The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-11-04
Alde'brook School Teacher At.
ttmpts Shop Lifting.
ARTICLE VALUED AT 10 CENTS
Authorities Are Making Investigation
But No Action Has Been Taken
Store Clerk Witnessed Attempted
Theft from Beh nd Rear Curtain.

charged with sbop-lifiing, the case Of
Mis-. Grace Smith, one of the teachers
Of the AIderbrook public school, j. be.
Ing Investigated by the authorities. On
"Wednesday evening the woman /. ac.
ciissd Of having entered the store Of the
Elite Millinery Company. on Commercial
street, and after declining TO make a
purchase, to have attempted to secret
bolt OF ribbon IN her under garments,
Tor 10" purpose Of theft. No formal ac.
tIon has ysi been taken against the wo.
man either with view 10 prosecution.
or Of securing her dismissal from the
corps Of Instructor, but disposition Of
her rase will probably h. made today
District Attorney Allen la.t night had
The cas" under con-id ration, and Il i
known that the -chol Authorities are
also acquainted with the facts of the
No statement has yet becn secured
from Mis-. Smith regarding the affair.
but according 10 the story told by her
aeciSers, she not only attempted 10 pur.
ioin The piece Of merchandise. hut open.
y admitted her crime. when detection
became CERTAIN. throwing herself upon
the mercy OF her auditors for protec.
tion.
The woman entered our place shortly
after 8 o'clock Wednesday evening"
SAID person connected with the es.
tabIi-hment from which the attempted
theft was made, last evening. i" and
asked to be shdsn the ladies caps. |
She later asked for an article that was
not on the shelves. and the attendant
stepped TO the rear of the store. TO com.
ply with the request.
Another clerk. who IL seems, had
heard that the woman had been accused
II taking articles from stores on pre.
iio'ls ocasions, watched her between
he folds Of u curtain, while the other
lcrk was out Of the store, leaving the
Woman alone in the front sales room
'he saw Miss Smith take the bolt Of
ibbon IN her hand, quickly raise her {
kirt from the bottom, and drop IL in.
an inside pocket or lining which had
been made for that purpose
Hastily summoning the clerk that q
nd attended the woman, the clerk who
ad witnessed the attempted theft
rom behind the curtain quickly inform. =
the other what had happened, aud q
was decided to face the woman with !
he charge, In the meantime Miss Smith q
nd decided that she did not care 10
'ake n purchase that day, and started
} leave the store. a
THE clerk who had witnessed the :,
left then informed Miss Smith that h,
'e need not buy cap, but that she "
'd better pay for the ribbon she had N,
ole.
For fully half an hour the young
dr deniad having taken the ribbon OF n,
wing any knowledge of its disappear h,
Ice. Sine resented any insinuation that N
e had II in her possession Finally 4
sc. IN
officer. a.,
just rs this threat was made the AZ
''ng woman stepped behind the coun. e
: practically out of sight and attemp.
1 to shift the bolt of ribbon. Another
at last resort we threatened to call
tering the store, saw Miss Smith
Silly raise her skirt, snatch the rib.
n from beneath and slide il beneath
+ hose. Even then she insisted that
E ribbon was not in her possession.
Another threat was made to call as.
tance from the outside, and the
man weakened. She produced the
ssing article, and begged us not to ex.
se her.
Among ourselves we had agree to
the matter rest. and make no move
l IL
ward prosecution, We had also de-
ed to protect her by not telling of
: occurrence outside Of the store, but
seems the affair became public in some
inner. The bolt contained two yards
ribbon valued at 30 cents per yard"
tery little could be learned concern.
the affair last night. The police
nitted that they had been making an
estigation, but further than that no
est had been made they would say
hing. The school authorities also de.
he'd to make statement furtlAr than
adult that they understood Miss
nth had attempted to take the ribbon.
Miss Smih came from Albany, and ac.
tied her present position at the be.
ming of the fall term of school. Herr I