New-York tribune., 1901-06-19
UMBRELLA OWNERS REJOICE.
HEAVY SENTENCE IMPOSED ON "BOR-
ROVER" CONSIDERED JUST RET
RIRUTION.

News that an umbrella borrower in Indiana has
been sentenced a reformatory, fined 81 and dis
franchised for five years is regarded by lawyers
here with considerable hope. As one expressed IT.
boon on the people of the United States if the
judiciary of other States will act along similar
lines am not prepared to say If the punishment
was too severe or not. but freely believe 1t is
step In the right direction
Many reasons given to show that the Indiana
judge established laudable precedent. The term
umbrella borrower which the judge interpreted
as no other than umbrella thief has too long been
a delusion ii IL said, and cloak to hide hypocrit-
ical guilt Why. il is asked should who ap-
propriates umbrella be any less a criminal
than the burglar who carries off a silver tea
vice? In point of value. umbrella is oftentimes
far more valuable than tea service. In the rack
Of department the umbrella may find
tardy purchaser at 9s cents On the other hand an
umbrella 5:55 o'clock in the of a down
town office with four minutes to catch the train
and a coudburst just sweeping down over the
CITY, is of inestimabe value. worth several tea sets.
i'm fact There indeed many who argue that
a man who would take an umbrella under such
circumstances would be guilty not only of grand
larceny. but of attempt to kin we'll. Fer is not
the life OF the victim Of such theft threatened II
is asked. by being exposed 70 the rain and cold
Indeed an umbrella under such conditions (and
they happen only frequently is worth countless
services; it's value approaches that of human
life.
Those who say that the punishment imposed by
the Indiana Judge severe argue that the
man who appropriates another mans umbrella
should be excused the ground that he may
have had stolen himself They explain that he
simply trying to get 1t is obligatory
these moralists would have think. for man TO
steal where others steal "a fair exchange is no
robbery" is of their favorite precepts. and
| "Alls fair in love and war is another.
Then too the fact that umbrellas are left around
| more freely and unfortunately than watches
diamond rings is interpreted by many evidence
of the lack of individual ownership. According TO
ipnocent urbar IN vas moved that Ehath he stole
The friends Of the umbrella borrower while
exhibiting certain anarchistic tendencies. betray
other characteristics to still more marked degree
Chief of these is that of forgetfulness. II is the
| 10 become umbrella borrower. The forsetful
| man. for instance. begins by buying an umbrella
continues all right. However absentminded he may
be. he does not forget to keep the rain off. BY so
But on reaching his destination the forgetful man
is engrossed in other affairs. and should the
| of his umbrella until he reaches home. Then
| he has forgotten where he left ii. and after a
| clusion that the world owes him umbrella.
Forsetfulness thus begins To border on crime. and
the after that II the edge OF the pitfan Of
larceny. His fate is almOs: certain Some other
forgctful man leaves an umbrella in his way and
proprated the foundling and stifed his conscience
by saying. Justice is mine; have got even
But ne little t TeazeS PernapT @ S T4ar f wake axe OF
mankind The second forgetful man. the victim Of
soon follows. Thus the line OF victims extends ad
ininitum.
As one lawyer expressed it, on reviewing the
Indiana case.
himself committed larceny but he has indirectly
tempted the rest of the world 10 repeat his crime
N ,ne man VINO loses an unlofela would oe conn.,
another his memory would soon be infallble.