Kleptomania

1878

Kleptomania, which has long been recognised by the medical, is not recognised by the legal profession.

We boast of our advancement in physiology, psychology, and humanitarianism; yet when a lady of otherwise blameless life suddenly taken to pilfering mutton chops, children's boots, jewellery, or anything else upon which she can lay hands, we throw our philosophy and our humanity to the winds, we brand her as a thief, and, regardless of the fearful consequences to herself, her husband, and her children, we throw her into gaol, and utterly ruin the happiness of her and hers for life.

The doctors may be called to prove that she is nervous or excitable, that she has been very ill in time past, and has been obliged to take remedies which have more or less affected her power of control: but all is useless. The evidence is clear, she took the goods, she even secreted them. Her actions have all the appearance of deliberate fraud, and yet her whole conduct from first to last may have been due to physical disorganisation by which her power of self-control has become impaired, leaving her at the mercy of her morbid impulses.

But how can she be acquitted, while poorer women, no more or less guilty, are sent to gaol by the score: so to gaol she goes, although the more thoughtful among judges, magistrates, doctors, and jury feel the hideous cruelty of the proceeding; feel that she should be treated as a patient, and not as a criminal; and that there should be, both for her and her poorer sisters in like circumstances, a loophole of escape which does not, but which might exist, and that the infliction of a fine, or of an order of restitution, or discharge upon recognisances to come up for judgment if called upon, would be a more fitting punishment than the cruel one of imprisonment.

Such imprisonments are the more to be reprehended as they are utterly useless. The imprisonment of one kleptomanic will not deter another from pilfering, for the simple reason that in such cases the power of self-control is more or less absent. A conclusive proof of this exists in the fact that in many each cases on record, the moment the prisoner is released, keenly as she has felt her disgrace and degradation, she commences to pilfer again.

—Journal of Psychological Medicine and Medical Pathology, Winslow, Lyttleton Forbes, 1878, p. 172.

Both the Native-Born and Immigrant Have Duties to America

1920

By Senator W. S. Kenyon of Iowa

The alien cannot Americanize himself. He can never become assimilated if he is shunted off into a shanty town. He cannot be Americanized with a club. There is more hope in a handshake than in profit-sharing.

There is a growing need for America to Americanize itself; for each individual to stop shifting the blame onto others and depending on some one else to put our house in order. The immigrant has his duty to America and he must be made to discharge it. The native-born has his duty and he must search his own heart to see if there are any roots of the trouble there. If we could only control our greed, our avarice, our quick prejudice and passion and pull together for the general welfare of our country, what a nation this would be! America means more than stocks and bonds, and churches and schools and farms and stores. It means a great ideal of justice for all men. A man who cannot be just whether with his employee or with his employer is not a true American.

The ship of state is sailing through pretty troublesome seas, but it is a mighty sturdy old ship. It will weather the storm. It will pull through every crisis. It is a time for aroused conscience and determination of all our people to enthrone justice in their own hearts and then do what they can to assist others. We are engaged now in much talk of helping the world. We can help it by giving to the world a high example of justice and fraternity, and in so doing many of our industrial problems will be solved.

An Extinct Animal — Saber Toothed Tiger

1907

The Saber Toothed Tiger Was a Formidable Creature

The most remarkable of all the extinct feline animals are those known to naturalists as the saber toothed cats or tigers, a group comprising the greater part of all the fossil forms. They date back to the earliest times of which we know anything about the family in North America and reach down to the time of man himself.

A large and powerful species described from the Indian Territory by Cope lived contemporaneously with the hairy mammoth, as evidenced by the commingling of their skeletons. There can be little or no question but that the hairy mammoth was contemporaneous with man in North America as well as in Europe. Its geological range is from the close of the Eocene to the latter part of the Pleistocene.

