Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-24
WAS CAUGHT SHOPLlFTlNG
Woman Richly Dressed and Wearing Valua.
BILE Diamonds
COnfesses to Inspector-Financia
straits and Desire to Make Pres
ents the Plea.

A young woman, richly dressed who was
wearing several hundred dollars worth of
diamonds on her fingers and in her ears
was arrested about noon today by Detec-
tives Helan and McNamee for alleged
shoplifung in the Palais Royal. and when
taken before Inspector Mattngly she con-
fessed her guilt and said her name was
Mary Thompson. She told the inspector
that her husband is salesman on the
road.
The fair prisocer told the officers that
she came here from Boston several weeks
ago. and had taken the goods from the
store because she wanted to give presents
TO number of friends. This, she said.
was her first offense, and she was driven
to it because of financial reverses.
When the detectives met her on the
street, near the Palais Royal and informed
her that she was under arrest the woman
mad very little to say. The action of the
cmcerS was a complete surprize to her but
she d!d not seem to be agitated. Her ar
rest changed her appearance very little IL
any, and she was inclined to be indignant
more than to show fright. But she re-
turned to the big store with the detectives
ana Went In the private room where there
was a colored woman to search her Th..
colored woman, who was placed there to do
this work for the officers, looked in as
tonlshment when she saw that she had to
search woman who was SO finely dressed
a'iu VINO wore so many handsome jewels.
Results of the Search.
Inc search was rewarded by the finding
OF two silver-back brushes and a comb TO
match, some silk hcsiery a box of fancy
rote paper and pair of suspender carriers
Mrs. thompson, as she gave her name re-
manned silent while the search was being
nade' and when first questioned as to her
name she refused to give il.
from the store she was escorted by De-
ttCuVe Heian to headquarters, where the
oncer ana Inspector Mattingly conferred
win her For some minutes she would rell
them nothing, but finally admitted that
she had taken the articles and gave ne
reasons. Later on she gave the name
stated.
The woman had been last night in one of
the big stores. acting in a manner which
attracted attention. and she was followed
and watched. 1t had been stated by one
OF the clerks in the store that she had
helped herself to some article but the floor
walker to whom the clerk made complaint
dld not feel as if he wanted to take the
chance of arreSting her.
She was too well dressed for him to be-
heve the story, but he had her watched
and she was followed to a house on l1th
street northwest between II and / streets.
This morning she returned to one of the
stores, and was again closely watched by
one of the floor walkers. From one store
she WIS followed to another, and the de-
tectives Were told OF the alleged mfscon-
duct of which she was said to have been
guilty.
When the officers had watched her move
mentS for a few minutes, and were fully
satisfied there could be no mistoke they
placed her under arrest.
Taken 10 the Station.
From headquarters the prisoner was
taken to the first precinct station, where
she was searched by the matron, but moth
ing additional was recovered.
When the arrest of the woman was COM
municated to the several big stores some
of the clerks and fioorwalkers RENE mbered
having seen her. One of them remarked
that if the shoplifting business was kept
up ths re would soon be no room in the
stores for customers. More arrests for al
legged shoplifting have been made this