The word “miscreant” has not appeared in a Star Tribune headline in at least 20 years. “Fiend” turned up in a headline just once in that time span. I vow to work one of these two delicious words into a Star Tribune headline before the year is out.

Snappy dresser Edna Buschmann of St. Paul, shown here in about 1915, would have been a prime target for the villainous besmircher of Grand Central station. (Photo courtesy mnhs.org)

MISCREANT RUINS
WOMEN’S GOWNS
BY DASH OF SYRUP

A miscreant with a passion for ruining women’s gowns by daubing them with chocolate-colored syrup is being sought by detectives stationed in and near the Grand Central station, New York. The first case of the kind was brought to the attention of the authorities six months ago and since then several women have come into the dressing rooms at the station to have the stains removed, according to Mrs. Hendry, the matron. All efforts to locate the person have been fruitless.

“It is usually a large blotch of the syrup on the back of the coat or waist, as if it had been shot from a squirt gun,” said Mrs. Hendry. “From what all the women have said it must have happened in the street, right near the station. Whoever the fiend is, he knows good dresses, for it is always the very costly and beautiful ones that are ruined.”

The railroad has detailed special detectives to watch the inside of the station and the police department has men posted outside.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 17th, 2007 at 6:33 pm and is filed under Crime, Main, Mayhem, Weird. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.