The chief peculiarity of the animal is the extraordinary elongated canine teeth. The tail is of unusual length and the legs are short. The animal measures about seven feet in length aside from the tail. The lower jaws have a downward projection in front, due to a flange-like widening of the jawbones, which doubtless served as a protection to the teeth, preventing their injury or loss. In some of the larger forms from South America this flange was not present, while the canine teeth were even more elongated than is the case with this species, attaining a length of over six inches and protruding far below the jaws when closed.


A Chinese Solomon

Two Chinamen, brothers, well advanced in age, quarreled over a piece of land which they had jointly inherited from their father and went to law. The native magistrate heard the testimony on both sides and determined that both were wrong and both right, according to the different points of view. Therefore, instead of rendering a judgment in favor of either, he ordered that both be locked up in a cangue with their heads fastened face to face and kept there until they settled their quarrel. The cangue is a sort of cage in which prisoners are placed with their necks locked into a hole in a board. It resembles somewhat the stocks which were used for the punishment of malefactors in olden times. When the brothers were placed in the cangue, they were both very stubborn and indignant, but toward the end of the second day they began to weaken and on the third day reached a satisfactory settlement and were released.

Box Car Tourist (Tramp, Hobo) Selling Stolen Plunder

Reno, 1905

TRAMP SELLS STOLEN PLUNDER IN RENO

A gentleman of the road, or rather a box car tourist, giving his name as Frank Kilzer, arrived in Reno yesterday and began selling shirts and other clothing at different residences in the city. He offered his goods at a very low price and consequently suspicion was aroused. The matter was reported to the police and the man was arrested just after completing a sale of some shirts.

He was taken to the police station and put through the "third degree" and in a short time confessed to stealing all the goods from a box car on the Southern Pacific road. He claimed, however, that he had been assisted in the work by two other hoboes and that they had taken most of the plunder. He is now in jail pending a further investigation into his crime.

—Daily Nevada State Journal, Reno, NV, Feb. 1, 1905, p. 4.

Vagrant Ordered Out of Town, Stays Anyway, Now In Jail

Reno, 1905

Lincoln Hayes Likes Judge Nash's Court

Lincoln Hayes, who came before Judge Nash on the charge of vagrancy last Saturday was given a floater at that time of six hours to leave the city. After thanking the judge very kindly and promising to go on to his rich relatives he left the court.

As the judge seemed kind and easy to Hayes he didn't hurry off to any other metropolis. He thought he liked the town and concluded to camp.

On Sunday Hayes got loaded and wandered into the Palace saloon, at which place he tried to re-arrange the furniture to suit himself. An officer was called and Hayes was placed in jail to answer a charge of disturbing the peace. When he came to trial yesterday morning before Judge Nash, however, the judge disregarded the latter charge and gave him thirty days on the former charge of vagrancy.

—Daily Nevada State Journal, Reno, NV, Feb. 28, 1905, p. 3.

Philip, Macedonian King, Drunk or Sober

1915

Philip, the Macedonian king, while drowsy with wine was trying a case and the prisoner after sentence was pronounced, exclaimed, "I appeal." "And to whom do you appeal?" inquired the astonished monarch. "I appeal from Philip drunk to Philip sober," replied the prisoner, and the king granted the request and at a rehearing gave the prisoner his liberty.

The people drowsy with the wine of discord ofttimes pronounce a verdict on public questions which they reverse in their more calm and deliberate moments. The next best thing to making no mistakes is to correct them.


His Ambition.

"While I have been cordially detested during the most of my life, with or without ample justification," stated J. Fuller Gloom. "I intend to at least not be a nuisance after death. To that end I have consistently refrained from making epigrams, manufacturing maxims and uttering sonorous sentences, to be repeated to helpless children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me."— Judge.

Moonshiner's Remote Hideaway, Loot Discovered

Oxnard, California, 1922--

Henry Helmold Tells Finding Moonshiner's Santa Clara Shelter

Constable-elect Henry Helmond is already on the job, for yesterday he participated in the capture of a moonshiner's camp in the Santa Clara river bed, where a large amount of loot apparently stolen by the moonshiner, was found. Helmond said one never would have noticed the camp unless he had been shown the spot. It was surrounded by high blackberry bushes and other trees.

