Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-02-01
CAUGHT STEALING.
Another Rock Island Woman
Proves Failure as Shop
Litter.
LET OFF WITH A FINE OF SIC
Carrying Away aI$1.25 Belt When
Given Over TO An
Officer.

Late yesterday afternoon woman
rather well known in the city was
observed showing "a $1.25 belt that she
had not paid for away in the bosom
of her jacket at McCabe's store. She
was detained at the store till an of
ficer, who was telephoned for. arriV-
ed ON the scene and took here to the
station. Having been caught red
handed she made no denial of her
guilt and was very glad to get off
with a fine of SO and costs, which
was imposed when the owners of the
store declined to prosecute. She
gave her name as Lottie Lee.
This incident brings to mind the
fact that Rock Island. like all other
cities of its size. has number of
women who make a practice of tax
ing such articles as they can carry
away undetected from the stores.
Speaking on this subject a depart
ment store manager of the city to-
day said To an Argus reporter:
Number Are Watched.
Yes. we know of number of yvo-
men whom we keep close watch
upon when they visit our store. Some
of them are women that would never
be suspected of doing petty thieving.
too. Of coure we lose articles
from time to time i'm spite of our Wig
lance. In dealing with this class of
persons we follow the plan GENERALLY
observed in the larger stores. of
course we make no charge unless we
are absolutely certain that we have
found thief and then the best way
10 handle the case is To get rs many
of the articles as possible back and
say no more about it. y store has
considerable to lose and nothing to
gain 10y prosecuting. for the punish
mcnt of a shop-lifter does not serve
as AN example To others
Another instance was told OF i'm
which a married woman Of this city
was caught stealing from counter
AMI i'm order to get herself out Of
trouble had to borrow $50 from
friends. This she did and i'm course
of time repaid il without her nus
band being the wiser.
Bear Loss in silence.
Since the recent robbing of Il bust
ness man by cOlored woman WAS
aired in court it has developed that
I number of others have suffered
like fate to the tune of varying
I'm each of the other cases
the victim concluded to bear the
loss philosophically and silently rath-
or than have his name mentioned in
connection with the matter. Once,
several weeks ago, Il man appeared
at the station late i'm the evening and
r.. L. I.
had been relieved of his wallet by Il
colored woman who accosted him on
"A lonely street. The officers. acting
on the description furnished. soon
had under arrest a woman whom
they believed was the enc wanted.
An officer went after the man To see
if nc could identify her. but in the
meantime the citizen had thought
the matter over and he refused to go
to the station. begging that the case
he dropped. For heavens sake keep
il out of the papers" he implorcd. \
of similar cases are known
and no doubt there are many that |
have never come To light.
Beats "A Woman.
George Mortell was arrested by |
phNNi N'ii iHS' S''ihiS III INV "N' |
Of administering Il shameful heating !
to woman named Mamie Doian at !
her haunts i'm the second story of Il |
ON the north side of Second |
avenue between Fifteenth and Six |
tCCuth streets. When the officer ar
rived ON the scene MOrtell had drag |
rcd the woman down stairs by the |
heels and after kicking her about |
was standing over her with knife |
io prevent her escape. Her lips were |
rut and she was bruised about the |
body. Mortell had been drinking. |
To-day Magistrate Johnson fined the |
fellow $50 and costs. which from pres
mt indications he will lay out in Jail. |