The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-12-20
nm RI the e,ackea ioidfs OF dilApi-

ltlem ia the efacked joints ofsa dAApi-1
dated old table, chair, or bed. Under
meath q picture,or between the portrgit
and the back, appears to be a favorite
place of concealment. Articles are
often i.planked" in the chimney behipd
the CRATE; and watch has even been
tossed into a glowing coal-fire when
pursuit was close, although in at least
one instance the latter device was un-
availing. Two detectives ,were fonce
searching the house of a. we'll known
thief for some stolen jewelry. The
scent was-kccr, and determination
searching. High and low they rum
mayed, but without success. From
the air OF the thief the officers were
satisfied the stolen property was con-
cealed in or about the room. Opoo Of
them observed that the interest of the
t'suspect7 got always most intense as
they approached the window. Taking
this as his cue, the officer narrowly ex-
amined the shutters, and even tore of
the straps that kept in the window
sashes, but without result. Suddenly.
thought struck him, and lifting the
lower sash, he scanned the outside of
the wall closely. About three or four
feet below the window-sill he saw q
stone in the wall that appeared to be
loose Calling his comrade TO hold
him by the legs, he reached down.,
pulled out small square stone, thrust
in his hand, and found a nice little
.'hide." containing not only the articles
he was in search of. but also other
property sufficient to connect the thief
with several "jobs," and to procure
him long term of quiet contempla-
ton. - a .1f..s
f5 A smart female thief once very nearly
outwitted an officer by wrapping a
crumpled and dirty five pound note
around a candle and stuffing it into a
candlestick, which she then obligingly
handed to him. He searched consid-
cradle time before discovering that ne
had the object of his search in his hand.
Another detective, after in vain search
ing house for some trussed poultry
that had been stolen, cast one parting
glance around, when his eye CHANGED
to alight on acradle in which a woman
was vainly trying to hush squafling
baby, A thought struck him. He asked
her to lift the child. The woman made
some excuse, the officer insisted. and
was immediately rewarded by finding a
couple of the stolen fowls.
A slight clew, sometimes discovered
by the merest accident, often helps to
unravel not only one, but whole series
of thefts. A peculiar button, ia foot
mark, or portion Of dress, will spring
a mine under. the feet of rascal who
thought he was off scot-free. OF late
yeups, thefts of money by young clerks
or statesmen from their employers have
become increasingly common. There
are several causes for this. Beyond:
doubt the tastes and habits of the young
men of today are more expensive than.
those of their fathers. With small
means, or no means at all, they dress
up as ..smashers' and smoke lchoice
cigars, attend theaters, concerts balls
and race meetings. = If often INDUCED
in, these are rather expensive ,luk uries;.
and as the supply of youths anxious for
genteel employment is always in excess
of the demand,, the salaries given are
in many cases low. Then firms are
sometimes very lax in the oversight Sof
young men who have. large sums of
money daily passing. through their.
hands. 1t seems so easy to take the
loan Of a small sum, which, of course.
is to be put back again. After the first
false step the, descent is rapid; and
many a yohng man fills a felonls cell,
or has to fly the country under circum-
stances due to his masters carelsssness
as well as his own'folly.
The plea Of ikleptomania Is nbw put
forward in sdplense of thieves much
oftener than it used to be. Of course
there are some cases in which klepto-
mania is indisprtable, as, for nstanees,
when we hear of q nobleman having to
be watched by his valet to prevent
him from pocketing his own silver
spoons We know.a respectable book
seller who had for a considerable time,
at intervals. 'been missing books from
his shops He was satisfied some of his
customers were helping themselves,
but he could not say which. At last
his suspicious crested on ai.reverend
gentleman Of great abilities, but.rather
eccentric character. He watched him
narrowly, and one day caught him in
the act of surreptitiously carrying of
volume. The divine tried to explain
it away; but the bookseller, after. list
ening gravely, called cab, and in
sisted on accompanying him home and
examining his library He limited that
Otherwise heswouid bcundel the painful
neeessityof calling in the police. The
clergyman made no further ;:obje ction.i
They went to his house; and the book.
sefler brought back anumber ofvaluable
books, some of which he had not before
missed, and said no more about the
matter. The'thief was a'wealthy man,
and had a large library; but rhe was a
bibliomanic. ,ecs
Some thefts, however, are of a differ
ent character, and in these the plea of
kleptomania, like that Of insanity in
cases of murder. iseso,netimes pushed
rather far. !. Without attempting to
argue the matter on scientific principles,
it seems rather strange that klepto-
mania appears only to affect those who
are rich enough to pay, an able advo-
cato and thai fhn uanrbt<I Iok;~or 20