The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-13
A INNER HOTEL EPISODE.
kieptomania. With Sequel Somewhat Out
OF the Ordinary.

A series of thefts began less than three
weeks ago in a country hotel occupied
| chiefly by New Workers. who want 10 be near
! the city. About 200 persons we're in the
hotel.
Jewelry chiefly, was taken. Silver from
| bureaus, small ornaments and various
articles of value disappeared. One woman
lost jewelry worth more than $1,000. but
the average loss was not so high.
When it became known that thief was
in the house, the guests were more careful
of their poss essions and some Of the women
sent their jewelry to the city. The local
,olice were called in, declared that the
thests were committed by somebody in the
house and had later the satisfaction Of hear
ing their opinion backed up By the detcc-
tives brought down from the city TO see II
they could not identify the thief.
Two days after the arrival OF the Two ely
men tile ,hefts ended as mex pl!clbly a. they
had begun. The detectives took their
departure. The more valuable jeweiry
stolen from the rooms was returned 10 It's
owners.
There were no explanations beyond the
fact that the detectives had found some
of the property. Most of the guests were
glad enough to get hold of what they had
lost and were satisfied with the neagre ex-
plantations made 10y the hotel proprietor
Life v as going on there in the usual way
when woman and her young daughter
who had been stopping in the hotel month
went away. The rumor started that this
girl, still in her teens, was the thief.
1t travelled about in whispers until It
could no longer be kept down 10 a subtlled
key. 1t had to come out, 1t did and the
landlord admitted that there was connec-
ton more or less definite between the de-
parture of this young girl and the robberies
that had taken place two weeks before.
She was believed to be a kleptomaniao,
unable to control her tendencies and had,
it seems, previously got her family into
similar scrapes The thefts began with
her arriva! and came TO an end when ons
Of the detectives, finding traces Of tho
young woman in every case they mvesti-
gated, told the proprietor, who III turn
spoke to the father
The father il a wealthy man and there
was no reason III the world why the girl
should have stolen. The discovery Of this
fact was surprising enough, although vi at
happened hfterward proved still moro
aston ishing to some Of the guests OF the
hotel
The proprietor insisted that the Young
girl should leave, although she Indignantly
denied her guilt and declared that tAe
J"NfIIV Uhu b'''il I'I' VI Ifl iboH' ny al
enemy with the idea If Damaging her Tho
rest Of the family, with the exception Of her
mother, fatty refused 10 go
There were no charges against them,
and there were no grounds on which they
could be elected. SO they stood on their
rights and the father and several other
daughters are still Rleats Of the hotel.
They associate with the victims of the theft.
refer casually to the departure ot their
sister and mother, do not hesitate 10 men.
ton the thefts il the subject comes up, and
are apparently enjoying themselves as much
an they ever were.
Whether their conduct IL Intended TO de-
csivs the other guests or they do not desire
TO be disturbed IL their summer plans IL
something that the rest OF the guests have
not been able to fathom But the ihdf.
ferncs Of tbs family under the circsim-
stances b osuss for ossSsIsss sulAas0snt.