Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-12-11
THE STOLEN LACES
An EPi1as in the History Of Chicagc
Crime
FROM THE DtAKY or DETECTIVE DENIS
sTsfHoss. or THE BAsz DETAIL OF TIE
CENTRAL STATION
Rarsv IN the spring of 1872 the boar,lers

Early IN the spring Of 1872 the boar1ers
a. Mrs Friinghgysen house, on West
Adams street, felt themselves constrained
u discuss and decide very delicate ques-
ton FOR some time previous the con
dnct Of Mrs Alice ClaYpole had given
them great concern. This lady was the
wife of middle aged iawyer II good
standing. who sserned degotedly attached
70 her and was blind ~ the many weak.
nesses 81 her character, and ob.ivious VI
the fact that her beaTiag In male socisty
WAS a subject II unfavorable comment IN
the well conducted establishment Of the
estimabia Mrs FrefnghuyseH-
Mr. Claypoles Airiatlons we're the talk
Of the neighborhood, and her bald headed,
good natared husband came In for q
goo,!ly share u that pity and compassion
which the world has ever IN store Tor per
sons apparently unconscious Of their own
aisf0Ttunes
"Poor OLD Claypole" uas an Oft repeated
remark. some ous ought 10 open his eyes
and let him know the fail iniquity Of his
wlfe's misconduct
Bat none undertook this delicate mis-
sion and ''po9r old Ciaypols continued
10 idolize bis charming and fascinating
Appnss-ehartBing and fascinating not
only 20 him. but to s0me half dozen other
gentlemen who were said 10 languish In
the SUNSHINE Of her smiles.
Mrs Ciaypole 10 make matters more
piquant and interesting to her fellow
boarders. was not beautiful woman, as
the term gucs She vas tail and shapely.
however dressed with becoming taste,
and carried herself With stately grace
80 4 a Ii ..Nr. 4
miratiGa
Her features were somewhat Irregular
and heavy in rcpose but when she became
Interested in conversation. or. better still.
when she was aiming a. a conquest. her
face lighted up with tho ardor Of her
thoughts and her big blue eyes flashed
dangerously from b"ncath half dropping
lids fringed with long dark eye lashes
that tried Ia vain 70 screen the passionate
Ere Of amorous gIances
No. Mrs Claypolc was not a beautiful
woman but sine had that subtle power OF
charming which Is more fascinating than
beauty and plays the deuce with the viz
tuous instincts ~ mankind
| Mr. and Mrs Caypole had lived at the
! Frciinghuysen establishment two month.
when n. b0arder- tho ehi it high time
u arrive at sot.e conclusion as to the al
I legged improprietes Of her conduct
I Not content with the conquest Of full
4 grown and bearded men the fair Alice
/ who was thirty II she was year had re-
Gently shown n Hiking for the society Of
| young men in their teens Thrca or foul
II these susceptible young follows danceC
| ia constant attendance upon her They
ran her errRnds escorted her to Thu
/ theatre took her 20 qnpper after the play
aud acted spooncy generally in the man
ner peculiar to love.ick lads
( And what was most exasperating L
/ the critics Of mature age, Mrs Claypol'
seemed TO enjoy this hoideni-h homage
| She was soft and soothing, even mutherly
In her demesnor toward her Young al
mircrs She would stroke their cheek
and pat their heads lovingly. call then
/ brave boys, and sometimes Mis-.
/ Goggles the ancient spinster. who occu
/ pied the first loor hall bedroom. and wa!
ever on the alert to spy out the moral de
linqucncics Of her neighbors, uyerred-
kiss them tcuderly and tell them 10 b
good aud true aud devoted to thel
mother,
She calls herself their mother. th'
artful wretch reported Miss Goggles
/ with a looi, Of horror in her watery eyes
she ought 10 be horsewhipped'
No wonder Mrs Frelinghuyseu board
ers were stirred to the very depths Of thei
/ honest hearts Such yararies on the par
Of married woman were ryprehrnsible il
the highest degree They called for al
expression Of virtuous Indignation Mr.
ClAypole ought to bo informed IT his wife
moral obliquity 1t was II burning. scan
dalnus shame that such a nice. hgi
minded h,aorablc old gentleman shoul'
! have the wool pulled over his eyes by tht
/ wicked woman and he a lawyer, too. witt
n professional knowledge Of the relic
which could bo speedily gained in the di
vurce court
Then It was that the boarders came t,
the uuau.Wnu4 decision that Mrs Clay
pole was Designing heartless coquette
that her sprirty should be tubooed. an,
that poor old lir Claypole shonld receive
u broad hint ~ what was going on. will
a view TO Il prompt disruption Of his mari
tai tics
The conycyal Of this hint was depute,
TO James lladley. clerk In downtown
lace store who had worshiped Mt TIN
shrine Of the fascinating blonde when sh
first appeared AZ the boarding house. an'
whose attentions had been suppresse,
with scornful derision which still
ranked In his yrtuous breast, and mad
him accept the mission with revengefu
alacrity
And when Mr. EIadley finished his re
cital Of Mrs Claypoles shortcomings an,
suspected peccadillos, which he delivere,
with many pious signs and grnans abou
the Inconsistency Of woman he was almos
petrifed by poor old Claypole's" en-
phatic rejoinder