Connecticut western news., 1890-02-26
WEALTHY, BUT A THIEF.
The Tendency to Steal That is Kindly
 Called Kleptomania.

The Tendency to Steal That is Kindly
 Called Kleptomania. A Detectives Story --Hig b. Toned Shop Litter
 Caught and an Innocent Clerk Acquitted of
 suspicion--An Interesting Story of City
 Life.
 "Do you know" said well-known detective to a party of friends in Dem yer the other night, that there arc some people in Denver who are afflict- ed with the mania called kleptomania? know of an old lady, she is widow now and very wealthy, owning large business block on one of our principal streets, who gave the detectives no end of trouble for about six months. One day a storekeeper cama into our office and complained that he had lost fine Persian shawl valued at $1OO, and was bound to hunt down the person who stole it.
 .'lIe suspected young lady clerk of most estimable character, but could give no definite reason why he did so, unless 1t was from the fact that she had not been in the store very long and had the utmost confidence in the honesty of the remainder of his clerks
 II took charge of the case and secured temporary employment in the store. No one knew me in my official character. As soon as saw the girl against whom Suspicion had been directed I became very confident that she knew nothing more about the missing articles than did, and de- termined to clear her of all suspicion. One day lady in the best turnout of the city drove up to the main entrance of the store with colored coachman infull livery sitting on the drivers box like statue. From 1t alighted an leeantly dressed lady with naughty air that betokened g life of easy wealth and familiarity with the top most stratum of society. She was one of the best customers of the store, and the head clerk hastened to open the door, and with a polite bow, awaited her pleasures and orders Something about the woman attracted my atten- tion, and as there was nothing partic- ular for me to do just then l deter mined to watch her.
 ''She was conducted to the lace and silk departments. Here she showed the keenest appreciation of the fragile and valuable fabrics which were dis played. She became engrossed in ex- amining very fine pattern of Vene- tian lace, and I could see by her cov- etous look that she had determined to possess herself of this piece of goods. l supposed that of course she would order it and pay for 1t as was the usual custom among our wealthy customers. She carefully folded up and arranged the other pieces evenly in the box from which it came and called the clerk s attention to another peculiar pattern on an upper shelf that she wished to examine. The clerk turned his back and after considerable trouble suc- ceeded in placing the desired article before his cust Omer.
 While his back was turned I noticed that she made an odd movement and pretended to be arranging her dress, and had covered up the box containing the fiue lace and pushed it away from her toward the inside of the counter. I saw nothing wrong and gave no fur- ther notice to the woman. She paid for the goods she bought, and, entering her carriage, was driven away.
 "A few days afterward the clerk discovered that one of the most valu a. ble patterns of lace WIS missing. He told the proprietor who immediately informed me of the occurrence
 ''As ] mad been keeping a sharp lookout was nonplussed. and on go- ing home that night 1 determined to give up the case and resign anl go to farming or some other occupation that seemed moro suited to me. went to bed and as l could not sleep picked up newspaper and bee me interested in an account of 8 wealthy woman in an eastern city being arrested for shop lifting. It flashed over me at once that had similar case, and recalling the visit of the woman to the store a few days previous cursed myself for being so thick-headed. The next morning 1 went to the store with a lighter heart than I had left it the night before and asked that bill be made out for the lace pattern, leaving blank the debtors name. then ascer- tained who the lady was that had been in the store few days before. put her name in the blank space and set out on my errand. It was ticklish thing to do and I knew that if was unsuccessful I would be severely con- demned and discharged from a lucra- tive position.
 "On going up the steps and ringing the door bell 1 was ushered into the parlor where, with considerable trep- idation, awaited her arrival. Seeing only common-lo looking young fellow she inquired the meaning of my busi- ness in an impertinent sort Of a way that dispelled all fears of being on the wrong track, and with a bold face presented the bill for the lace. She looked first at it and then at me and