The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-26
THIEVES IN VARIOUS GUIsRs.
One of Them the Wife of a Wealthy
Boston Clergyman.
From the Ne,c York World.

From the Netc York World.
Boston, Dec. 2l.-A handsome equipage,
with a fur-caped and silk-hatted coachman
TONS store yesterday while the Christmas
shopping was at its hight. A refined, richly
dressed lady alighted, and leaving her maid
in the carriage, disappeared into the
crowded store. AS she entered an
argus-eyed fioor-walker. a woman, fol-
lowed her. The floor walkers eyes never
left her for an instant. The lady belonged
to that class of criminals who are called
kleptomaniacs when they are rich, but
thieves whom they are poor. As she is of
the former class her name is not given and
thus the Back Bay minister, who is her hus-
band, escapes the public scandal her wrong
doings would occasion If ne were somebody
less important.
Inspector Knox has looked up her record.
She is about forty-five years of age, thin
and OF a yellowish complexion, Indicative
of ill-health. Thieving with her, so they
say, is undoubtedly disease and incurable
1t is so recognized by her husband. and also
by the many doctors who have been called
upon to examine her case. 1t is also recog
nized by the various large houses of the city,
and she is allowed to steal small things
without direct opposition. The clerks are
told to watch her carefully, notice
what she takes, and then bill is
sent to her husband, who is wealthy,
and he settles it without murmur. A
maid has been employed to persor ally ac-
company the lady, whose sole duty is to
watch her and see that she does not get into
trouble Should there be any inter ference
by floor-walkers who do not know her, or by
clerks who are not posted, the maid relates
the facts, tells her name, gives the address
and instructs them to send bill for the
goods to the husband.
For three years this kleptomaniac has
haunted the large stores Of the city almost
every week and never goes away without
having taken something for which she has
not paid. She always goes in her own car
rage aud with her maid. The maid, it
would appear, is not always as watchful of
her charge as she should be. When the
lady called yesterday at the Beacon street
entrance of Houghton a. buttons store the
maid remained in the carriage. The
kleptomaniac visited the book counters
and pulled and hauled over lot
of books, with the declared purpose
of buying something. She managed TO
steal a % cent Bible, but was 50 clumsy
about it that any one could have detected
her, and detected she was. She stole an
other book worth 30 cents. Then she made
an excuse that she did not have money
enough In her bag TO pay for what she had
purchased by cents, so she made That an
excuse to go out 10 her carriage, carrying
the books with her She returned, stole a
third book and then made off with salts
fled look IN her eyes The floor walker,
however, had watched her every movement,
and by this time her ministerial husband
has doubtless paid the little bill.
Her pet hobby, however. Is not books,
but cheap jewelry. and she spends hours at
time around "A counter waiting for a
favorable moment While not as clever as
the professional shonlifter, her methods are
not far different. For instance. she as
been known b. drop her handkerchief ~ r
accidentally. upon a tray Of lewerf, .f..,
ia lifting 49, " Use ~ AZ veil ~ conceal