The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-06-01
RICH WOMEN WHO STEAL.
A FLOoR-WALkER IN A DRY GOODS
STOEE TELLS HIS EXPERIENCE.


Fair Thief Caught in the Very Aet-A
Sad Case of Kleptomania Easily Ex-
Misunderstanding u Bunch Of Rair
Crimpers -Merhods Employed.
do you really have many cases Of shop
lifting" inquired the reporter "Not so
many seem to get into print"
That is nothing to go by at ALL" replied
tho toor walker. "Some stores have ha
dozen day. 1t is monotonous, not to say
worse, to go into court with them, and see
the firms name in print daily in such con
nection. Who wants that. No one know.
The loss.by stealage is enough, Lord knows,
but eyes have to be closed to it What
temptation there can le to most of the
Offenders passes my imagination We have
good reason to know it is seldom for want of
money to make the purchase Perhaps they
think they have not their moneys worth in
previous trade, and will run all the risks
to get even by stealing. Now look there,
for instance, pointing to the glove counter
A portly lady, Hastily clad in plush cloak,
silk dress, and fashionable hat seemed leis-
tliSdtSci III iiuhiHS u sclctbioH iIoHl
| several boxes before her. She had stood
there some time, and called for one style
| after another. The reporter and his asso
| ciate carelessIy drew closer avoiding the
| appearance of attention. and overheard the
| various running comments on c3lors, seams,
| and the other features of the stock exposed.
The boxes all seemed drawn pretty close to
the front OF the counter. The sales girl
looked rather annoyed, but expressed her
self with yawn, and light remark to a
clerk over the aisle, turned her back to the
customer, picked up mirror and proceeded
| to touch up her frizZies. Almost directly
one of the boxes Of gloves went over the
| counter and under the plush cloak There
was no sign Of discovery, apparently, and,
after a moments further handling, the
woman started to go, with the intimation
that she would call again.
CAUGHT IN THE VERY ACT.
But that mirror had not been held up for
4 frizzes alone Over her shoulder the sales
| girl had seen the customers actions reflected,
and she turned at once to say, I'VE generally
have all purchases wrapped up ma am, :"
| with a significant look.
"What do you mean, you hussy." said the
stout lady, flushing up
The remark was repeated, and "Mr Jones"
| to the floor walker.
MIR. Jones was not far off In fact he was
SO near that he caught the box and gloves
half down the lady's dress as she loosened
her pressure on them, and sought to let
them fall on the floor. There was no get
ting out for the shoplifter Her bushes
were profuse, and great drops of perspira-
ton stood on her forehead. She seemed
glad enough to get off with the payment of
an extra price for the stock. which was ar
ranged with as much expedition and quiet
ness as possible, and she left the store
"Now," said the floor walker, returning to
the reporter, what do you think OF that
Its too badi How her husband would
feel to hear of this | know her."
You think you do, perhaps, but l hope
you are not very intimately acquainted
Her husband' Hal ha Why, he's doing
time now. If he hears of it at all it will be
by letter from her, telling how easy she got
OIL. If We hadn't been in court within a
month believe I'd put her through, for she
deserves it. She's an old hand, and pretty
} well known in the stores. But to take her
up. Ever been at the police COURT Well,
once month is often enough for me there.
l wonder how she came in to play that when
there were SO few in the house Why three
or four were watching her and noting the
fun Thought You knew her, did you.
How's that"
She's the image of the wife of a we'll
known architect" explained the reporter.
suppose she is; l know she is no archi-
tect's wife She's stone cutters, by the
way" laughing at the idea Now, what
ever there is in it, I've a theory that such
resemblances are designed by some profess
ionais, and they study their prototypes
most carefully, even to associations SO as to
taik Familiarity of friends if occasion brings
about the opportunity. have been mis-
taken myself in assumptions, but got over 1t
| long ago, after a most disagrseable scrape
was younger and brash.
SAD CASE of KLEPToAANIA
| Il saw a modest looking woman take off q
half dozen as nice embroidered handksr-
chiefs as we had in the store | was posi-
tive she was certain customer ON our books
and was confirmed in the belief by recollect-
ing the absent-minded way she worked To
me it seemed a sad case of kleptomania, and
| iancied her house full of all sorts Of stolen
nicknaeks of no use but said to be presents
from friends. That's the way, you know.
So let her pass out unnoticed, and at the
end of the month sent up the item with the
rest of the statement of the months pur-
chases Then it all came out As soon as
saw the lady knew my error. But it was
IA close resemblance
mo, l take no stock in kleptomania- II
you notice, it's only disease for rich
folks. Who knows but what Pastsur viii
he innoculating for it after he gets through
with by drophobia3 There's more money in
it for him. They say the nobility have at
tacks Of it once in awhile Yes, every stock
suffers with us oh, it might stop stealing
4 If We didn't display the goods SO much, but
1t would stop trade too Why, the other
day actually saw a grown woman hook a
bunch of hair crimpers Off the notion coun-
ter that were plainly marked two punches
for cents. The gall Of it paralyzed mo and
the clerks around and We nearly laughed
aloud. We let her go her way, though
Silk remnants and bolts Of ribbon or Lace
are the most tempting.
yes, We do search, but more frequently
1t is not necessary, but as you saw. If q
woman comes prepared to steal, and has the
customary bag or pocket sewed in bel
clothes, We can know whether she Is good X
search by beating around her clothing
when we feel uncommon objects for TIT
pocket From time TO time we have &C
cumulated upstairs stacks of stuff taker
out Of such places, but not stolen from us
Rarely do they try to brazen it out, hui
cry, and talk of their homes, and they never
did it before, and never will again, and sc
on. As said, We dent care to go int
court, and let mott 60 il we get our good
back. Articles regularly purchased, you
, know, are wrapped and have cash check
with them. We have found such with good
acknowledged to be stolen, but never keeI
them, of course Inter Ocean
Elimination of Brewers in England.
Z A matter which is attracting much atten
! | tion in ENGLAND is the randi dimiuutior NJ