The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-08
MRS. CASTLES CRIME.

There is no occasion for an hysterical
outburst OF sympathy in behalf of the I'M
happy Mrs. Castle. who is being made by
an English court to suffer the penalty of
being "light-lngered." Mr.. Castle, who is
clearly innocent of all connivance in his
wife's misdoings and was undoubtedly ig-
norant of her weakness in that direction, is
deserving OF much pity for the unpleasant
notoriety into which he is brought and for
the distress he evidently endures on her
account. He takes his wife's part i'm a
manly way. and his solicitude in her behalf
is consistent with a belief that she was not
mentally responsible for her acts. 1t is
possible that he is right and that the de-
Tense offered by his lawyers was just, but
it is difficult for one not biased by personal
feeling TO regard a tenoency to steal as a
phase of insanity in a woman of otherwise
normal mind and behavior. The so-called
kleptomaniac is apt to show too much
method in her madness to give IL a genuine
character to the eyes of the ordinary OBJ
server. A woman who steals what she
does not need and what she has money to
pay for is. of course. a weak sister. but it
may DO thr ooihC WC1hhCc
which leads other women to indulge over
much in drugs or causes men to drink until
a habit is acquired. The latter habits may
be self-cured. and so may the other. The
habits once formed are hard to break. but
the victims are not necessarily insane. Mrs.
Castle had not such AMANDA" but that
she knew stealing was wrong. She is
thoroughly conscious OF the disgrace of her
position. and evidently suffers keenly.
English justice does not draw the fine
line Of discrimination between the profess
sional thief and the one who steals from
impulse or habit which legal sophistry tries
to point out. This unfortunate woman I'M
questionably took property that belonged
to others, and she must be punished. In
this country such an offense is regarded
more as a personal matter between the
thief and the owner of the goods. and if
the former is willing to make restitution no
prosecution fellows; justice closes her eyes.
In England the offense is one against the
public as we'll as the individual, and the
owner of the property. once having made
known his loss. can no longer control mat
tiers. The law takes it's course. and the
criminal, without regard to station in life,
is punished. TIL English courts are no re-
specters of persons and do not allow their
sympathies to interfere with the admins
tration of justice as they conceive it
ranking higher in this particular than the
average American court. Mrs. Castle may
be unjustly condemned and be really the
victim of an uncomfortable propensity to
steal, but there is good reason TO believe
that it is a propensity not so we'll estab-
lished but that this experience will cure
it. 1t is not unlikely, too, that the hard
lesson taught her will cause others similarly
affected to restrain their weakness. at least
while passing through London. If the in
iuence Of this incident should rave a salu-
tary effect upon the kleptomaniacs of high
social standing who try the souls Of shop
keepers in this country the latter would
rejoice greatly.