The evening times., 1897-01-26

Elizabeth Cleveland, colored, employed
doubtful method to repleniSh her larder
yesterday, and as result she was in the
police court dock this morning charged
with larceny by trick. Policeman f. j.
SCramlin, who arrested Elizabeth. called il
food f'hnf!amming. The complainant was
Joseph Reuben, a native Of the Cars vast
domains, who keeps little grocery store
at No. 2l3 Third street southwest
on tse witness stand he said the woman
came TO his place and ordered 81 worth
of groceries, including "a ham. five boxes
of sardines, five pounds of pork, and other
articles.
Bring the goods around to my house, y
said Elizabeth My husband is there
and will pay you"
Accordingly Reuben shouldered the big
basket filled with food and carried il 10
No. T19 Third street southwest. But the
husband was not there. Elizabeth told
Reuben to take a seat and wait a few min
uteS; that Mr. Cleveland would soon re-
turn and settle with him. Thereupon the
woman placed the ham in a pot OF boiling
water, cut up the bread. opened the
cans of sardines, and gave the children d
feast
Still Reuben waited. He remained in the
house over two hours, but Mr. Cleveland
might have been ohIck hunting down the
Potomac for all the Russian merchant
knew, for he came not In the meantime
his goods were being cooked by the ener-
getic Mrs. Cleveland and the house was
filled with savory odors.
Where is my money!" demanded Reu-
ben, when patience had ceased to be a
virtue.
Indeed said Elizabeth, as she gave
the ham a turn in the pot and open ed an
other can of sardines. indeed, Mister, /
amt got no money; but l Will pay you
some day."
-Some day?" murmured Reuben, re-
peating the phrase as he made tracks for
the Fourth precinct station house. There
he charged one Elizabeth Cleveland with
flim-fiamming him out of the provisions,
and her arrest on a warrant followed.
In her own defense the cOlored woman
told Judge Miller from the witness stand
today that she has been separated from
Mr.. Cleveland for two years. He is EN-
ployed in the navy yard, where he has
been for thirteen years.
He told me TO order the goods she
said, but left my house before Mr.. Reuben
brought them"
You had no bread in the house, said his
honor, land still you ordered five boxes
of sardines and other delicacics.'
Yes, sir; but it was my daughters birth
day. and l wanted her to celebrate it-so
did her father
Yes continued the judge, land you
gave her birthday party at this mans
expense" pointing To Reuben.
Lawyer John A. Moss, for the woman,
Contended that t was not a case Of theft,
but that his client intended TO pay for the
articles.
There are no elements Of larceny in this
case" said Attorney Moss, land l don't see
how any legal mind can see larceny in it. >
lit is the meanest kind Of larceny" re-
piled his honor. "She triCked this man out
of his goods.
The woman was ordered to make restitU-
tion or go to jail, and, after some quib-
bling in the courtroom as to whether the
amount was So 50 or So. 81, Judge Miller
was again called on to give a decision. He
ordered the amount paid which appeared in
the information, 50 81 and Mrs. Cleveland
raised the amount and paid it to the exas-
perated Reuben.