The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-02
THIEF AMID SOCIETY
BY ROBBERIES DURING
O'CLOCK TEAS
HATE TO GO TO THE POLICE
Nevertheless the Loss of Clothing
and JeweIry Has Been Suffered
So Far and Often That Func-
tions Are Stunned.

NEW YORK, March HAS Rochester
a social kleptomaniac? Some one is sys-
temadcally Eobbing the guests who at
tend O'Clock teas and other afternoon
receptions in that city. The thefts have
been going on for more than a year,
and have steadily increased in daring
and extent. Gold and silver jewelry, dia-
monds, rings, money and even gloves,
pocketbooks, wells, hat pins and other
small articles Of feminine apparel have
been stolen. In some cases the wraps of
the guests have been searched, in others
~, bureau and dressing case drawers in
the rooms where the wraps were laid
aside have been rifed. Seldom has So
cial gathering passed without some one
finding that she has been Tie loser
through the adeptneSs OF this myterious
thief. The total amount of money stolen
in the last twelve months would not
amount to much, but the worth of other
things is far greater.
The result of this series Of robberies
Is a feeling OF insecurity. Said one wom-
an yesterdays
All Society Women Afraid.
Both my friends and myself are begin
ming to be afraid to attend afternoon re-
ceptions. The activities of the thief are
IN operation, apparently, only then.
have heard nothing of any robberies at
evening ACCCpllOIlS. vi ldIG we nave DGGIl
taxing with US only our cheapest and most
worthless things, while for money we
carry only enough to take US home again,
and keep that with u.s."
This woman was robbed only a few
weeks ago She had left her wraps in
an upstairs dressing room at the home
OF her hostess. In a. card case, which
was tucked away In pocket of her cloak,
she had put 80 cents. When she return
ed to the room the pocket was inside
out and the money gone. That after
noon several other guests suffered SINH
lar losses. One woman has never been
able to find a seal pocketbook with heavy
silver mountings.
Here Is another story Of the social
kleptomaniac. The scene of the looting
is laid in suburb at an afternoon re-
ception. A large number of Rochester
women had gone out to the tea. When
they started to get ready for the return
trip from the dressing rooms came a
succession of cries. Each Rochester
woman had been robbed of her money
with the exception Of just enough to
pay her fare home Those who had car
rfed bills without change found that the
been deposited in their place
Facts Kept From Police.
Another well known society woman
soiU' was Gaining on some friends
Of mine few days before the date thew
had set for tea. They said to me:
We are going to lock up all our bureau
drawers in the dressing rooms. Whv
shouldn't we profit by the experience Of
others?' They were wise, for the So
cial kleptomaniac was present at the
tea, as half dozen Of US found to our
loss.''
The resignation Of the hostess men
toned founded an he
week or two before their tea a woman
who had entertained almost identicaHy
the same throng of guests had lost heavi-
ly in gems, rings. pins and knick-
knacks. all stolen from drawers which
had been left unlocked.
We are not terror-stricken, by any
| means" said society woman 'buA You