E. L. Gardner of Saticoy had been robbed Saturday and while trying to figure out who committed the robbery, he traced some footprints to the Santa Clara river bed, near the Saticoy bridge. He learned that someone had a camp in the river bed, somewhere, so decided to hunt for it. With Pete Donion, and Constable Helmold they searched for a long time. Undersheriff Sullivan also went with them. They searched for a long time among thickets of trees and blackberry bushes before Sullivan spotted the corner of a tent just above the top of a blackberry bush. He saw the small bit of tent after the party had been attracted to the scene by a strong smell of liquor.

Arming themselves with revolvers the party expected to engage in a hard gun battle, but when they came upon the tent no one was there. Possibly the moonshiner had heard them approaching and made a get-away.

Around the tent were found two barrels of mash, which were broken up. Many bottles of "jack-ass brandy" were found and several large five-gallon bottles of recently manufactured booze were found, and smashed. Much of it was thrown down a well the moonshiner had dug in the river bed.

Constable Helmold found a large lard pail. Taking off the lid he noticed what he thought was lard, but on closer observation, found it was cotton. Under the layer of cotton was found two gold watches, in cases. 12 other ladies' watches, a pearl necklace, a pair of dimaond earrings, some gold lockets and much jewelry. It is believed that the articles were stolen from places here. Three valises filled with clothes also were unearthed, besides two good overcoats, two guns, a revolver and some school books stolen from the El Rio school. In some of the books the name of Charles Grubb is written.

So far as is known, no trace of the moonshiner has been found. Men from the sheriff's office are making every effort to find a trace of the man or men who operated the place. That probably only one man was living there recently was shown by the presence of only one cot, covered with army blankets. The tent, cot and blankets had evidently been stolen from some store selling army goods.

--The Oxnard Daily Courier, Oxnard, California, November 28, 1922, page 1.

Boy Admits Guilt In Parents' Death

1920
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GIRL CONFESSES HER PART AS POISONER.

Says She Killed Pair for Objecting to Son's Marriage -- Youth's Sister Recovers

SALINA, Kan., May 20. -- A statement that he had taken part in the killing of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Bunch of Lincoln Center, Kan., who died from poisoning a year and a half ago, has been made to the county authorities by Lee Bunch, according to report.

During the day Miss Stella Hyman, 20, is said to have told the authorities she had killed the Bunches by putting fly poison in their food. Mrs. Bunch was Miss Hyman's sister. Miss Hyman told the authorities the alleged killing was actuated by the fact that the Bunches refused to permit their son to marry her.

She also said she had placed poison in the food of Miss Nancy Bunch, sister of Lee Bunch. Miss Nancy Bunch recovered, but, according to physicians, will be an invalid permanently.

The poison was administered to Mrs. Bunch some time between July 21 and 25, 1918, Miss Hyman said. She died Aug. 1. After his return from the funeral, Mr. Bunch continued his abuse, according to Miss Hyman.

"I thought I might as well kill him as to have him kill me," her statement says, after saying that he used a revolver in threatening her.

On Aug. 14 Mr. Bunch died. Because of the similarity of the symptoms preceding the two deaths, an inquest was held. Since then officers have been working quietly on the case, with the result that Miss Hyman and Lee Bunch were arrested and are being held on charges for investigation. Having confessed the poison plan, as alleged, a charge of murder will be placed against them.

--The Saturday Blade, Chicago, May 22, 1920, page 4.

Wife Thrashes Her Husband In Court

1920
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SPRINGFIELD, Ill., May 20. -- Not satisfied with justice as meted out by the police court here, Mrs. Thomas A. Payne took matters into her own hands and gave her husband a sound thrashing before court officials could interfere.

Payne pulled table between himself and his wife for protection. Court Official Huot finally seized the woman and placed her in a chair. Mrs. Payne then collapsed and cried. Payne made no attempt to defend himself.

