Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-11-05
CAN'T HELP STEALING.
Many Rich and Aristocratic Vic
tins of Kleptomania.
CASE OF BEAUTIFUL MRS. CASTLE.

Pilferins by . Hitherto Honest Person Il
Often . Sign Of Mental Abcrration-Im-
portant Medical Testimony-soneN ots-
BILE Instances of Kleptomania.
Walter NJ Castle aud his beautiful wife,
the wealthy and prominent Americans
who will have to stand trial for shoplifting
in London, will undertake to convince q
British jury that Mrs. Castle is a victim
of kleptomania. The common thief steals
for the love of stealing and that he may
secure the profits; the kleptcmaniac steals
for the love of stealing pure and simple,
without any idea of profit and in obedience
to an irresistible impulse. In one case the
misdoer is responsible-that is, account
able for his acts; in the other, the victim
of distinct moral aud mental alteration.
But how is the world to distinguish be-
tween these two? Undoubtedly many
kleptomaEiacs have been punished as COM
mon thieves, for the world is skeptical and
the disease is more prevalent than is gen.
orally supposed. The recorded instances
are numerous and peculiar.
DIR. W. A. Hammond of New York has
the complete record of a case of undoubted
kleptomania. A young law student had,
under his care, just recovered from scarlet
fever. During convalescence he was sitting
by a window when his attention was at
tracted by two men, both of whom wore
very heavy watch chains. That night he
awoke from a sound sleep with the idea
that he must have these chains. The idea
possessed his mind all the next day, by
which time he had determined that he
stances, with the highest reputation. He
had a watch and handsome chain Of his
own and could have bought apothcr if he
had wanted it. Week after week he haunt
ed jewelers. shops, theaters, hotels, in the
hope of seeing the men. Gradually tho
idea seemed to leave him. His health ap-
pafently recovered, and he resumed his
law studies.
One evening he came face to face with
one of the men. Instantly 10 turned and
followed the man until he saw him enter
u jewelers. 1t was for the purpose of hay
ing the watch repaired. The young law
yer snatched the watch and chain from his
hand and disappeared. He carefully pack
ed the watch and returned it to the jeweler.
The chain he cared nothing for. All tho
joy of possession had passed in the act of
stealing it, yet he could not persuade him.
self to return It. He buried it in the eel
lar. Months afterward he returned that
also. The memory of the whole incident
was a horror to him, and he never again
had the impulse to steal. DIR. Hammond
declares that in this case the brain YVES
still weak from the recent fever. Who
doubts if this young man had been caught
with the watch and chain in his possession
that he would have been sentenced to
term of imprisonment? He was not insane
the only plea that could have been made
was his past good reputation and tine lack
of a necessity for stealing.
Indeed, pilfering by hitherto honest
person is often u sign of mental alteration
that soon becomes SO pronounced a. to
cause the victim to be declared insane
Those of unsound mind often wander about
all day picking up whatever they can lay
their hands on and carefully concealing
the articles in their rooms. a case is re-
lated Of a man who would not eat unless
the food were stolen, and food was conceal
cd in his room for him to find More often
than not the articles stolen have no value.
The famous DIR. Rush had patient who
would fill her pockets with bread crusts,
bones and fruit parings at tables where
she dined. She invariably carried away
the spoons and napkins, which her family
as carefully returned next day. She was
allowed to have no keys SO that she could
lock stolen articles away. She suffered
great shame and modification. Some
times she did not remember taking the ar
ticles, and at other times would declare
that she was unable to resist the impulse.
Lavater knew a doctor who could not go
to patients room without purloining
small belongings. His wife always search
cd his pockets when he returned from a
round of visits and restored the property to
their owners. Most of the articles were
useless to him and valuelcss. The almoner
of n Prussian regiment stole the handker-
chiefs Of the officers when on parade, and
this same unfortunate man, when he came
to die, secreted the snuffbox of his father
confessor.
There is a case on record of a parish
clergyman being unfrocked for stealing.
If out at dinner, he pocketcd scraps Of
bread and napkins. From hotels he car
ried away bits of soap and candle ends
London society,"" said The Times few
years ago, could furnish "a dozen names
of ladies who are notorious for purloining
articles of small value from the shops
where they habitually deal
The dealers knew and watched them and
sent bills for the goods. In some cases rel