Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-09-01
FASHIONABLE Thieves.
How They Carry on Their Trade and
Callit Kleptomania.


CaIiit Kleptomania.
Providence Star.
A richly dressed young woman
was examining laces in one of the
largest dry goods stores on Westmin-
ster street the other afternoon. She
seemed to be very hard to suit, bet
the clerk was very patient and was
trying hard to make sale. Finally
be reached up to an upper shelf to
procure q rare pattern, and as be turn
ed his back toward her the young
woman suddenly drew her hand un-
der her silk cloak, as If to throw it
away from her arms, but she imme-
diateIy drew the folds together again,
and when the clerk turned around
with more good to show her, she was
intently inspecting the fabrics before
her on the counter The store was
filed with customers, and from little
group just behind her man stepped
forth and touched her on the shoulder
II was the floor superintendent. and
without a word the young woman fol.
lowed him to the private office. A
Star reporter who was in the store
buying one cheap collar at the mark
down" price, was little mystified by
this proceeding, and so he fingered 10
the store for few minutes to see
what else would turn up. Soon the
young woman came down the long
.aisle' and left the store. Then the
superintendent came along with his
hands full of fancy articles. including
a roll of tumbled lace. These arti-
cles were returned to the different de-
partments where they belonged The
clerk at the lace counter looked puz-
zled, but said nothing.
"That was oDe of our regular custo-
mers, who is confirmed 'kleptoma.
niac'," said the floor superintendent
to the reporter, in reply to question
by the latter; she is one of the most
expert shoplifters that come in here,
and she knows that | am aware of it.
She has plenty of money, and any
bills she iucurs bere are always
promptly paid by her parents or by
her husband, but she will steal every
time she gets chance, and she usual
ly comes in when the crowd is the
largest"
"Does she always take small arti-
cles z" the reporter asked
mo. Sometimes she makes pref
ty good haul, but she is pretty we'll
known, aud so she seldom gets away
with anything, / think She usually
selects new clerk to practice upon.
But she is not the only one Of that
class that comes in here and bothers
US.
II won't give you any names, nor
don't want you to use any," contin-
ued the superintendent. "but there
are several wealthy people--nearly
everyone woman--wbo frequent
the store and lift whatever they can
from the coulter. Sometimes un-
doubtedly they succeed in eIuding US,
but we keep close watch over them.
They don't need to steal, for they are
abundantly able to pay for everything
they get, aud, almost invariably, they
yearly purchase large bills Of goods.
They are queer set, these klepto-
maniacs.0
'Do you ever try to keep record
of what is stolen, and let the klepto's
carry off the goods, and then send
them bill for the same 2"
"No. That is not a square way of
doing business. 1t would work well,
and dishonest firm could make a
huge profit by guessing at the value
of the articles taken, and what might
have been taken without their knowl.
edge But we dod't do that here. -
We take away the goods"
Will that young woman whom |
saw come in again soon. do you
think ~ persisted the reporter.
"She will probably come in again
tomorrow and buy stack of goods,
and pay for them. But that clerk at
the lace counter will know, every time
hereafter, that she win bear watch
ing. I don't need to tell him"
What articles are these people
most partial to ~
well, they End bottles OF perfum-
cry, nice pocket books, and many 9th
Ter little things of value, the easiest to
steal. It's about the same in all
large stores of this kind. The most
favorable opportunity for such work
is during q special sale, when the
store is crowded, bat our force Of
watehmen issincreased at such times,
though"