He was before the judge charged with assaulting his wife. The evidence, however, showed that he did not assault his wife, but simply tried to protect himself when attacked by her in a business street. he was found not guilty and the charge dismissed.

--The Saturday Blade, Chicago, May 22, 1920, page 2.

Man Charged With Insulting Women

Centralia, Washington, 1913
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CHARGED WITH INSULTING WOMAN

A warrant was sworn out Thursday by Justice Jones at Morton for the arrest of S. W. Jordan for alledged discourtesies applied to the wife of R. L. Shepherd, a brakeman living in West Morton. Owing to the absence of Jordan no hearing has as yet been secured. Public sentiment in the town is divided in regard to the matter.

--Daily Chronicle-Examiner, Centralia, Washington, August 16, 1913, page 6.


The Letters Undertakers Get
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Chehalis, Washington, 1921
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The Sticklin Undertaking Company reports that every week letters continue to arrive from all parts of the country asking for pictures and descriptions of the young boy who was killed in the Chehalis railroad yards in August, following the night of the Palmer Bros. circus being in the city, and whose remains were buried here. Only a few days ago a woman came from Portland to look at the pictures of the boy, hoping against hope that it might be her lost son. A letter arrived a few days ago from a small California town, asking for information. Evidently none of us realize how many aching mother hearts there are in this country, yearning for news of an absent son.

--The Chehalis Bee-Nugget, Chehalis, Washington, October 28, 1921, page 4.

200 Prisoners Witness Hanging, Meant As Moral Lesson

Chicago, 1920
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200 Prisoners See Hanging As Moral Lesson

Murderer Goes to His Death on Gallows While Fellow Prisoners Look On - Governor's Order is Defied.

By United Press Leased Wire

Chicago -- Two hundred prisoners in the Cook County jail today witnessed the hanging of Raffalo Durrage. The men stood in their cells, with windows facing on a court and saw Durrage go to his death, as "moral lesson."

Jailer W. T. Daveis and Sheriff C. W. Peters arranged for the prisoners to see the execution despite protests from Chicago club women, social leaders and Governor Frank O. Lowden.

"The governor misunderstood the circumstances," said Jailer Daveis. "He thought we were going to allow all prisoners to witness the hanging. Instead we merely did not remove the prisoners who occupied cells facing on the court where the scaffold was erected." The prisoners stood in the windows and watched the trap sprung. A few turned away but the majority gazed at the spectacle without flinching. Durrage was convicted of murdering his wife and Omofrio Gargano.

In all former hangings, prisoners were removed from cells facing the court where the hangings are to be held.

The hanging was held an hour earlier than the time set in order to prevent court action allowing a stay of execution.

All telephones to the jail were disconnected to prevent word of a last minute reprieve being received. This action, Jailer Daveis explained, was taken as a result of a stay of execution being granted as the death march was about to start in a recent hanging here. The hanging took place before the prisoner witnesses had breakfast. The only word uttered as the body was taken down, was a shrill cry from one of the cells.

"When do we eat?"

--The Appleton Daily Post, Appleton, Wisconsin, January 2, 1920, page 1.

Comment: The hanging was an hour earlier than the time set and all the telephones were disconnected to prevent the possibility of a reprieve. If I'm governor, this is Jailer Daveis' last official duty as Jailer. By the way, it's probably Davies, but it has it with this spelling more than once.

DIVORCE MILL IS ACTIVE

Judges Untangle Several Matrimonial Complications Daily.

Des Moines still bids fair to rival Reno in the divorce batting average. Judges of the District court are kept busy all day listening to marital difficulties.

Judge De Graff granted Florence Warford, a divorce from her husband, James E. Warford, on the grounds of cruelty, inhuman treatment and drunkenness.

Elizabeth Harris was granted a similar decree in the same court. She charged her husband, Ralph Harris, with cruelty.

Mary Davidson was allowed a legal separation by Judge Thomas Guthrie. C. W. Davidson, her husband, is a convicted felon.

--Des Moines Register, Nov. 14, 1917