Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-06-18
ROBBED HER HUSBAND.
That's What ID. q. Leyinson says His Wife
Did She Has Gone to Her People.


That's what ID. q. Levinson Says Ills Wife
Did She Has Gone to Tier People.
From Portland Review
Whether kleptomania Is disease, n
mania, or simply an irresistible desire
TO commit wrong, the courts have
never declared, but that it exists in
various forms in every community is u
well known fact. 1t is likely soon to
form the basis of suit for divorce in
the case of Portland couple.
Eight years ago ID. G. Levinson,
manager of the Michigan Mercantile
Co. s Portland store, married his wife
at Kalkaska. Her parents were we'll
tO-do while his were considered
wealthy. Young Mr.. Levinson, with
the assistance of his father, soon went
into business, first at Sault Ste. Marie,
then in various other Michigan towns
and lately at Bedding. His wife help
ed him in the store and everybody con-
sidered them a most happy couple.
But young Mr.. Levinson had been
married but short time when he says
he discovered that a systematic pilfer-
ing from his stock was going on. Each
time he inyoced results seemed more
and more unsatisfactory. He institut-
ed thorough investigation with the
result, he says, that his wife was con-
fronted with proof of her guilt, ad-
mitted il and promised it should cease.
The goods and money had been shipped
clandestinely to her people, who reside
at Walton, Mich.
Mr.. Levinson claims things went
along more smoothly for a time, but
soon the old habit returned and he
went out of business finding that he
was rapidly being swamped. His wife
and he parted and for six months they
did not see each other He still loved
her and this, together with the little
son, brought them together once more.
The wife's good promises were renew
ed with such demonstrations of pen
itence that the husbands confidence
was for the time restored. At Belding
trouble broke out afresh. Still hoping
that the ruling passion might be con-
trolled he came To Portland, but it was
the old, old story.
Mrs. Levinson had key to the store
and helped her husband. He became
suspicious last week and opened her
trunk at this Welch house, finding
valuable silks, ribbons, etc. together
with u good sized sum of money con
cealed in = stocking He watched thc
sum grow larger and then become de-
pleted again, which was assurance
that the money was being sent out of
town. Then he got possession of let
ters, one written TO Mrs. Levinson's 5
brother and another TO her mother, in
which she inquired if various articles
had reached them, requesting them to
put two crosses at the bottom of their
answer il it had. One of them told of
n box Of valuables she still had stored
with IA friend at Belding and asked for
advice on whether to ship by freight
or express. The Belding friend came
down with her husband last week and
implored Mr.. Levinson not TO prose-
cute, acknowledging that she had re-
ceiyed the property. Mrs. Leyinson
went To Walton, Friday, and divorce
proceedings will soon be started
though the woman will not be prose-
cuted on the other charge.
Mr.. Levinson feels the disgrace
keenly. He says his wife has never
been denied anything within his means
to grant, that he has exhausted his
persuasive powers in endeavoring to
break her OF the mania. There are
evidences of his generosity on every
hand and his integrity has not been
assailed. The affair is as unfortunate
for him as for his young wife, whose
only defense he says, is that her par
ents are not in good circumstances,
while his are wealthy