The morning news., 1888-12-29
A THIEF ATTENDS FUNERALS.
Arrest of Young Woman Who Has
Robbed Several Stricken Homes.


Robbed Several Stricken Homes.
From the Philadelphia Press
A rosy-cheeked roly-poly girl, as sad
eyed as any of the mourners, has been
noticed at a number of Philadelphia
funerals of late. She was stout of build
and had brown eyes and hair, and looked
to be about Is Her appearance was modest
and her apparel was usually neat, but of
poor material.
On Dec s the young woman attended a
funeral at the house of Joseph Stephens,
620 Pagoda street. She sat in the corner
and wept when the others wept, and with
downcast eyes availed herself of the last
opportunity of looking at the corpse before
the coffin was finally closed. When the
funeral procession left the house it was
noticed by some that the rosy-cheeked
girl remained behind. After all the
friends had gone she was seen
leaving the house. She had ner hand
kerchief to her eyes and carried bundle
People pitied her in her sorrow and thought
no more about it until the family returned
from the cemetery. Then it was discovered
that quite number of articles had been
missing from upstairs rooms. The girl had
coolly rummaged the bed-chambers, taking
what wearing apparel she could conven-
iently carry, practically from beneath the
nose of the house-keeper. Since then the
police have been looking for the herosy-cheeked
young woman.
There was funeral at the house of Henry
Fay. ,533 Marseilles street, on December
13, and a strange and mysterious female
mourner, whom no one remembered having
seen before, sat with ciasped hands and
sorrowful face during the services. Her
description answered that of the girl
who five days before had attended
the funeral at Mr.. Stephens. AS
in that instance she remained until the
funeral cortege was about starting and
then she must have concealed herself in an
other room. No one saw her leave the
house and she must have escaped by the
back way. With her went dressing-case,
lady's plaid suit and some other articles.
This case was also reported to the police
and very sharp lookout has been kept for
the young woman since that time.
Last Thursday, December 20, found her
at another funeral. This time she selected
West Philadelphia as the field for her opera
tions, and attended the funeral services at
the house of Thomas j. Carter, 37l3 Wal
lace street. Here she professed to be taken
sick, and was assisted up stairs where she
could rest awhile This gave her the opportu-
nifty she wanted, and while the sorrowing
family were downstairs performing their
last duty of respect 20 the dead the young
WOuldu was Uubf u6T plCh VI Ju6
personal property in the upper rooms. She
left behind her worn-out corsets and took a
better pair from wardrobe. She took a
lady's suit a pair of kid gloves and a purse
with some change in il, and in a bureau
drawer which she broke open she got some
articles of trivial value and overlooked a
watch and some jewelry.
Special Officers Miller and Stephens of
the Sixteenth police distric5 were detailed
on the case, and in following a clew fur
nished by an acquaintance of the girl
located her at 1924 Dauphin street She
turned out to be Sailie Magee, alias Lennon,
who lives with her parents at that number.
At o'clock yesterday morning the officers
went to the neighborhood and waited until
she came out of the house, when tdey
arrested her. She was about as cool a
prisoner as Officer Miller has seen in long
time, and at first protested her innocence
When confronted with the indisputat lie
proof she confessed to having robbed the
three houses already mentioned, aud said
she had no confederate. She told the Off
Ger that she was Is wears old, although she
looks TO be fully IS, and asserted that she
had worked in a factory at Fifth and
Cherry streets until recently, when she was
discharged
liHer parents profess ignorance of the
girls evil ways and are deeply grieved. Her
father is a teamster, and formerly lived on
Seventh street, below Lombard.
Sallie was locked up at the Sixteenth dis
trict, and will have hearing az the Central
station to-day. She had pawned all the
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