St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-05-19


A richly-dressed lady of command
ing presence and gracious address. at
tired in long, loose raglan of glossy
sealskin. heavy black silk dress. and
stylish, close fitting bonnet. entered
a large New York store and fitted
about from counter to counter in de-
sultory manner after the fashion OF
leisurely shoppers. occasionally pur-
chasing some small article. for which
she paid from we'll filled portmonnaie;
but more frequently she tossed over a
profusion of rich laces, silks and vel
vets, apparently seeking something
she could not find, for she made no
purchase. For some unaccountable
reason small. quiet man, apparently
a floor walker or curious salesman.
followed the lady for little way, and
presently. at sign from him, a sales
lady suddenly put on her hat and cloak
and went all about through the store
making purchases at whatever counter
the handsome woman tarried.
They finally passed down TO the
main entrance and were about leaving
the store when the quiet, inquisitive
floor walker detained them and invit-
ed the lady to step into little retired
room and relieve herself Of various
articles concealed about her person
which did not belong to her. Arrived
at the room the lady fell on her knees
and called on all the saints in the
calendar to attest her innocence, threw
her arms about the girls neck who
waited to search her. pleaded with her
with tears and sobs. kissed her and
stroked her hair, tore the diamonds
from her own ears. neck and fingers,
piled them in a heap on the table to-
gether with diamond studded watch.
and offered them to the searcher if she
would only believe her and not sub
init her to the disgrace Of public
search; told her Of a husband who
would kill her, and of little children
who would learn to despise their
mothers name; she dashed her head
against the brass work of the radiator,
beside which she kneltin supplication.
and called for poison to end her mis-
cradle existence.
The supposititious poison was in
stantly procured and handed to her,
whereupon she promptly rallied from
her Mysteries and submitted to the
search, which resulted in recovering
one hundred dollars worth of goods
and in finding beneath the lady over
skirt long. large bag Of silk which
covered the entire front of her Dress
with an opening at the side large
enough to take in roll of silk or
piece of velvet The woman also wore
five skirts. in each of which was
pocket which opened into the pocket Of
the skirt beneath. Her long. loose
stockings contained several articles of
value, and in her bosom were con-
cealed many more. At the prosecu-
ton which followed her much feared
husband appeared and seemed not at
all disconnected. He had secured for
her able counsel, and promptly paid
her fine.
A devoted little mother. with two
months old baby on her shoulder, re-
Gently entered an uptown store. Over
the baby's embroidered robe long
double cloak was wrapped. and the
child seemed to require great deal Of
attention beneath this cloak, all 6
which was given by the mother with
many smiles and caresses. AS she
was about leaving the store she, too.
was quietly invited into retired
apartment and beneath the baby'sI
cloak was found secreted something
like thirty dollars worth of goods.
She began ON shoes and finished on
Easter eggs. eight chocolate eggs be-
ing slowed away together with hand
kerchiefs. dolls. ratltes. some velvet
and a piece of lace. OF course she
cried and the baby cried in concert.
and altogether damp. depressing
scene followed.
At the close of a dull day, as the de-
tective in large store was about
leaving, he saw prettily dressed lady
take from the candy counter two Ten
cent bars of molasses candy.
II didn't want to prosecute the
woman. " said the detective. .for i
surmiscd that she had baby at home
or an unusually sweet tooth herself
80 ! summoned my woman assistant
and said loud enough for the lady to
aiears That woman will have 10 60