The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-07-23
.PACHYDERM CROOK
TAKES POCKETBOOK
Mrs. MOrOne Robbed While
Head Was Turned.
ELEPHANT SHOWED CUNNING
Found That Purse Contained No
Goodies and Hid 1t Under Seat
of Howdah.

NEW YORK. July 3-Mrs- Emma
Morone. of seq Bay Twenty-second
Street. Brooklyn. whose pOcketbOOk
was stolen by an elephant in the Glen
Island Zoo. is indignant because she
understands the management has decid-
ed 10 punish the big beast.
Mrs. Morone visited the resort with
a party of women friends and they
were passengers on the first boat. They
went directly from the wharf on land
ing to the zoo. Babe and Basil the
two big elephants, We're engaged carry
ing visitors for rides in the hOwdah
when Mrs. MOrone and her party came
upon the scene With others they took
a ride, and some time afterward were
standing by the railing back of which
the big beasts were standing.
Mrs MOrOne placed her pOcketbOok
on the rail- while she adjusted her hat.
Her attention and that of her friends
was conferred on the hat for an instant,
and then she reached out for the pOck-
etbook, but it had disappeared.
Boys Hadn't Seen 1t.
The women became much excited and
spoke 10 two urchins who were standing
a short distance away but they denied
any knowledge of the missing pocket
book. Then Mrs. Morone appealed to
q policeman, who in turn called Super
intendent Hea1y, who has charge of the
zoo. a careful search OF the place was
made. but the missing purse could not
be found. Healy looked at Babe, whose
trunk had been making tour along the
raj, shortly before the women had stood
there. hut the beast looked as innocent
as a child.
What on earth shall I do?" exclaimed
MIS-, Morone' beete;oming more agitated
my return ticket in my pocketboOk and
now they are gone"
Suspicious Character.
Healy was suspicious of Babe, for
years of close companionshIp had given
him knowledge of her stealing pro-
pensities. If the pOcketbook had been
basket OF choice fruit, q box of bon
bons, or a big of cookies, he would
have been able to say what had become
OF them. but he is a married man and
knows that wOman's pocketbOok US
ually contains only few stray hair
pins, a powder rag, a few addresses, and
some loose change, and these are not ar
ucles that appeal TO the appetite OF an
elephant.
1t was shown that there was no one
else near enough 10 obtain possession
of the pOcketbOOk, and il was decided
that the beast must have stolen IT and
tossed II inside. With this theory up
permOst in the minds OF the elephant
men, a thorough search was made, but
the pocketbook was not recovered. Mrs.
Morone then lodged a formal complaint
with the Glen Island management.
caught with Goods On.
1t was explained 10 her that. II the
pOcketbOok was found, it would be re-
turned 10 her. and then another search
was ordered, but it proved fruitless.
When the elephants We're taken 10 the
stables late In the afternoon and unhar-
messed, the missing pocketbook was
found under the seat OF the howdah.
and the mystery attending its loss was
a
honesty Of Babe was fully esta blished
She had. probably, taken the pocket
book and, after satisfying herself that
Il contained nothing eatable. had tossed
il over her back and il had passed
through the opening in front OF the
howdah and found lodging place under
the seat The pocketbook was sent TO
Mrs. MOrone's home by a special mes
senger.
Mrs. Morone was seen at her home
and was much agitated over the affair.
Didn't Want Her Whipped.
II would rather have lost my purse
than have the elephant punished" she
said. The messenger who returned it
10 me said she would be punished and
have written requesting that nothing of
the kind be done.
Il told them that I had placed the
pOcketbOOk on the rail. and that the ele-
plant had taken it from there. but my
niece informs me that il was in my
chatelaine bag hanging from my waist
In that case the bag must have been
opened and the elephant just took the
purse while my attention was directed
10 my hat. He must have removed 4
very gently or / would have felt it.
Babe. the elephant in question, is
nearly nine feet high and weighs a few
ounces less than five tons She has been
at Glen Island for a number Of wears
and IS very popular on account Of her
gentle disposition and fondness for chill
dren.