The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1885-05-07
KLEPTOMANIA.
Expi it's of a Galveston Girl in

san aition EXpr
An AFFIDAVIT. Was made before
Justice Anton Attain Yesterday morn
Ing. charging Miss Mary ann Shep-
paTd, ct Galveston, with theft of val
liable articles of jewelry over the
value Of 500, from Mrs. J. II. Martin
The facts i'll the case, rs far as this
reporter has been able to learn, are |
these.
Miss Sheppard has been visiting the
family of her aunt, Mrs. e. +. From |
MFR, Tor some months past, under thc
care If a San Antonio physician. y
slight former acquaintance ID Houston
and Galveston, secured for her
permission to the, family of Mrs. j. H.
A1artln, with whom she was guest
on the night of Wednesday, April 9Th,
at a family reception i'll homer OF
Mrs. Martins arrival bone from
New Orleans. Miss Sheppard invited
herself TO stop all hight and slept i'll
the parlor, in which was temporarily
placed Mrs. Martins trunk containing
her clothing end jewels. The next
morning Miss Sheppard returned to
| the home OF her aunt, and the fol-
owing night Mrs. Martin was very
much surprised to miss her jewel
casket, together with one pair
of gold bracelets one pair of gold
earrings. one red coral gold brea,t-pin,
one gold leaf pin two gold scarf pins,
Ole fine lace collal and live lil~
figured linen hankerchiels AT that
time the family were wholly at loss
as 10 VINO could be guilty Of the def d,
and did not for moment suspect az
guest of the night previous.
Ali the facts in the Case, together
with Il description Of the articles
stolen, were placed in the hands OF
Assistant Marshal Hughes, who was
not many hours in tracing the thef,
to where it belonged, to the door OF
Miss Sheppard. On first going to The
residence of Mrs. Frommer, Hughes
saw the young lady in the va,
wearing the leaf pin, but was not
sufficiently positive of it identity at
that time to warrant him in taking it
Miss Sheppard stoutiy denied al
knowledge of the theft, and was very
much surprised and Indignant tc
think that any one should suspect hel
Of such disgraceful act, particularly
her friend Mrs. Martin, and said sht
would GO at once and see about it
She called on Mrs. Martin and again
went through the surprise act, but il
was noticed that she did not wear the
leaf pin mentioned above, and whe1
asked about it, felt at her throat anC
said she must have lost it. Threats
of exposure were made without effect
until the following day Mr.. Hughe
visited her again and secured the pin
, which, in the meantime had beer
, materially remodeled at the establish
ment of the Bell Bros, on the ode
of Miss Sheppard. When Mrs. Martin
saw her pin again she did not readil,
, recongniZe it until she had made
critical examination, and saw Wher'
it had been alterd in the endeavor t.
hide its identity. Further threat
proved of no avail, until few day
later Mr.. Martin received telephone
message from G. II. Clifford, Esq
saying that he had an important mes
sage tor him, and to come at once
9 Nj. Martin went immediately, alt
2 was very much surprised on heins
. handed over his Wite'S jewels, minus
2 the scarf pin, lace collar and hand
kerchiefS.
The affair created profound sensa
ton among the friends of the lady
D | WIZ OIL C11VI w OhlO4o 1CA Ii Oh
t the disgrace of being compelled Il
answer for the crime in court. The,
t claim that she is afflicted with klepto
z mania, in Consequence of long contin
: ued i'll health, and would not be guilt,
: of such an act in her right mind. B
t that as it may, the shrewd officer ha
l performed his duty and 1t well, and
0 majority of the valuable articles takel
+ have been returned to the owner.
S Miss Sheppard is about 20 years @
age, well educated and accomplished
+ moves in good society in Galveston
e and has long been an ardent membe
of the Presbyterian Church. She wa
= also for q long time an efficien
g teacher in the public schools of Gal
S | weston.
1 The warrant now out for Mis-
: Sheppard's arrest on the charge o
! theft has not yet been served, from
r the fact that she has left the city,