Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-09-10
a STRANGE CASE.
The Mysterious Theft OF 81 900
Confession OF Kleptomaniac.

yet been made pubic, writes an lnuiah-
apolis correspondent of The Cincinnati
Enquirer, which fact induces one to
suspect that many another history,
more or less sensational or mysterious
(than hers), has been buried in forgot
ten graves.
The subject of this sketch was a ser
want for many years in the well-known
and highly-esteemed family of Rev. j.
+. Hutchinson. of Rushville, Ind.
Her maiden name was Elizabeth Arm
strong. She had attached herself to
the Hutchinson when but young girl
in the capacity of maid-of-all-work,
and so pleasant was her association
with them that by mutual consent and
agreement she became a fixture OF the
family, and so remained until about
two years ago, when Thomas Huddle-
son, of Shiloh. Rush county, married
her, and shortly afterward moved to
Kansas.
Up to this time the Hutchnsons had
always regarded Eliza as proper and
honorable girl Her disposition was
mild and amiable. and no one
who had known her had ever
suspected her of dishonesty. She
seemed deeply religious by nature, and
when from time TO time dur
ing period four or five years
ago various articles of value
were missing from the household of her
benefactor not shadow of suspicion
rested on Eliza. No one ever thought
of pecping under the lid of her capa-
cious trunk. or even of exploring her
scrupulously-kept bedroom. She was
above suspicion. Meanwhile. a few
months prior TO Elias marriage, n
wealthy bachelor brother of Mrs.
Hutchinson died somewhere in Ohio,
leaving considerable property to be
divided among his three surviving sis
tiers. The cash portion of this legacy
amounted to $1,000 in government
bonds. Pending division of the prop
crty these bonds were placed in the
care of Rev. j. +. Hutchinson and wife
for safe keeping. They hid them Sc
curely Gas they supposed in the bottom
of an old trunk, and thought nothing
further of them until it became neces-
sary TO distribute the shares to the Sis
tiers of Mrs. Hutchinson. But when
they came TO look for the bonds they
were amazed and Mortified TO find that
they were missing. Not trace of
them could be found. and of course
Eliza Armstrong was not the least sur
prsed member of the household when
informed of the theft
Forthwith every conceivable measure
was adopted to aid in discovering the
missing bonds. All efforts proved
futile. and still no one thought of sus-
pecting the supplemented and consci-
entiouS Eliza. As final attempt the
heirs offered an attorney of Nashville
Crank j. Hall, Esq $1,000 if he
would ascertain any clew leading to
the recovery of the stolen money Mr..
Hall, after exhausting all the known
clews finally went to Washington. ID.
c.. hoping to obtain some relief for his
clients ut the hands of the government;
but he failed, and came home. With
this attempt all active efforts to find the
lost treasure came to an end.
A few months after this occurrence
Eliza Armstrong married Mr.. Huddle-
son, and. as already stated, removed
with him to Kansas. In less than two
months the couple returned to Rush
vile, and visited the Hutchinsons, where
they were cordially received. After
their arrival Mr.. Huddieson lost no
time in privately informing Mr.. and
Mrs. Hutchinson of the singular con-
duct of his wife almost since the day of
their removal to Kansas. He said she
became moody and melancholy. and
soon began to exhibit signs of deep
mental distress, bordering on insanity.
At times she would accuse herself of
treachery and ingrattude toward her
former benefactors, the Hutchinsons.
Further than these incoherent self-ac-
cusations. however, she gave her hus-
band no satisfaction. Finally she had
urged him TO take her back TO her old
home. as she desired to make an effort
to right the wrongs she had pcrpetrat-
ed. Alarmed at what he considered
unmistakablc evidence of her mental
arrangement, Mr. IIuddleson fastened
to obey his wife's request, and brought
her back to Rushyille, hoping at least
to solve the mystery of her conduct.
Arrang NC private interview with
Eliza, Mrs. Hutchinson inquired of her
touching the cause of her troubles.
The poor woman then burst out crying,
and. amid hysterical sobs and wild pro-
LESSONS of repentance, confessed that
she had stolen scores of articles from
the wardrobe and pantry of her mis-
trcss, amounting in value to hundreds
of dollars.