The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-10-03
KITE ADAMS.

Etrong-arm woman, she was brought
into court recently charged with rob-
hing an elderly citizen who was walk
ing on State street at late hour at
night. The judge seemed TO think the
women were entitled TO his sympathy,
and the Clark woman was finally dis
charged, while Kittie Adams got con-
tinuance and gave bail The judge
likened the complainant in the
robbery case 10 IAN old steam
boat" He had taken the women
in tow. had enjoyed the fun. ana when
he desired to shake Off his consorts
they carried away his loose change.
There was no evidence 20 sustain the
judges words. however
Kittie has been known TO the police
as 4 criminal and a dangerous woman
for about twelve years, though it is
only in the last five years that she has
followed the practice OF street robbery.
She is the wife Of George Shine, a
pickpocket. whose picture is in one OF
the big books az the bureau of idnntifi-
cation. and who is known 20 the police
a good man.. which means 10 the
layman that he is very bad man.
Years ago Kittie Adams lived in a
house in the lower section OF Clark
street. and. though a white woman, VAS
famous among the police for always
CARRYING razor. Whenever her arrest
was called for the police went about it
gingerly and with a wholesome regard
for the razor which they knew Was con
cealed somewhere about her. One night
the house was raided and Kittie
Jumped from third-story window
rather than submit TO arrest Big
Tom" Mulchay and Pat OBrien. now
sergeant. took after Kittie. who was
uninjured by her jump. She ran down
Clark street to Polk. whore she tripped
and fell over the curb!nE and broke her
collar bone.
Another time. about eight years ago,
she had some trouble with the driyer
Of a scavenger wagon in the alley west
OF Clark street. between Polk ana Tay
Tor streets. and. whipping on, her ever
ready razor, she cut cash six inches
long in the side OF the horse For this
she was arrested and fined.
Kttie Travelled with Nora Heating
for long time, and the pair were the
terror OF the "leyee" district Arrest
did not bother them. for they had
money to pay fines, and should they be
held TO the grand jury the case was in
yariably squared by returning the
money. Nora was finally sent 10 Joliet,
Il. - nj
Kittie cast about for a new partner.
On June lS. 1894, she was placed on
trial before Judge Hanecy for larceny.
and this time the complainant ap-
reared. A case was made out and
Kittie was sentenced 10 ten months in
the bridewell. But even here her luck
or pull or whatever had interviewed
between her and justice proved cnica-
Cioue. and within three months a petit
tion was circulated by her friends say
ing that she was dying with consump-
ton. and asking the governor 20 par
don her An investigation Was or
dered. and when Kittie was brought
before committee she had picked her
gums with toothpick till they bled
lth Hh' bOAOlbh0ls HBat Jul iilf btbbu
before the committee, which thought
she was going to die in a week. and she
was pardoned only 10 return TO her old
game.
Many persons wonder how Il rs she
always goes free when charged with
highway robbery. The usual mode OF
procedure Is this: The witnesses. and
especially the complainant. arc ap-
preached by attorneys o. friends vi the
woman and offered various induce
ments not TO testify. II it is a larceny
case where a stranger in town has been
robbed Of n few hundred dollars Il is
pointed out to him that the court is
not a collecting agency and that his
prosecution Of the prisoner will not
get him the money. whereas. II he fails
10 appear in court. his roll viii be
forthcoming the day after the woman
Is discharged.
often half the money IS paid ia ad-
vance to bind tho bargain. and his Is
generally too strong an argument for
the sucker 10 resist Unless he is es-
pecially vlndictive he will ;ake his
money and quietly 90 home or. II a
resident Of Chicago, leaye the city so
the officers cannot find him. Then
when the case Of the people against