The herald., 1897-11-12
Over $1,000 Worth Of Prop
erty Recovered
FROM WOMEN sHoPLIFTERs
ONLY REPRESENTS A PORTION
OF THEIR PILFERIN0S
Five Charges Filed Against One and
Four Against the 0ther-Both
Are Out on Bail

sey and Mrs. Bebiesheimer, who were ar
rested last Wednesday, have operated
here on a more extensive scale than was
erty recovered will amount to at least
$1,000. 1t is supposed that this represents
only small portion Of the goods ac-
tually taken, since large quantities have
doubtless been shipped away.
1t Is known that Mrs. Massey has been
operating here for at least three years.
She has been suspected around several
stores for that length Of time, but as she
was never actually caught in the act
of stealing anything she escaped arrest.
The thefts have, however, been laid at
her door, and at several of the stores
she has been carefully watched when
she came around. Through the able
assistance of her confederate, Mrs.
Bebiesheimer, she was able to continue
her pilfcrings and avoid actual detec-
tion.
Mrs. Massey has been living in this
city for over fourteen years. She has
had comfortable home and UP to last
Wednesday had never been openly ac-
cused of any misconduct. A member of
the police force, who was formerly a
conductor on the Main street car line,
has made the statement since the
woman's arrest that ten years ago he
suspected her Of picking pockets on
his car. There was no proof of the theft
and nothing was said about the matter.
Little Is known of Mrs. Bebiesheimer,
as she only came here last May. She
brought her two children. a boy, aged
II years, and a girl, aged 8 years, with
her and has been living with them in
comfortable cottage at 633 Montreal
street. Her husband remained at
Bakersfield. where he is proprietor Of a
brewery. The family, according to the
best information, are in comfortable
circumstances.
According to the statements of one Of
the women the shoplifters were ac-
quainted during. their childhood. When
Mrs. Bebieshiemer arrived here from
Bakersfield the old friendship was re-
vived and they became confederates in
their shoplifting enterprise. They
worked together and rode around
great deal in a phaeton, in which they
deposited the stolen goods after they
got out of store. When visiting store
in pursuit Of their light-fingered occupa-
tion they usually went together. One
would engage the clerk in conversation
and the other would stow away articles
from the counter in the capacious pocll-
cts of her garments.
Their appearance upon the street was
such as would repel any suspicion as to
their calling. They always dressed
handsomely and looked the woman of
fashion from their shoe tips to the
plumes on their hats.
Mr.. Bebiesheimer, who was at Fresno
when his wife was arrested, was notified
at once by telegraph. He took the next
train for this city and arrived here yes
terday morning. The woman was still
confined in the city prison, unable to get
bail, and three complaints for petty
larceny had been filed against her.
Bebiesheimer secured Henry T. Gage
to defend his wife. The attorney sue
ceeded in getting bail fixed at 5000 in
each case, making 5000 in all. Several
retail liquor men were visited and, as
a result, Daniel Jerrue, proprietor of the
Exchange saloon at 22S South Spring
street, and Hugh Smith of the saloon at
the corner of First and Los Angeles
street called at the station and gave
bond for the appearance of the woman
for trial. She was Immediately released
and returned home with her husband.
During the afternoon, when the case
against Mrs. Massey was called before
Justice owens. the woman's attorney.
Jud Rush, appeared and presented
certificate from DR.. Nadeau that she was
too sick to be arraigned, and the case
went over until 1880 o'clock today.
All day yesterday representatives
from various firms called at the detec-
tives' room at the police station and
identified their goods. Property taken
from a dozen different stores was re-
covered. There were gloves by the
dozen, women's wraps in cloth and fur,
yards of handsome ribbon, embroidered
corsets, silk and cloth dress patterns,
white goods, many hats, including one
mans straw hat, children's caps, and,
in fact, almost everything kept in a dry
goods or millinery store.
Several more complaints were filed
against the shoplifters. In all five COM
plants have been lodged against Mrs.
sheimer. Others will follow. The list
of firms up to date that will prosecute
the women for their thefts is as follows:
M. P. Snyder Shoe company, Isaacs
Bros, Broadway Department store,
Partisan Cloak company, Fixen & Co.
and the Rival Millinery store.
AN ouTn orrrF aE