Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-03-24

placed In some Otner SITUATION wnerc
there was no money, but some attrac-
tive form Of goods, he might have
formed the habit Of appropriating such
goods as these.
= Self. Importance Inflated
Kleptomaniacs have been known to
accumulate books, firearms, knives or
hotel linens. The particular direction
may depend upon the opportunity that
is offered for appropriation. Unser,
according to his own confession and the
declaration Of his attorney, was very
much affected by the flatterins words
which the SPECTATORS poured out upon
him. Instead Of being made angry by
being called young plunger, his van
ity was unquestionably very much in.
creased and his sense of self -inporta.
ance highly inflated.
Once he began to appropriate the
money, the impulse met with no check
until the money was all gone. This
is the history Of the kleptomaniac. He
continues on his course until some ex-
traneous circumstance brings him up
short.
When the kelptomaniac has been
found out, he seems to present, so far
as my experience IL concerned, two
types: The first is the one who con.
fesses his guilt and begins to whimper
and gnivel around about influences
which people had exercised over him.
such as his business associates had not
properly inspected his accounts, that
he was in no way checked up 80 that
he could feel that he was being dealt
with In business like manner.
The claim that he was trying to sup.
port a widowed mother and that his
speculations were wholly in the in
terest Of maintaining q better family
standard than his salary would allow.
is not to be accepted as being anything
more than the outcome Of q tendency
when confronted with crime to confess
and try to shift the blame for a weak.
ness and delinquency on somebody else.
This kind of case Is well known.
Such kleptomaniacs confess their
guilt and promise to reform and make
pr0testations against being themselves
guilty OF any criminal intent. They are,
however, recidivists and turn again to
their criminal conduct rs soon as an
opportunity is offered.
There il, however, another type of
kleptomaniac. These persons when con
fronted with their crime protest their
innocence and adopt some formal phrase
such as: Il am not guilty; ! will die
before will acknowledge that I have
stolen anything" and repeat this in .
sistently to their accusers.
These cases frequently hold out until
long after the evidence against them Is
SO great as to leave no doubt. They
then may make hesitating acknowl- :
edslnent Of their guilt, but just as soon
as they get away from their accusers
they protest their innocence again and
continue to repeat the formal phrase
which they have adoDted. such as: IL
am not guilty. etc." They, like the other
form, will almost Immediately begin
their stealings as soon as another op.
portunity offers itself.
No Real Promise Of Reform
The kleptomaniac does not give any
real promise Of being reformed. II he
Ia placed in a situation where there
is no opportunity for him to steal in
his accustomed ways, he may show nc
tendency to steal at all. but If he should
again be placed In the situation where
It is possible to steal after the accus.
toned fashion. he is likely to begin
again.
In other cases the kleptomauiac steals
small articles, perhaps pencils, paper OF
something Of that kind.
The kleptomaniac appears about al
frequently among women as among
men. The present writer has seen more
Of kleptomaniacs among college girl,
than among college men. Some one
has worked the matter out and finds
about two kleptomaniacs to 100 girl.
Is the right proportion. II any college
then seems to take pride in the fact
that 1t has not any kleptomaniac.
among its girls, it may be said thai
they have not received their proper
share.
The girl kleptofhaniac is frequently
the most popular and the most respected
girl in the dOrmitory. She choose
to spend the money she steals In SOM
particular direction. One Is known t.
have made lavish presents to the othe
girls, another Is known to have dis
tributed chocolates among the girl stu
dents, another made large collection
Of silk stockings.
Boys spend their money sometimes
In. this way. but more likely they vii
make a display of their capacity fol
spending money by dinners and max,
lavish purchases of flowers and such lik,
things for girls. One case Is known Il
have made large collection OF ol,
pistols.
Stock Market Furnishes Lure
The stock market seems to have fur
nished lure to large number of tn
thieves OF this class. Then tendency t
make purchases In the stock exchang
Is curiOusly subject to suggestion. TIL
speculator seems unable in the presenc
OF other persons who are buying an
selling to restrain the tendency to leav
orders either to sell or to buy, and ther
IL no consideration as to whether tn
sale or the purchase will yield return
The impulse il TO remain in the gam
and TO keep something doing.
Some Of these persons regard thi
~ legitimate way, or as like an
other method Of spending money to los
Il on the stock market. Like ordinar
gamblers. such person holds that h
can afford to lose fifty or two hundre
dollars, and 10 he orders sale Vr
purchase, giving little consideration a