The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-11
PIETRO GIRLS ARE
CAUGHT AT LAST
Second Oldest Arrested by Lieutenant
Davis 10 the Leader Store.
THEY ARE CLEVER PICK.POCKETS
by Offering Artificial Flowers and
Toy Balloons For Sale They Pur.
sued Their Trade More Easily.
They Came Here from Newark, and
Since Then Many Complaints We're
Made Of Women Losing Their Poe.
kct Hooks.

| the Oldest II years and married, and
| the youngest s, made their appearance
on Lackawanna avenue selling toy bal
| looms and artificial flowers, and about
the same time complaints began to
| reach Chief of Police RObling that wo-
men We're losing their Docketbooks in
| the Leader, the Globe Warehouse, the
| Four Cent store and other prominent
business places
| The chief made an investigation and
became satisfied that the girls were the
| pickpOckets and he detailed some mem
Der uf the police force to keep q close
watch on them daily, but the girls APP
peared to have posted themselves on
the officers and kept very shady when
ever any of them was around. They
| went around separately, one into the
Leader with IL basket Of flowers and
the others into other stores with the
toy balloons.
Lieutenant John Davis, dressed in his
citizen clothes. kept them in sight the
past two afternoons and he succeeded
in arresting the second oldest yester
day Just after she stole the pocket
book of Mrs. William Delke, wife of
Shoemaker Delke. of Adams avenue.
The purse contained 81.
Mrs. Delke was in the Leader for a
few minutes and she left to go to the
Four Cent store, but when she got
there her pocketbook was gone. and
she returned Immediately to the Lead
er. Lieutenant Davis saw the girl
take the pocketbook from Mrs. Delke,
but before he could lay hands on her
she had slipped out and was across
the street at the steps leading up to
Alderman Millar's office. She was
talking to her youngest sister, who had
a basket of flowers.
DROPPED FIFTEEN DOLLARS.
The lieutenant took her up the street
until he met Patrolman Moir on the
corner and turned her over to him.
Mrs. Delke was back from the Four
Cent store in the meantime and she
went up to the police station with Pa
trolman Moir and the youthful prison.
er. Captain Edwards was standing at
the door of the station talking to Lieu
tenant Peter Zang. of the South Side.
as the girl was being brought in and
they saw her drop a roll OF paper
money ON the floor. The captain
picked 1t up and there was $l5 in 1t.
two s. bills, one 81 bill and three 81
bills.
When she was searched $2.OS in silver
coin was found in her pocket, and
among it was much worn Scent piece
which was identified by Mrs. Delke as
hers. Mrs. Delke's pocketbook was af
terward found in the bottom Of tn
flower basket.
Not long after the girls arrest her
two sisters came to the station. They
both said that she was innocent, and
when Chief Robling asked where she
got the money she had. the oldest one
said she gave it to her to buy pair
Of shoes and an apron. She said she
on l.r An ba ir,,, M
girl arrested was telling Mayor Bailey
in another room that her oldest sister
gave her SIS. The three of them tod
several contradictory stories, but with
out any admissions from them there is
plenty of evidence to establish their
guilt beyond question.
SEARCHED THE HOUSE.
Chief Robling. Lieutenant Davis and
Patrolman Moir Went to where the
girls live at 5l3 Pleasant street, in Me-
Cams patch. and searched the house.
Eight pocketbooks We're found in diff
ferent places, two of them being made
from alligator skins. one of them was
shield shaped and was made so that
it could hang on hook from the belt.
In the search Of the house there was
no dry goods or other articles found
that would show they had been guilty
of shoplifting also.
In one of the pocketbooks was found
seven gold rings and valuable tie
pin. These. as well as the pOcketbooks
are in possession of Chief Robling now
Pietro is the name of their father
He shook like one with the ague when
the officers came in, and 50 did his
wife. TIL re was no reason why the
parents should be arrested. as there
was no evidence against them, unless
it can be proved later that they sent
the girls out to steal. For the present
Chief Rolling decided not to arrest
them, and there is hardly any danger
that they will go away while the girls
are i'm custody: SO that it will be an
easy matter to get them if they are
wanted.
The family came here four weeks ago
from Newark, n. j. The Oldest girl.
although only II and very childlike in
appearance, Is married since seven
months ago to an Italian named Car
minucia FilOne, and they keen a fruit
stand at 92i West Lackawanna ave-
nue.. The next Oldest is II years. She
is the one that w9s arrested. Her
name is Lizzie Pietro. The youngest
Is only years old! Her name Is Mary
Pietro. The three are exceptionally
cute and they would fit with the agil-
ity of cats from one part Of the stores
to the other. They will be given a
hearing this morning by Mayor Bailey.