The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-04-23
EXCEEDS THE CRIME.
Such is the Judgment OF wilkesbarre's
solons on Their Chiefs Decree,


wnkesbarre. Pa. April 22-Mayor
Nichols. OF this city. sent an annual mes
sage OF forty-six printed pages to the
city council last night, which that digni-
ned body calmly Ignored by having 1t
received and filed without page
being opened. Today he did something
which. II rumor Is true. the council viii
not ignore, for several councilmen have
said they will look into the matter.
The nrst intimation of this new freak"
as some call Il. OF the mayors was the
appearance on the street this afternoon
OF most unusual spectacle--a woman
walking around. wearing upon her back
big white card. on which was printed
In large black letters the words:
II AM A SHOE THIEF. LOOK OUT"
A big policeman followed close behind
her TO prevent her displacing the sign
or running away, and thus she was OBJ
lged to walk through all the principal
streets.
The woman IL Mrs. Sarah Jones, and
the police say she Is professional thief
and has been before the mayor several
times for petty thefts. But apparently
the punishment has had little or no effect
upon her. for no sooner was she free
woman than she would be in trouble
again.
Early this afternoon. while walking
along the street with a large basket on
her arm, she coolly took pair OF mems
shoes from the stand In front Of Rahny's
shoe store. dropped them in her basket
and hurried on, one OF the clerks, how
ever, had seen her, He followed her
until he met a policeman and had her
arrested. The woman was At once taken
before the mayor. Her only excuse was:
"Oh, your honor. me old man has no
shoe and had to take 'em so he could
so out and do some work, for me and
the children have nothing to eat"
/ Now, Mrs, Jones'" lie said, Il will
give you your choice OF two things, for
mean TO punish you. win either
send you to jail to await trial, and that
will mean a confinement OF a month be-
fore the grand jury meets and the sent
ence after your trial, or you can walk
about the town for one hour With sign
upon your back telling everybody who
sees you that you are thief and that
you arc to be watched"
The woman readily agreed to this un-
usual proposition. and the mayor and his
secretary made the sign. With this
, IuStcileu uTOunu ner neck ana nonElnS
from her neck to below her waist. and
escorted by policeman, the woman was
made to parade the principal streets,
chiefly around and around the public
square In the heart Of the city.
The woman had not gone block from
the mayors offlce before a crowd was
following her small boys hootlng and
shouting, Thief Thief" steal some
more shoes, will your" Now. will you
he good?" and other expressions.
Older persons though, who saw the
spectacle, were deeply impressed, and a
great many were very much incensed al
what was termed a public outrage. anC
on all sides the mayor was severely con.
demned, Had he foreseen the results
OF his novel mode Of Furnishing the WON.
an he would have probably let her &c
free before making her publicly parade
her guilt.
Hardened sinner as the woman un
doubtedly is, even she was affected. ant
tears rolled down her cheeks, hut tn,
big policeman behind her did not relent
and she was compelled to continue hel
walk until the specified time had beer
consumed.