The Suitcase Man's Mania
A repeat offender known as the 'suitcase man' faces a stiff prison sentence for a compulsive habit of theft.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
It is the intention of the prosecuting attorney's office to send John Collins, the 'suit case man' to the state penitentiary at Walla Walla for a term of from 1 to 14 years. An old statute says that if a man has been twice sentenced on a petit larceny charge the charge can be converted into one of grand larceny and the man sentenced accordingly. Collins has twice been sentenced for thefts of suit cases. He was taken Tuesday after stealing a number of umbrellas. The man admits that he has a sort of mania for stealing, but says that it is only when he is intoxicated that the desire to acquire other peoples' goods becomes manifest. He has always had money on his person when arrested for theft.
“The man admits that he has a sort of mania for stealing, but says that it is only when he is intoxicated that the desire to acquire other peoples' goods becomes manifest.”
This story highlights the era's 'habitual offender' laws, which were frequently used to dramatically increase sentences for petty crimes. It reflects the intersection of poverty, addiction, and a legal system that favored strict containment over rehabilitation.
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