Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1888-03-10 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

KLEPTOMANIA AGAIN.  A very singular case has been tried at the Central Criminal Court, when Alice Mary Payne, 2./, of no occupation, pleaded guilty to a series of robberies of gold watches, valuable rings, brooches, chains, &c., from the shops of Messrs. Benson, Ludgate-hill, London; Mr. Samuel Smith, of 9, Strand; Messrs. Marks and Sons, Brighton; and some others. Mr. Besley and Mr. Partridge prosecuted ; and Mr. Poland and Mr. Gill defended. In stating the facts, Mr. Healey- said the evidence disclosed a state of things which went to prove that the prisoner was a systematic shoplifter, but something had come to their knowledge that put a rather different construction on the matter. In the early part of December it appeared that she went to Messrs. Benson's, Ludgatehill, and ordered jewellery to the value of some hundreds of pounds to be sent to her at the Hotel Maropole, pretending that she desired to select a wedding present, and that she was staying at the hotel. The jewellery was sent to the hotel, but no one of the name of the prisoner was staying there. This caused suspicion, and the stock, especially near where the prisoner stood, was examined with the result that a gold watch of the value of £25 and a gold locket were missing, and Messrs. Benson came to the conclusion that the order had been given as an excuse to enable the prisoner to , steal the articles. Afterwards prisoner called upon Messrs. Marks, Brighton, and representing that she was staying at the Bedford Hotel, she made a similar excuse for a quantity of jewellery to be sent there for an article to be selected. In that case also the prisoner was unknown at the hotel, and on an examination of the stock it was discovered that a ring, worth about a 38., had been substituted for one worth £l5 155. On January 26th she did the same at Mr. Smith's, in the Strand. In this case she said she was staying at Morley's Hotel. She, however, was afterwards met in the Strand, and was given into custody on the charge of stealing a gold chain. She obtained a ring without payment at Brighton, and on being written to for the money, she wrote back in the name of her cousin, stating that she was dead and buried. Mr. Poland informed the Court that the prisoner, a well-dressed young woman, was the daughter of a respectable tradesman, and had been well brought up. She had a sinall property of her own, and lived at Hill House, Dartford. Pending her marriage she had gone to stay with Mrs. Walker, an hotel proprietress at Hastings, where she began to conduct herself in a most extraordinary manner, and suddenly at times became greatly agitated. She whit troubled with imaginary fears, and had delusions of various kinds. Medical men had certified that she was suffering greatly from brain disturbance. She was also hysterical, and was watched for fear that she would commit suicide. It was in this condition of things that she behaved as she did, and obtained the jewellery in question. All the jewellery had been returned, and £5O would be paid towards the expenses. Ultimately the Common-Sergeant bound the prisoner over in the sum of £5O to come up for judgment if called on.