The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1889-01-02
THE STOLEN LACES
An Episode in the History Of Chicago
Crime.
FROM THE DIARY OF DETECTIVE DENIS
SIMMONS, OF THE BANK DETAIL OF THE
CENTRAL STATION.

Early in the spring of 1872 The boarders
vt Mrs. Frelinghuysen house ON West
Adams street. felt themselves constrained
10 discuss and decide n very delicate ques-
ton. For some time previous the con.
duct of Mrs. Alice Claypole had given
them great concern ri Is lady was the
wife Of middle aged lawyer Of good
standing. who seemed deVotedly attached
TO her and was blind To the many weak.
nesses OF her character, and obliviOus OF
the fact that her bearing In male society
was a subject Of unfavOrable comment In
the well conducted establishment Of the
estimable Mrs Prelinghuysen.
Mrs Claypole's firtations were the talk
OF the ncighbOrhood and her bald headed,
good natured husband came In for
goodly share Of that pity and compassion
which the world has ever In store for per
sons apparently unconscious Of their own
misfOrtunes.
Poor old Claypolc" was an oft repeated
remark; Some one ought TO open his eyes
aud let lin know the full iniquity of his
wife's misconduct"
But none undertook this delicate mis-.
sion and poor old Clnypole" continued
to idolizo his charming and fascinating
spouse-charming and fascinating not
only to him but 60 some half dozen other
gentlemen who were said Ia languish In
the sunshine Of her smiles.
Mrs. Claypolc. to make matters more
piquant and Interesting 10 her fellow
bonrders. was not "A beautiful woman. as
the term goes She was tall and shapcly.
however. dressed with becoming taste.
and carried herself with u stately grace
that never failed 10 elicit remarks Of al
miration.
Her features wcrc somewhat Irregular
and heavy In rcposc but when she became
interested IN conversation. or, Better STILL
when she was aiming at u conquest her
face lighted up with the nrdor Of her
thoughts. and her big blue eyes flashed
dangerously from beneath half dropping
lids fringed with long. dark eye lashes
that tried In vain 20 screen the passionate
trc of amorous glances.
No. Mrs Claypole was not beautiful
woman. but she had that subtle power OF
charming which Is more fascinating than
beauty and plays the deuce with the yir.
tuOus instincts Of mankind.
Mr. aud Mrs Claypole had lived at the
/ FrellnChuysen establishment two months
when the boarders thought IL high time
20 arrive at some conclusion ms 20 the al
legged improprieties Of her conduct
Not content with the conquest OF full
grown and bearded men. the fair Alice,
who was thirty II she was q year, had rc.
Gently shown liking for the society Of
young mcn In their teens. Three or four
Of these susceptible young fellows danced
In constant attendance upon her They
ran her errands, escorted her to the
t,.iatrc took her 20 supper after the play.
and acted spooney generally In the man
ncr peculiar to lovcsick lads.
And. what was most exasperating to
the critics Of mature age, Mrs. Claypole
seemed to enjoy this hOidenish homage
She was soft aud soothing. oven motherly.
Ia her demeanor toward her young nd.
mirprs She would stroke their cheeks
and pat their heads lovingly, call them
brave boys, and sometimcs-so Miss
Goggles. the ancient spinster, who occu-
pied the first floor hall bedroom, and was
ever ON the alert TO spy out the moral de
llnqucncies Of her ncighbors. averred-
Hiss them tenderly and tell them to be
good and true aud devoted TO their
mother.
SHE calls herself their mother, the
aitful wretch reported Miss Goggles
with look Of horror In her watery eyes,
"sho ought 10 be horsewhippedW
No wonder Mrs Frelinghuysen's board
era were stirred TO the very depths Of their
homes, hearts Such vagaries on the part
Of q married woman were reprehensible in
the highest degree. They called Tor an
expression OF yirtuous Indignation. Mr..
Clsypolo ought TO be Informed OF his wife :
moral oblquity. II was y burning. scan.
dalous shame that such o nice, high
! minded, honorable old gentleman should
, have the wool pulled over his eyes by this
wicked woman, and he a lawyer. too, with
a professional knowledge OF the relief
which could be speedily gained In the di'
, vorco court.
Then Il was that the boarders came Ia
the unanimous decision that Mrs. Clay
pole was designing. hesrtless coquette
that her society should be tabooed, and
that poor old Mr. Claypole should receive
q broad hint Of what was going on. with
view to prompt disruption of his mari
tai ties.
TIL. conveyal Of this hint was deputed
to James Hadlcy. clerk in a downtown
, lnce store. who had worshiped at the
shrine Of the fascinating blonde when she
D first appeared At the boarding house, anC
, whose attentions had been suppressed
, with scornful derision which still
rankled In his yirtuous breast and mad'
him accept the mission with revengefu
I nlacrity.
And when Mr.. Hadley finished his re
citsl Of Mrs. Claypole's shortcomings an'
suspected peccadillos. which he Delivers
with many pious signs and groans abou
the Inconsistency Of woman, he was almos
petrified by poor old Claypole's" EN-
9 phatic rejoinder