The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-23
A ROBBER FROM 4
The CRADLE
Since She Was Three Years Old
PerSiS Thatcher Has Stolen.
STEALS NOTHING BUT MONEY
She Huards Her Gains Untll Sh, Cats a
Dollar or More and Then Spends
II RlotousIy.
STEALS NOTHING BUT MONEY

New York. Oct. 1s.-"Oh. mamma, I
couldn't be good" declared little Persis
Thacher. after one OF her mothers long
and fearful lectures and appeals to stop
stealing money. You couldn't give me
money enough. want. oh, such an awful
10. OF money"
Only eight years old. Persis Thacher,
who was before Magistrate olmstead, in
the Children's court, has been a klepto-
maniac since she was three. and no
amount OF persuasion. correction. threat
or entreaty has been able TO check her
mania for stealing money and spending
II.
Gluttony and prevarication have fol-
lowed in the train of the money mania
her parents say, but the impulse to steal
Is persistent and has been the dominant
trait In the childs character ever since
she was able to talk and toddle about
Magistrate Olmstead confessed that
the case puttzled him. Persis has been in
the care of the Children's society for a
week. The magistrate told Mr.. and Mrs.
Thachsr yesterday that he would remand
.
by which time he would determine what
institution would best suit her deplorable
case.
The little girl livs with her parents
at 300 West One Hundred and Forty-nrst
street Her father is a bookkeeper In
moderate circumstances. but the childs
training and surroundings have been OF
the best
Jar rnofhar n svest-faned woman said
that her heart was breaking over the
child's len tai deformity and appeal TO the
MAGISTRATE was taken In order TO save
the child. IL possible, from consequences
which her mania would undoubtedly lead
to. as she grew older.
Persis is money mad. Since she was
three years old she has been stealing
from her mothers purse. from her ia
ther's pockets, from the neighbors. Sent
TO the grocer's on errands, she never
brings back any change, but declares she
lost It
Given money for the Sunday school col
lection she will hide IL and hoard IT.
During the past year she has developed
an accumulative streak. She will not
spend ten or Is cents at a time. but will
hoard UP all small amounts until she
has gathered together a dollar or more.
Then she will scatter the money right
and left for food, candy. nuts, raisins.
Two weeks ago she had saved up 81 Is.
She started for school, but instead board
ed an l. train and rode 10 One Hundred
and Twenty-ffth street, where she
alighted and ordered a meal In a restau-
rant.
FOUR PIECES OF PIE.
She took the train again and went TO
Fifty-ninth street where she bought four
pieces of pie, some cake and glass
OF milk in a restaurant Then she rode
down to Twenty-third street on the ele-
waited and bought candy and fruit. eating
all she could and throwing the rest away.
In tho Afternoon she brought up at
the West Twentieth street police station,
where she told the matron she was fam
ished and had had nothing to eat all day.
She was fed and her father sent for He
took her home and she told her mother
she was starving. After a steak had been
cooked for her and she had eaten IL, she
told the story of her day.
For two days her mother confined her
to the house after whipping her. Then
Persis went next door 10 a neighbor's
and as a result OF several visits stole 60
cents and hid II.
Her mother has prayed with her. read
the Bible TO her and talked with her
about the sin and wickedness OF stealing.
all to no purpose. The little girl says she
cannot help longing for money and taking
IL and spending IL every opportunity
she gets.