noticeable in other cities than
in this. where, as / said, it is diminish
ing. But we run across an occasional
case
81 suppose they are all considerably
differentE"
Frequently; but the class we meet
nth most is the middle grade of people,
and more especially class that makes
business of this kind of work. re-
member of one case in particular. A
young girl, apparently about sixteen
years of age, came into the store and
was caught in the act of concealing
about her person an article of woman's
wear valued at ST. We disliked the idea
of having her arrested and locked up
and then being compelled to appear
against her in court, for it would have
been obnoxious to her. So | told her
that if she had come and made pur-
chase Of the article she might have got IT
at the regular price; as it was, / should
charge he.' the regular thieves price,
which was twice the market value. She
said she had no money, consequently we
called in the officers. At the station in
the neighborhood of dozen small arti-
cles were found concealed In her clothes,
all of which she had stolen that morn
ING. Well it was afterward discovered
that she was in league with a so-called
business man of the city who hired her
for the Business in which she was caught.
| have no doubt this would be found the
case very often If the trouble were taken
to look them up"
"Some instances are rather laughable,
are they not2"
Il should think so. / was standing
right here one day, when | saw little
boy come down stairs apparently with
something under his coat. let him go
as far as the door, when / stopped him.
He made no attempt to get away, which
he might have done, but stood quietly.
while | took a solitary shoe from him "
II suppose it is in the fancy depart
ments where the most trouble is en-
counteredH"
"Of course it is much easier to slip
handkerchief or a necktie, or something
of such a nature. in the pocket than it is
bolt Of silk, and, as you say, the
trouble appears mostly in this depart
ment. On the contrary. an amusing
case occurred few days ago, when d
lady walked unconsciously from the
store with very fine silk umbrella in
her arms. thought nothing of it, for
l supposed she had purchased from one
of the girls. Soon ! saw her returning
almost breathIess, having run from across
the street, where she had discovered her
mistake. In her case it was pure
thoughtlessness.
ut is from the display tables in the
center of the rooms where most of the
thieving is done, for they are often left
unprotected, and for this reason object
to them. for they in themselves offer in
ducements to people who might not
otherwise think OF such thing as steal
ing, but under such circumstances cannot
refrain from it. strange to say"
Do you meet with many people who
have no intention of buying, but merely
wish to have the articles shown to them -
Sometimes, but those who might
appear that way are often indecisiye and
may really come into the store with the
intention of buying, but fail to suit
themselves. These people are the ones
who Will go to all the stores in the CITY
to have good look, and in the end they
will find they have made q ,,or,. l,,,o.o;,'