St. Paul daily globe., 1890-12-21
SHE ROBBED THE GRAVES.
A Wealthy French Woman Con-
victed of Stealing From a Gene

A Wealthy French Woman Con-
victed of Stealing From a Gene
terry.
New York Star
Mrs. Emelie Costougary, woman
well advanced in years, richly dressed
and wearing expensive diamonds, was
arraigned before Justice Tighe in the
Butler street brooklyn police court
yesterday on charge of stealing. She
seemed much ashamed and bowed her
gray head when called upon to arise
and plead to the charge. She is a
French woman, and lives at No. 166
Iwenty-third street, Brooklyn.
Beside her stood her daughter, pre-
possessing yOnng woman. Like the
priaoner, the daughter was eXpenSIyely
attired, and wore diamonds on her fin
gers, III her ears and at her throat. The
presence of two such women in the po-
lice court was unusual, and they were
the cynosure of all eyes.
The charge of theft was made by Spe-
cial Policeman Dorney, who had been de-
tailed for duty at Greenwood cemetery.
He accused Mrs. Costougary of stealing
satin ribbons tied around bouquets laid
on neWmade graves by mournerS. He
Swore that he had followed Mrs. Costou-
one of the graves. Then he at once put
her under arrest.
Il have not made mistake" he said,
''fOr l saw her take the ribbon. For sew
eral months the authorities at Green
WOOd have been notified that ribbons
tied around bouquets were stolen from
| graves regularly. They put the matter
into my hands and instructed me to try
and capture the person or persons who
were guilty of the theft. kept close
| watch, butI did not catch the thief All
| this time the person doing the work con
| tinued to steal the ribbons. | was all
noyed to think that the theft continued
until my attention was called to Mrs.
CoStougary. She frequently came to
! the cemetery, and her face, in that
manner, became very familiar to me.
| 81 watched her closely for some time,
| but as | did not see her do anything
wrong. l came to the conclusion that my
| suspicious were incorrect. There was
| a funeral yesterday, however, and whe
| the mourners left they placed several
| bouquets of flowers tied with satin rib.
| bonS on the grave. | remained close
! by for a number of hours watching the
| flowers.
''At $50 o'clock Mrs. Costougary
| came along. I saw her take one of the
| rIDDOnS, anu t1e0 arrested ner. Sne
| was very indignant, and protested
against her arrest. but there was the
| evidence that she had taken the ribbons
/ In obedience to my orders, [ took he
into custody despite her protests"
| Mrs. CoStougary was asked what she
had to say in reply 10 the charge. She
hung her head, and in low voice said
she had gone to the cemetery to visit
| the grave of a relative, and had no in
tentiOn of stealing the ribbon. She
was overcome with shame, and declared
| such an idea never entered her head.
Judge Tighe, however, deemed the evi
dence conclusive. He found Mrs. Cos
tougary guilty, and imposed fine Of
$40. The money was paid by the daugh
ter, and the two women left Ethe cour
room together.
II feel my mothers position keenly,'
said Miss Costougary, land the dis
grace is horrible. do not understand
this matter at all, and there must b,
| some mistake. We have money. NJ,
mother could have all the ribbons shl
wants, and there was not the slightest
necessity for her to steal them. rhinl
of the trifling value of the ribbons
Why, they would not be even wortl
taking. Besides, my mother neve
would dream of such thing as stealing
| She is the victim of mistake"