Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-06-13
From the Chicago Post, June 10th
THE GREAT SHOPLIFTJNG CASE.
Trial of Mrs. Anna Bergett for Larceny.

Il will be Eecollected by the readers. of the
Post that on the 23j of April last Mrs. Anne
Bergett, the keeper of fashionable boarding
house on Third avenue, was arrested on The
charge of larceny from tho salesroom Of ]. B
Shay's dry goods store on Lake street. Pre-
vious TO that time the lady had borne high
character and moved In respectable circles in
this city. The circumstances Of her arrest are
these. The employees Of Mr. Shay had fre.
quently missed articles from the store, and they
resolved TO watch some of their customers upon
whom their suspicion rested Mrs. B. was one
of their customers, and on the 231 of April en-
tered the store, and after looking at some goods
she prepared to depart. As she was leaving
the etore, one of the clerks saw her take a silk
parasol and attempt to conceal IL. At that mo-
mem silk pattern accidentally dropped to the
floor aud which was identified 90 belonging to
the store. A search warrant was issued, and
the detectives examining her house, found
three trunks filled with goods Of all kinds, in
GLIDING silk, ribbons, laces, etc, which had ap.
parently been stolen. The trunks were taken
TO the central station and large portion Of the
goods were identified by Lake street merchants
as having been 0tolen from their stores.
The house Of the accused was msgnifcently
furnished with Brussels carpets, dsmask cur
tains, gilt window c1rnices, pictures, costly en-
cravings, and bore an air OF wealth and refine.
ment--in short it Ras just such a spot as man
of leisure would select as boarding house
where he could enjoy himself to his heart 3 con.
tent. The landlady, who Ia about hity-fve
years of age, is said to be very courteous, lady.
like and social, and as matter of course che
was not at loss for friends, aud her house was
always thrown open to them with generous
Hospitality of which few could boat.
As may well be imagined her arrest upon SO
grave charge was prolific source OF scandal
among the neighbors, aud the friends of hel
DAYS Of prosperity desGrted her, and when she
was sent to the ReCOrder'a court not one person
could be found to 60 beE bail in the sum o
$1,000, AMI shc was SEM 20 Jail to await her
trial, leaving an invalid husband, dying with
consumption, tc depend upon the asslstsnce oil
strangera The accusei has laid in jail ever
since. A week or two ago her furniture was
taken possession Of by some pereons, who also
gave Mr.. Bergett place in which to die. A
few days ago Mr.. Bergett died. and the defend.
ant had fresh grief added to that already heavy
burden which she VAS called upon to bear.
During yestirlRy it became nOised abroad
that the case would como Oh i0T trial in the Re-
corder' e court At Two O'clock and as coon as the
door was open large Oumbsf Oi curious peo.
pe rushed in to hear the trial-no doubt to
gloat over 'he mislOttunes Of The guilty, vet
repentent woman, Among the fpecta tors were
about twenty ladie whether out of curiosity
or sympathy f0r their unfortunate sister, We
know not. II the latter, II does honor to lhem
But il they were prompted by curiosity wholly
they could employ themselves to better advsn.
tage.
Ga her trial he!Ure the Police cont, she enter
ed the Plea OF mot guilty" She subsequeatl,
secured Mesars. u. q. Miller and E. q. Asay
as her counsel On the court taking his seat
MIR. Miller said that the defendant had acted OF
the advice Of her counsel, and they had decided
TO withdraw the plea Cf not guilty and entel
the plea OF guilty, AID tiusl TO the indulgence
of the court to allow them 10 set the facts be-
fore it, that justice and no more than iu,tice
might be done.
Mr.. Aeay stated that one OF the saddesl
features o. this case was that the husb4 md Of
the lady had died within few days, and, wha
was worse, the defendant had betn robbed Of
all the little property she had acquired by year.
OF hard labor, He aef6d that the case be de-
ferred until next term of the court, to ALLOW
az opportunity Of laying the facts before th,
court.
The court reserved the subject for futur,
con nslderstol, and the accused was removed By
the deputy sheriff from the courtroom to thl
cells. During her presence in court che betray
ed deep emoLiCn, and her violtn. (oos and ha
bilimente of mourning created much eympathl
among the court, members of the bar ana spec