Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1892-08-27
WAS 1T A CONSPIRACY, !?
Miss Annie Harbert Denies the
Indian Deep Allegations.
HER TRUNK OPEN ALL THE TIME.


of small Value and Things She Could
Not Possibly Need-someone Put Them
in Her Trunl, to Ruin Her.
For Several days the West Chester.
Pa, papers have been teeming with sen
sationalisms concerning Miss Anna Har-
bert, of 1923 West Eighth street. this
city. These articles were copied by the
Every Evening and Daily Republican
last evening without affording the young
woman any opportunity to speak
/ ia her own defense The charge made
against Miss Harbert is that while she
was stopping at the boarding house Of "a
/ Mr.. Lamborn, at Indian Deep Pa.
small summer resort near West Chester
she stole number of articles from q
room mate and that they were found In
! her trunk.
Miss Harbert is well-known in this
city and moves in good society. She has
many friends, and is very pretty and
intelligent young woman about 20 years
old She is the niece of Lambert v.
Nicholson, who is chief clerk in the Office
of the clerk of the peace at the court
house
She has an elegant home, her uncle
gives her all the money that she needs
for support. clothing and pleasure, and
much more than nine tenths Of
the Wilmington girls have at
command. This being the case it seems
absurd TO think that a person who has
every need supplied, would sacrifice her
social position and character for the
sake of pair of kid gloves. night dress,
two linen handkerchiefs and "a IS bill
Disliises Publicity But Wants Truth.
Since Miss Harbert returned from In
dian Deep large number of her young
friends have called upon her, and eX-
pressed their sympathy and belief in her
innocence, all of which has been very
comforting but it did not set her right
with the world al large
This afternoon her uncle Mr. Nichol-
, son. who almost idolizcs his niece. met an
! EVENING JOURNAL reporter on Market
street, stated the circumstances, and said
that while his niece disliked the publicity
Of such a scandal she wished 20 put her
self Alright before the people who had
read the damaging articles that orgi
T mated ia the West Chester papers. AZ
the same time he said that hii
niece had no occasion TO steal anything
as he provided her with money beforl
. she vent away and told her that if shI
i needed any more to write for it.
Was II ~ Conspiracy?
o The reporter took an Eighth street ca
= and went to the home of Miss Harhert
, she conducted him into the parlor an'
v told a straightforward story. 1t was a
y follows:
n Il deny most emphatically that I tool
q anything that did not belong TO me.
a know that no matter what
may say there will be certai
p number of persons who Wi
believe me guilty; but have confdenc
d enough in the mass OF the people to sui
q init my side of the story to them an
d abide by the result 1t has been
p very painful experience, but an
>, thankful to say that my intimate friend
L believe in my innocence and have calle
# upon me and expressed their sympath
" and confidence The publicity canno
BE greater than il is
IS "All have TO say is that the thing
?. were placed in my unlocked trunk by a
.e enemy whom feel confident that know
.e "l went to Indian Deep. on Wednesday
l. September TO- was accompanied b
Miss Rose Frank, of Eleventh and Mao
1t ison street. whom l regarded a
rs my friend. We went for tw
Is weeks recreation, and I never ha
IF greater pleasure than ! experienced up I
10 the time that the charge was mad
I'd against me. William Frank and wife, {
le West Tenth street, We're also at India
r. Deep
% We secured loding at the boardin
Of house of Mr.. Robert Lamborn. Mii
Frank and occupied a room, u
es gether with a Miss Helen Benge
1t of Philadelphia After g
rs there the gentleman paid gre.
ne deal Of attention to me and but little
er Miss Frank This seemed TO pique he
or but had a splendin time and did all thi
IN could to make il pleasant for he
be Things went along smoothly, and Mi
Benger, seemed to take quite liking
me.
During the whole of my stay ! d
s not lock my trunk unless, perhaps, l d
ye it the first day. / trusted The people
as the house, and never for a moment su
es picioned my companions in the room. 4.
of room was -also unlocked Miss Fral
cs had a 50 bin which she kept pinned J
side her belt On several occasions
NJ saw her throw her belt around and 7 TO
he her that she ought 90 take better care
Dir her money.
rs. .'On last Friday night 1 was at {
les pavilion dancing Mr. VIII Fra
ey called me out and said that he had We
ed unpleasant news 20 communicate.
ng told me that the gloves undervest mig
ed dress and handkerchiefs, belonging
ed Miss Benger, and the So bill with p
i lies in it had been found in my trur
He then went on, told me that the b,
thing / could do would be to say n
we ] stole them, for an officer was at Q
M door of the pavilion and if ! denied il
ich would take me to West Chester jail; b
nd that if admitted it they would let
mt so. God knows what I said | don't
J is was dumbfounded It was the first
led perience of the kind that ! ever had
pes was alone; he was my only advisor "A
pretty one he was. He further told
that if ] would acknowledge IL he wOt
take me home the next morning.
81 went to the hotel and when l get
WI my room found Mr. Lamborn there
S don't know what he said, somethi
of about being bad business. I do
he know what l said in reply. 1t may be q
,al- in my fear of being taken to w
Chester jail and acting under the adv
Of VIII Erapr I said that / uInrnH tia