The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-12-30

man, sat in chair in Alderman John
7. HOwe's office last evening for
half hour. She had been arrested on
the charge of shoplftinE, and the evil
denCe against her was strong.
Alone. in a room crowded with curl
Gus men, Mrs Williams fought every
advance with excuses, denials, and
spoke the bitterest anathemaes upon
her accusers.
The scene was made the more i'm
pressive by the appearance of the wo-
man herself. Fashionably dressed,
middle-aged. and of the most pro-
nounced type of beauty, Mrs. Williams
won at least admirers of her defense
for her honor even if she did not make
them believe her guitless. Three wo-
men besides Mrs. Williams were ar
rested yesterday on the charge of shop
lifting but these arrests were uninter-
esting as compared to Mrs. Williams
case. She lives with her husband, a
Well-to-do man, on Seventh street,
West Scranton. In the neighborhoOd
Mrs. Williams is held in high esteem.
Her character seemed unimpeachable.
The family lives well and own fine
residence, which is comfortably fur
nished. 1t appears the storekeepers Of
the central city suspected Mrs. Will
liams, who was a constant shopper, of
stealing. At numerous times articles
have been missed when Mrs. Williams
was in the store. One of these COIN
cidenCes led subsequently, to the
Woman's arrest. IT concerned "The
Wandering jew" the famous work of
Eugene Sue.
TNIgy 4
The book is usually arranged in two
volumes. About year ago one of the
volumes in set at Beideman's book
store was missed. Mrs. Williams had
been in the store that day A few
months ago the suspicious Of the pro-
prietor were increased when Mrs Will
liams entered the store and asked the
price of the remaining volume of the
book. So when the police were going
the rounds of the stores this week
they learned from Mr.. Beidleman of
the disappearance of half of The Wan
dering jew"
The proprietor also mentioned the
name of the suspected woman. At S.
q. kerr's carpet store, on LackaWanna
avenue, Chief Roblng, who personally
directed the cases against the shop-
lifters, was told of the disappearance
of piece of tapestry valued at $3.50.
This also was a part of set and the
name of the suspected woman was the
same as that of The Wandering Jew
episode.
Moreover, when the police reached
Clemons, Ferber & O'Malley's china
store they We're asked to look for two
china dishes which had evidently been
stolen. This firm also remembered
that Mrs. Williams was in the store at
the time.
Thus fortified, Chief Robling and De-
tective John Moir, accompanied by Mr..
Ferber of the china store, and Mr..
Kerr went to Mrs Williams residence
yesterday afternoon. The tapestry was
found in the house, also the volume of
THE Wandering Jew and the two
dishes. Mrs. Williams denied stealing
them. Chief Robling says that she
mentioned different places where the
tapestry had come from.
SHE SERVED WARNING.
When the chief began to take the
fine fabric from it's fastenings. Mrs.
Williams exclaimed: Don't take that
down. don't, don't; that was put there
by drapier three years ago"
The goods We're secured and a hear
ing of the case arranged for o'clock
last evening. At that time the office
was crowded with people, all men ex-
cept Mrs, Williams and the three other
women. Mrs. Williams entered a
snappy plea of mot guilty" Chief
Robling then proceeded to make a case.
Mr. Beidleman was sworn. He posi-
lively identified the book as one which
was in his store. He could tell by the
private cost mark, and he stated that
there was no record of the book being
sold. Mrs. Williams. in denying, said
that the book was given to her by n
cousin, who is now dead. Mr.. Kerr. of
the carpet firm, also identified the cur
tain. 1t had not been sold, he said.
because the article was one of a set.
the other part being now at the store.
Mrs. Williams said she was given the
tapestry three years ago by a person
in BinghamtOn. Mr.. Ferber also iden-
titled the dishes as the ones taken from
the china store
There were six pieces in all, said Mr.
Ferber; two were sold, two were stolen.
and two they have left. Mrs. Williams
said she purchased the dishes. She had
no attorney. Her husband was pres
ent, but he did not interfere. During
all the hearing the woman nterspersed
her denials with eXecrations on Chief
Robling. You think you're a gentle
man. she exclaimed at one time.
you're not-you want to place me on
level with Italians, me shoplifter;