Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-02-23
SILK In A BREAD-BOX
DRESS PATTERNS TAKEN FROM
MEYERS STORE THUS sECRETED.
A weIi-Drcsscd Woman of Genteci
Appearance Convicted OF the
Theft--Desertcd by Her Husp"n"'
she Took 20 the Opium, Habit.

Mrs. Elizabeth Albrecht. handsome
young woman, whose dress and manner
evidenced refinement aud culture was In
the Police Court yesterday, charged with
shop-liftlng, and was sentenced TO thirty
days Imprisonment in the city jail.
Mrs. Albrecht Is from Roanoke, but
recently has lived In this city at NO.
I north First street. In the Police Cour'
she was defended by Messrs. l.. o. Wen
denburg and Samuel NJ. Page. The court
room was packed to the doors, the fact
that the case would be heard having
been noised about.
The charge lodged against her was the
larceny of forty yards OF SILK from the
| store OF julius Meyer & Sons. Tine pri-
soner elected 10 be tried b. the Justice.
The evidence, which was OF most con-
cluslyc nature, showed that the good,
were stolen on the afternoon OF January
3lst. Mrs. Al1recht entered the store that
afternoon vita her sister, Mrs. Bowman,
wife of a son OK Ex-Governor Bowman.
OF Missouri, and WAS shown some Han
ncls by Mr j. f.. Donleavy, clerk in
the establishment. After the departure
OF the ladies the silk was missed. ana
the police were notified. Sergeant John
T. Hall and Offlcer G. 4. Gibson were de-
tailed on the case.
FOUND IN THE KITCHEN.
Thursday afternoon, having become sat
isli.d that Mrs. Albrecht had taken Tn.
goods. the officers visited her house with
search warrant and found the two
pieces Of goods concealed in a breld-boA
in the kitchen. When these were brought
20 light the unfortunate woman broke
down and confessed her guilt.
Mrs. Bowman with whom her sister
resides, testified that Mrs. Albrecht wa.
drunk and under the influence OF NOR
phiuc at the time she committed the
theft. Mrs Bowman said that she knew
nothing about the goods being In her
house until a wee, or more after the
visit to Meyers. Her first knowledge OF
them was when her sister showed them
to her. and said they had been purchased
with money gwen her by friend. She
was satisfied, she said, that Mrs. Al
brecht had taken the silk because Of the
fact that before leaving home the after
noon of tn shopping expedition she had
taken n potential dose Of both morphine
and whiskey She said that Mrs Al
brechts husband had deserted her two
years ago. since which time she he'd been
addicted To the use Of both morphine and
WllSktJ. lutHe Iti SttiJhS fllNCl ufOii
her mind. and she believed her to be a
| fit subject for Iunatic asylum.
EARNEST PLEA FOR MERCY.
Both lawyers for the defence made ap,
peals in behalf Of the accused woman.
Mr.. Page was very eloquent in his plea
| for mercy.
The Justice was vislbly affected, and In
rendering his decision said that were hs
| to folio, his own desire he would dis
| charge the prisoner. but his duty war
clear, and no matter how dlsagreeable IL
might be, n could but perform 1t. He
| offered to suspend the execution OF his
sentence and order a commission OF lu>
| macy in the case II counsel so desired.
! The prisoner was not willing for this,
however. and sentence was passed. An
| appeal was taken from the decision, fol-
| lowed by a motion for bail which was
allowed, and 500 was fixed as the amount
| OF the bond. 1t was some time before