The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-12-29

Had No knowledge OF the Steallng.
The Goods Found in Her House
were Given to Her bv Her sister as
Christmas Gifts. -.Other Arrests Are
to BE Made Today--Most of the
Goods Identified.
During the weeks preceding Christ
mas. shUplfting was extensively prac-
ticed i'm the stores of this city in
most systematic manner AS q direct
result of this, eight warrants were is
sued for as many women and three
arrests were made yesterday by the
police. Those taken into custody were
Mrs. Thomas Thomas. married, four
children. lives i'm Keiser Valley: Mrs.
Evan Thomas, married, two children,
lives on North Main avenue, near West
Linden street; Mrs. Ellen Randall,
married three children, lives on Petite
bone street
Warrants will he served today on the
five other women. 1t is said that two
more of these are from West Scranton
and that the four women from that
part of the city carried out a co-opera-
tive plan to steal. Every woman wore
long cape similar in material and
construction. Under these the articles
were secreted.
The three women arrested yesterday
appeared before Alderman John 7.
Howe last evening and were given Il
hearing. Mrs. Randall and Mrs. Evan
Thomas pleaded guilty forthwith.
The latter stated that she had stolen
the goods found in Mrs. Thomas
Thomas possession and had given
them to her as Christmas presents. The
two women are sisters.
The goods recovered amount in value
to at least $500 including two silk skirts,
several feather boas, children'S hats,
fancy bOnnets. underwear. fur bOaS,
perfumery and other articles. These
We're identified by representatives. of
the following central city concerns:
Connolly K Wallace, Goldsmith's Ba-
zaar. Jonas Longs Sons, The Fashion.
The Paris. Globe store, The Leader and
the Four-Cent store.
IN PROGRESS FOR WEEKS.
The work of stealing has been in pro-
gress for four weeks preceding Christ
mas. During this time the police have
been notified time and time again, but
no clue to the perpetrators could be
discovered until the day preceding
Christmas. when two women were de-
tected in the act of lifting" i'm one of
the stores.
The women were at once handed over
tu the police on suspicion. Chief of
Police Robling and Detective John Moir
took the women before Alderman
Howe and charged them with larceny.
On the threat of punishment the pris-
oncrs acknowledged Their guilt, told
just where the goods were and gave
To the police the names of siN other
women whom they knew had stolen
goods from the stores.
Acting on this information CHIEF
of Police Robling took out search war
rants for visit to each of the homes
All day Monday and Monday night
Lieutenant Of Police John Davis, De-
teCtive John Noir and Officer Stephen
Dyer We're busy collecting the stolen
goods. The greater part were found
in the homes of the West Scranton wO-
men. At the home Of Mrs. Evan
Thomas two silk skirts valued at 81
each, We're found stored away in bu-
reau drawers. Mrs. Thomas half de-
MED, half acknowledged her guilt. She
said she wanted to look nice.
Her husband is an invalid and has
been confined to his bed for two years.
At the home of Mrs. Thomas, OF Pet
tehOne street, the police had little
trouble. The officers knocked at the
house door and We're greeted by Mrs.
Thomas herself.
RECEIVED PRESENTS.
Have you anything in the house
that was given to you as a present."
why yes" said Mrs. Thomas and
she showed the officers the articles Civ
her sister. Mrs. Thomas Thomas. The
goods were seized.
The police also visited the other
houses but in each instance the Wo-
rren We're not at home. Whatever
goods We're found We're taken in tow.
AT the alderman's office last evening
the goods We're piled upon two tables
and were inspected by the representa-.
tives of the dozen firms that had
been victimized. y few articles re-
main unclaimed and none were return
ed yesterday.
Five o'clock was the hour arranged
for the hearing. The police had not
ling permitting them to remain at
home to take care of their children.
At $50 o'clock when none of the wo-
men had appeared Chief Robling be-
gan to think of sending for them with
the patrol wagon. Finally. close upon
o'clock the two Mrs. Thomas and
Mrs. Randall entered the office. Mrs.
Thomas Thomas was accompanied by
her husband.
1t was the first time she had met her
erring sister face to face since her
discovery that the Christmas presents
given her were stolen goods. she was
weeping and never once looked at the
woman whom she had only a few days
before thanked for her kindness.
The women took seats in the court
room. The crowd of men in the room
were gazing steadily at them. The
stolen goods confronted them on the
table. Alderman Howe repeated the
set phrase; What say you, guilty OF
not suilty?"
SHE PLEADED GUILTY.
Mrs. Evan Thomas was The first to
answer. Guilty" she said quickly.
Mrs. Randall said guilty and Mrs.
Thomas Thomas in turn began TO cry
out that she was innocent. "rhey were
given to me, they We're given to me-
she was saying mo, no, sir" inter-
rupted Mrs. Evan Thomas. mo this
woman did not steal; i gave her all
that was found. She knew nothing
about it, She is innocent; she is my
sister!'
The woman smoke hysterically. She