Huntsville gazette., 1893-10-21
Two FAIR BURGLARS.
A Respectable Widow and Her
Daughter Turned Thieves.
STOLE TO KEEP FROM STARVING.
Rurglaries That Have Been Shrouded In
Mystery for Months Were Brought
to Light by the Arrest of
the Two Women.

TECUMsEH. Mich, Oct. 20.-Mrs. Alice
Church, comely widow 80 years OF age,
and Bessie Church, her daughter, IL
years of age, were arrested in the act OF
committing burglary. They were dress
ed in mems clothes.
The two women moved III the best So
cietv. were members Of the church. act
i've in charitable work and eminently
respectable as to conduct.
The women confess their guilt, state
that they have committed score OF
burglaries, and will gladly accept any
punishment that is meted out to them.
Il was at first believed that they were
insane, but this theory has been aban-
doned
Mrs. Church and her daughter have
lived here several years. Both dressed
well, and the girl is Hot only unusually
bright, but quite handsome. They mum
bered among their friends nearly al the
best people Of Tecumseh. They lived
modestly and stated that their income
came from the life insurance of the late
Mr.. Church Mre Church was popular
with the beaux Of the town, but it was
observed that she froZe them with Dig
nifty when they became too demonstra-
tive.
Early in the summer the home Of a
prominent family was entered ole even
ing while the family were at church and
some jewelry and wearing apparel Were
taken. No trace of the burglars could
be discovered. About the time the Incl
dent was dropping out Of the public
mind another house was entered. Some
money and jewelry was taken from this
house, and, as before, the family We're
absent the evening of the occurrence.
The station was watched and all the
roads out of town guarded, but no burg
lars were arrested The town police
were puzzled.
The burglaries followed each other in
quick succession during July and Au-
gust. The whole town was excited
Strangers were eyed with suspicion and
citizens lay in ambush night after night
without accomplishing anything.
All the houses were entered in the
same manner, either through the back
door or a window opening on porch.
Occasionally groceries and food were
taken. This led to the belief that the
burglars were tramps.
There was a cessation Of night work
during September, but early this month
the burglaries were resumed The
houses were entered usually during the
absence of the family, hut i'll many In
stances houses We're robbed III which
several men were sleeping.
Last week the home of the late ia e.
Stacey, occupied by Mrs. Stacey and her
daughter, was broken into ana robbed 81
goods valued d, 500. A reward was Of
fered, and a score Of amateur detectives
set to work. but beyond arresting few
tramps, who were clearly innocent, moth
ing came of it.
Relatives then decided to take turns
watching the house. About o'clock iii
the morning one of the watchers obscrv-
ed what he supposed We're two men ap
preaching the house. He got sh0tgu.l
and waited. The burglars lifted win
dow and boldly entered. The lnan with
the shotgun decided 10 wait until they
entered the diningroom, when he coul;i
get a better light on the targets. The
two figures entered the diningroom, and
as the watcher aimed the gun the light
fell ON the face Of the Widow Church.
He could hardly believe his eyes. II
was Mrs. Church and her daughter dress
ed up in mems clothes.
He lowered the gun, approached and
arrested both. They screamed, but re
covered their composure, and i'll tie
presence Of Mrs. Stacey confessed to al
the burglaries.
The women had preliminary exami-
nation, at which the whole town was
present. They Were held for trial
1t is said that they stole TO keep 6 ON
starving, and that false pride pr vc4t
ed them from telling their friends OF
their condition