Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1889-08-04
A BURGLAR QUEEN.
ELLALARRABBB TELLS THE STORY OF HER
LIPB.
several Offers Of Mari age While Doing Tina in the
Psnitsntiary-A Remarkable
Criminal Story.
Courier journal

NAN NAAHSo OOuHlJ pIlsOn, ID
spite OF the hideous striped dress and the
over-shadowing hood that almost hid the
face, and wonderful face it was for one
to meet in prison! Ruddy-cheeked and
blue-eyed, with profile that might have
made models fortune; hair that crept
out IN stray, rebellious, curling locks of
auburn from beneath the cap and which
she tucked into place in a girlish way
with a shapely hand which would
have been pretty but for the cheap
rings on her fingers. Even the prison
dress fitted gracefully, and as she came
through the ball I observed that she did
not walk with the painful shsmble COM
mon to criminals. The long, 1.-the body
moved with an easy dignity, and there
was a playful scOrn about the lips that be-
spoke the possession of spirit and passion.
This anomalous tweniy-yesr.Old bit of
femininiiy, who has often turned mems
heads in more senses than one, was Helen
EdgeTly, alias Ella Larrsbee, the "QGesn
Of The Cracksmen," and the only female
burglar ia America. From her own lips
gathered the romantic story of her life, and
the cause that led her to adopt the profess
sion of hOusebreaker.
Seating herself by my SIDE she pulled
off her hood and began her recital in a
voice that at first showed trace of ner-
vousness. But reserve was brushed aside
when she told exultantly of her more re-
markable exploits. Coming from the lips
of a young and beautiful girl, it was tale
almost passing belief and which would
hardly be credited were it not in some parts
at least borne out by the official records of
her daring crimes.
81 have no recollection Of my parents"
SIZE began. "When a mere child was in
the keeping of a man who was not my
father, and whose name took, passing az
his daughter. That is the name by which
1 have been known to the police.
81 we'll remember my first job. was
only fourteen when began stealing from
houses. had no fear, but lots of caution,
and I YVES clever at making a guess which
has helped me out of many a hole. l
had the house in my eye for weeks be-
fore l got the chance to work it. OAe
night I was ready. watched that house
for hours, till all the lights were out.
Then I watched the policeman on post,
but soon made up my miad that had
nothing to fear from that direction. My
story of explanation was already on the
tip Of my tongue to tell should 1 be
caught; they would believe 1t from a
young girl like me. Silently crept to the
basement, and with a table knife slipped
the window catch. Another moment and
I was inside. Not q sound 1 heard,
80 l crept upstairs to the second
floor, first taking the precautiOn
to unlock the basement door for
exit after the work was done. Upstairs l
searched AID searched; it seemed like
hours. At last 1 found what wanted
With the money and jewelry 1 crept
down stairs, oh, so softly my heart was
beating with excitement, and yet not
afraid. I reached the basement, shut the
door quietly and an instant later was out
on the street. There was no policeman in
sight.
81 was buaglar
"The dream of years had been accom-
plished. I stood there with the plumber
in my hands and all the exploits of which
I mad heard so often seemed to vanish in
comparison with mine. Yet had ehcoun-
tered no danger. l had not even bean
molested. Was this because 1 was a
womanP I had pretty face; that was to
be my fortune, then, even as burglar,
AID Iresolyed to mskeit worth the having
the money and jswelry? Oh, it went
ike all the other swsg got my hands on.
In this OSe particular have never varied
eli nv pluRder has bsen blown in as
quickly 90 it cane. We had a merry time
while it lasted, drinking and carOusirg,
and takiag our pleasures in our own way.
never learned to drink heavily, bat shy
one of our friends could have eli tee liquor
he wanted while the money held out. The
oliver and other jewelry went the same
way; it vas sold aBd the money wasted
Goa my nBxt job was elegantly fixed.
Il was several months sfterward. l hsd
a tool made for opening basement windows,
and l took a good deal of pride in the fact
that my instrument could spring the So
called burglar-proof catches IS easily as
the old-tashiosed catches. It was my own
invention and I prscticed with it on the
windows of our own house till was sure
of it being perfect.
TT was simple thing, made of harden
ed steel with a wedge like point to work in
the sashes and force the catch. could
even lock the sash again with it. select
ed house in quiet neighbOrhoOd and
had not long to wait The tool worked
like q charm. Stepping in at the basement
window, opened the front basement door,
as before. Then upstairs l WENT A door
that pushed open cresked little. en-
tered. after listening for a sound and hear
ing nothing. There was a CLEAN Of moon
light coming through the shutter of the
front window, and it fell on something
upon a chair that made me start. 1t was
the shining barrel of pistol. Well, you
may imagine my whole object was TO get
that pistol. I c1ept up to the chair and
stood beside bed where man lay asleep.
I took the weapon and slipped out of the
room to the bath room, whera 1 left it.
Then I went back again and got what l
wanted. It hardly paid for the trouble,
but had scored another point aud, %
on my first venture, came off safely. I
was never suspected Of either OF these rob
berries.
s.I was now no fool in homework My
third venture was lucky and yet an I'M
lucky one. Ientered lady's room while
she was asleep and got some jewelry and
money. Success had made me careless. 1
wore the iewelry when l went to COney
Island, some time later, and was arrest
ed there with it on me. OF course pro-
tested that l got it from somebody else,
but the police, although they were mysti.
fed about me, principally on account OF
my youth, suppose, would not let nae 90:
There was ring which they were resolved
to get back for the lady at all hazards, so
they brought me to the house where l
lived aud began to search. My trunk was
brought down stairs and was in diem
ma, knowing the ring was hidden there.