(This Footnote to History article was printed on page 1 of the October 30, 1920, publication of the Santa Ana Register, and is reprinted word-for-word below.)
CHRISTMAS CACTUS THEFT EPIDEMIC ON
With an epidemic on for stealing Christmas cactus, owners of such potted plants are advised by City Marshal Jernigan to take them in at night.
A number of complaints have been made recently to the police department of the theft of cactus plans from porches. The most recent complaints are from Mrs. A. J. Wellegemuth, 207 North Van Ness, and Mrs. J. E. Leibig, 820 Spurgeon.
Officers have no clue and are at a loss to determine whether the thieving is by “kids” or by someone who is attempting to accumulate a number of the plants.
