Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-12-13
A THIEVING GENIUS.

Strange History Of n st. C0th0rines Woman
--Great Talents Dec0ted to System ing
Robbery.
Recently in Milwaukee woman named
Mrs. D. R. Hale was sent to the house Of
correction for stealing diamonds. She
was the wife of clearing house officer in
Chicago, who owes his downfall to her
carrying on regular system of thieving
for her whole life. 1t now turns out that
she is a Canadian by birth. The following
account Of her strange career is from the
Chicago Tribune:
eyes, know Mrs. Douglas r. Hale,
formerly Mrs. Mike Weaver" said prom
inent detective to Tribune reporter last
evening, "and she is one of the snartest
women thieves America ever produced.
Her maiden name was Emily Amelia
Smith, and she was born in South Catha-
rinos, Canada. I think, about thirty-two
years ago. Her father was harness
Inaker-an honest, reputable man, and he-
mother good woman. When a mere child
she was noted for being great liar, and
no one could believe word she said. She
was married quite young, and went to Phil
adelphia to live, her husband being in the
saloon o: a similar business; but they soon
cuarreled and she left him. The first I
ever heard of Emily as d thief was i'll New
York in 1871 Or 1872, when she and Mary
Anderson ran together and worked the
stores.
SHE WAS ARRESTED
two or three times for shoplifting, but al
ways got out of trouble, the last time by
jumping her bail. She went back to Phil
adelphia then, and while there became &C.
quaintnd with Mike Weaver. They lived
together, and Mike, understand, took her
to his fathers in New York and introduced
her as his wife. When they left, number
of little things we're missed, and Emily
was given the credit of carrying them of
in her trunk. Subsequently they went to
her fathers, in st. Catharines, and she in
troduced Mike as her husband-said he was
engaged in business in Chicago, and that
she was going there to live. They caro-
here IN 1873, Frank Jourdan being with
them, and soon after their arrival they
began wo=h.
$50 far as known, the first house they
entered was down on one of the south side
avenues. A policeman, trying the base
nent door, found light of glass out, and,
as he looked in, Mike and Emily were
coming down stairs loaded with plumber.
Emily's shrewdness came to her assistance.
The officer asked what they were doing.
She said the family were coming home in
the morning, and had sent them ahead to
get things ready. If he would go to the
front door
THEY WOULD LET HIM IN.
The officer was satisfied with this expla-
nation. and as he was walking away Emily
and Mike went through the yard, broke
open the stable door, and escaped through
the alley. She had on three or four silk
dresses, and they got away with all the
stuff. little while after this they went to
Mixes brother, manufacturer here, and n
very decent fellow, and told him that they
were going to reform, and asked him TO
take them III. Emily said she was going
to make dresses. They lived with the
brother several months before he found
that they were using his house as cover.
Emily and Mike were out good deal, and
she would bring home dresses which she
said belonged to customers. But they had
| really been stolen, and she altered them SO
that she could sell them. Occasionally she
| would bring home sealskin sacks, aud Lake
one out of two, refining the large garment.
All that time she and Mike were burglar
izing houses. Mike has told me several
times that he wanted to be honest, but she
wouldn't have it. Once he bought lot OF
furniture to go to housekeeping, but she
! sold it. One night she came in after spot
ting residence ON Calumet avenue, and he
| refused to go there. She said he was a
4 LII
and finally drove him out of the house.
After she had been here two or three years
ago she sent for her sister Mary, and de-
liberately made thief of her. She after
wards married Frank Jourdan. The party
used to go on trips to St..Louis, Detroit,
Cleveland, Cincinnati, and other cities, rob
dwellings, and send Or bring the plumber
here. Emily was the brains of the gang,
did all the planning, disposed OF all the
swag, and handled all the money.
NEAT STROKE.
after Mary joined them, she and Emily
got out of tight place very neatly. They
were carrying home two bundles of stolen
clothing, when the string around one of
them broke. While they were trying to fl
the bundle up a policeman happened along
! and asked what they were doing. we are
taking home our washing,' said Emily, aud
the strin., brOke.' The officer let them
| alone. Emily and Mary watched outside
! while Mike and Jourdan were at work. and
| in that way suspicion was ayerted. Some
times both tho women entered a dwelling.
Emily often went to New York with a
| trunkful of stuff, selling it TO pawnbroker
| friend there. Silverware and gold articles
| were melted in their rooms aad sold to a
! Madison street pawnbroker. Emily is very
smart. never saw her equal in my expe-
rience. How she can lie, and yet SO plaus-
IDLY that one hesitates not to believe her
Did you notice what a pretty story she told
those Milwaukee people? She supposed
Mike was board of trade man when she
married him, and was very much shocked
when she learned that
HE PLAYED CARDS FOR MONEY.
When he was arrested, she ran out of The
house almost crazy, and slept in the woods
for two nights, and then went to Saprrin-
tendent Seavey, and asked him if he
vented her, and he said mo- Seavey, for
tnnately for her, is dead. The truth is that
when Mike was arrested she went to her
father's He wsS thar, I;v;po in tho coufh