The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-09-05
STEALING FOUR YEARS
And peddlins the Stolen Goods
: About the City.
A SAD, PECULIAR CASE UNEARTHED
Which illustrates Something Worthy
of Grave Thought--Two Bright
Children and tho Education They
Were Gctting-stoIen Goods Re-
covered.
covered.


covered.
Chief of Police Delbrugge's private
office looked like sample room occu-
pied by a shoe salesman yesterday
Shoes, mostly women's and girls, were
scattered over desks, chairs and win
dow stills. Some Of them had been
worn and others had not. They were
some OF those stolen from Joseph Has
enauer's shoe store by Mrs. John Bistcl
and her mother-in.law. Mrs. Ruthanna
Bistel. The case was mentioned in
yesterdays INTELLIoENoER. Yesterday
forenoon Officer Terrill went over the
hill and arrested the old woman.
When he went to arrest the daughter
in-law she was not at home. She had
taken the Youngest of her four chill
dren and departed. Later in the day
she telephoned to police headquarters
that she was at Bridgeport. :,
The old woman after her arrest, and
after being talked to by Chief Del,
brpgge for some time, confessed that
she had stolen good many pairs oil
shoes, and some other things. When
asked how long she had been stealing,
she said about four years, and that she,
her daughter-in-law and the latter's
children had sold the stolen goods about
town.
Mrs. Bitsel-pronounced as if it were
spelled Beitzel-was detained in the
lookup keepers private room. AT Mrs.
John Bitsei's were found two children,
Ida and Johnny. They were taken in
charge by Officer Terrell, and he and
Officer Carney spent most Of the day
walking about town with them, to
houses ut which they had sold shoes,
and recovering them, 1t was said sew.
enty pairs OF shoes had been stolen and
sold in the four years, OF these about
twenty pairs were recovered yesterday.
At Mrs. Bistel's house, ut Fulton,
we're found number OF towels, some
lace, few handkerchiefs and other
| things.
Last night an INTELlIGENcER reporter
talked to the two children at police
headquarters. He asked Johnny, the
boy: ~
"John Miller"
81 thought your name was Bistel."
NAV; my mother was married
twice."
"Who was your father?"
"Henry Miller"
"What did he do?"
"Dug coal"
"How long has he been deadP"
mime years, going on ten."
"How old are you2
His sister had just come in.
"Why, johnny she said. Then to
the reporter: Fathers been dead just
six years last January"
'How long has your mother been
married?"
HBetween four and five year"
"What is your step-father's nameP
"He's not our stepfather."
"Why isn't he?"
"Cause."
"well, what's his name?"
John" -.
"John Blstel?"
"Yep."
"Where is her
New Martinsville."
GLOW many children are there OF
you?" So, n..,,. ..,,, -,
Johnny, and Ruth; you know our big
gest brother is in the country"
elbow old is he3"
who? GeorgeT
| tYes."
"He's-how old is he, johnny"
Hes fourteen"
"The glass house started up, you
know" added the girl, land he didn't
want TO work in it, and so he sneaked
to the country"
"What is your name?"
"How old are you?"
"rm twelve"
"Do you go to school?"
II did, sometimes"
"Can you read?"
johnny whispered something to her,
and she corrected herself: eyes, sir"
Johnny, can you read%
"a little"
"Did anybody ever ask you where
YOU got these shoes?" Ida was asked.
ayes, sometimes; and told them my
mother bought them to sell.
"Did Johnny sell any shoesP"
81 guess sold four pairs; and / sold
a few towels, and six yards OF chal-
"of what?"
"Challie-stuff you mako dresses out
of Tint come from Stifel's. Mrs. Bis
tel stole that"
"That's your grandmother"
"Naw; that's Johns mother"
GLOW old is your mothers youngest
dWho2 Ruthy2"
"Yes."
"She's about four"
"Her name is Ruthy Bistel, is it2"
"No; Ruthanna Bistel. She was
named after Mrs Bistel-her granny,
YOU know. Mrs. Bistel's name is Ruth.
anna, too, just like her"
Johnny, do you ever swear|
Ida V' added S "He's not allowed to
swear"
"Who told you you must not swearP"
"our pap, before lie died." Ida said.
"Did either OF you steal anythingp
Both answered in one breath, NO."
and Ida added: "our mother would not