Waterbury Democrat., 1901-08-15
CHASTISED A THIEF.
Chicago Woman Gets Even with
 Purloiner of Her Purse.
After short Chase the PIucIxy Lady Arrests the Thief and Metes Out Quick and Appropriate
 Punishment.

Cheered on by several hundred cit izens of Haywood, Chicago suburb, Mrs. William McGill, of 5626 Indiana street, Austin, horsewhipped a thief who had stolen her pocketbook few minutes before on street car.
 Chicago papers, which recite the ex- citing occurrence, say that the whip ping took place in real estate office belonging to E. A. Cummings at St. Charles and Nineteenth streets, after Mrs. McGill had confronted the man whom she believed had stolen her purse. The whip, which was of raw hide, was procured by the friends of Mrs. McGill, and they urged her not to spare it.
 Mrs. McGill boarded Madison street ear at Nineteenth street in Melrose Park shortly before four o'clock. She was accompanied by Mrs. Nellie Henry, of 686 Thirty-frst street, Austin, and they were on their way down town. When they had taken seats Mrs. Me Gill laid her purse on seat just be- hind her, while she adjusted her hat.
 A minute later she turned around to get the pocketbook, but it was gone. So was the stranger who occupied the corner seat. Without telling her com panion she stepped to the door and signaled the conductor to stop. Less than a square away stood the man whom Mrs. McGill was certain had her purse. Walking brislsly up to the man, she said in determined voice:
 t'You have my pockctbook."
 He protested his innocence. Stand ing near by was w. X. Twining, a clerk in MT. Cummings office. She called to him for assistance, and he in peremp- tory tones invited the unwilling stranger into his private office.
 Still the man maintained his inno- cense, but he was unable to tell con nected story. He refused to be searched, saying that it was a case of mistaken identity; that he was T. A. Browne, of IF Peoria street, re- spectable citizen, and that an outrage was being perpetrated upon him.
 Browne was kept in the sweat box" for awhile longer, however, and po- liceman was sent for. Then the pris- oner became alarmed and pleaded to be released.
 Finding his captors obdurate, he
  and threw it to the floor. This was the signal for the crowd to howl and hoot. One said: Lynch him." another thought of the horsewhip.
 ''Yes, get me a horsewhip," cried Mrs. McGill, "and will give him what he deserves"
 A dozen members of the crowd started for one. When one of them returned she seized Browne. by the coat collar with grasp that made his escape impossible, raised the whip over his head and brought it down a dozen times. with resounding crack. The victim cried, pleaded and cursed, but all to no purpose. Mrs. McGill only strengthened her grip on his collar and applied the lash until he fell to the floor in half-faint.
 'Is that enough-for-you?" de- manded Mrs. McGill. But Browne was too weak to respond, and the woman 1oosened her hold and tossed the whip to the ground.
 ''Now go,' she said, land be careful how you act in the future.''
 Not waiting for a second invitation, Browne scrambled to his knees and then to his feet. He could scarcely stand. He started off without his coat or hat, but they were tossed after him, and he gathered them up and walked away followed by several mem bers of the crowd.
 That will do him more good than all the prisons in the state," said Mrs McGill, as she started for her home.