Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-12-31
olIvKa TWIST IN skis rs.
A Litts Girl rsugAs 70 steal Rocket
HoDkn.


OlIvKa TWIST IN SKIRr e..
A Litt:s Girl rasghs - Steal Pocket
Bssks.
New York Timss.l
A beautiful and unusually bright little
Girl, with lovely blue eyes and wealth
OF golden hair-Lillian Smith by name
was prisoner. In the Detective Bureau
at police headquarters Wednesday night,
accused OF stealing many pocket.
books from shoppers during the holl'
day season. Lillian says that she Is
eleven years old, but she looks younger.
Her manner, however, Is precocious, and
she is qulck.witted and intelligent beyond
her years. Mrs. Annie Smith, woman
with whom Lillian had been living for about
O month past, f. also under arrest, charged
with having taugnt and induced the child
to steal. so that she might get the proceeds
OF her numerous tbefts. The arrest OF the
child and ner tutor was brought about by
Mr.. jerome B. Wheeler, OF Wheeler Il
Webster, the firm who do business at
Fourteenth street and Sixth avenue under
the title Of II. II. Macy & Co.
On Monday last the child Lillian was
caught stealing pocket.book from the
satchel Of one OF the ladies shopping at
Macy's. The child was taken into pri-
yate room, and on being questioned BY Mr.
Wheeler gave her name as Lillian Smith
and said that she lived with her mother,
Mrs. Annie Smith, at No. 1888 Lexington
avenue. She admitted that she had stolen
several pocket-books while In the store,
and surrendered Sl06 which she had
concealed about her person. The child
- l.
seneer was sent TO the address she had
gwen. After awhile Mrs. Annie Smith
appeared ut the store and claimed Lillian.
She put on an air OF yirtUous indignation
and threatened all manner OF retaliation for
the arrest Of her child. She asserted that
she had given the child 300 when she left
home in the forenoon to do shopping with
The woman demanded the instant release
of the little girl, and while the matter was
being discussed by the members OF the
firm the woman hurried ont Of the store
At $3.50 O'Clock in the evening she
returned with a well.dressed man about
thirty. five years OF age. who, she said,
admitted that Lillian was not their
daughter, but their niece. They virtually
admitted that the child had stolen the
money found in her possession, and. after
a great deal OF wrangling, Mr.. Wheeler let
the girl 90, retaining the sl06 which had
been taken from her. He refunded to ladies
whose pocket. books the little girl had stolen
the money which they claimed 10 have lost,
but retained the original bills for evidence
in case the friends Of the girl attempted to
enter suit against the firm for her arrest.
Mr.. Wheeler subsequently told Inspector
Byrnts about the case.
Yesterday Mrs. Smith and the girl were
arrested at their residence, No. 1888 Lex
ington ayenne, and taken to police head
quarters. Mrs. smith was very indignant,
denied any knowledge Of the girls thefts,
but otherwise refdsed to make any state
mept. The little girl when privately que.-
toned said thai her parents lived at No.
21s east One-hut tdred-and.eleyenth street.
A month ago Her mother sent her TO live
with Mrs. Annie Smith, who is not rela.
five. After she bad been living with her
week Mrs. smith said that she
would take her to Macy'S. On the
way down in the elevated train Mrs
Smith said that II she tLlllian) was
lucky she migut find pocket book in
the store, and explained to her how easy It
was 10 opepya lady's satchel and steal the
nurse or no ket-book out Of 1t. They rode
down to- Fourteenth street and rhird
oyeuue enid walked over 10 Mays. A. the
door Mrs. Smith said "Now, my dear
,.rl. I'd like you 10 find pocket book for
| me-" They separated at the entrance-doOr
after agreeing to meet later. The girl saw
| a lady's satChel lying on the counter while
the owner was engaged in shopping. Lii
! lian opened the satche and took out
the pocket.bOo6. She concealed the book
under her cloak. Their she returned up
stairs and met Mrs. Smith. She gave the
purse to the woman, who took the money
out Of II and threw the pocket-book away.
! Two days later, under instructions from
\ Mrs. Smith, she went alone TO Mays and
Slole three pocket. books, containing sl0
! Sbe took the money out 0f the books and
! thew them away as She had been in-
>traciad 20 o-- ss11gfat they might not be
found on her if he was arrested. Sac gave
the money to Mrs. Smith.
A few days later Mrs. Smith gave her
twenty cents to pay her car.fare, and sne
went TO flearn's store, on Fourteenth street,
where she stole two pOcket-books contain
ing Sl5. She also gave that money to Mrs.
smith. A week later she visited toy store
on Fourteenth street. and stole three pocket.
books, which contained SlI, and suDse.
quently she went with Mrs. smith 10
the store OF stern Brothers, where she
stole two pocket.bOOks, one containing
- and the other SO She gave the
larger sum to Mrs. Smith and
kept for herself the S3. which she spent on
| her way home. ON Friday the 9th In.
| slant Mrs. Smith told her that she waSNard
ND and must have $50. The girl Went 20
! Macys again, and succeeded in stealing
| three pocketbooks, which contained go.
| She retained this money, and with 1t bought
| At Macy's cloak for 500 and hat fof
! Si.,j for herself She left these articles at
the store. and told Mrs. Smith that she had
had Tad luck and no success.
On Christmas she went 10 the Theatre
| Comique in Harlem with Mrs. smith, her
! husband, ana his brother. There were no
seats TO be obtained, ana Mrs. Smith pur-
chased private box for SO, and after the
! theatre paid 81 for refreshments Tor the
party. Thatnight she told Lillian. q" You'll
| have TO make this up the next time you 90
out" On the Monday following she agqin
| visited Macy's and succeeded In capturing
| several pOcbet-bOoks, containing Sis. Sne
| concealed the money in her stocking, where
| il was found when she was arrested.
Mrs. Annie Smith i a tall, angular wo-
man, OF dark complexion and looks Ike
| stubborn, harsh person. She SAID that the
| girls story was false, and that she never
received any money from her. The woman
| is not known to the police.