Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-18
OLD HAND AT THEFT.
Anna Ross, With Numerous Aliases.
Landed Behind BARS

Landed Behind Bars.
Detectives Weldon and Lacy made an ar
rest of Importance yesterday when thew
captured Anna Ross colored domestic
She is accused of having robbed several of
her employers Anna IS an old hand at
the business. and her many victims Will be
glad to hear that she has at last heen over
hauled, as 1t viii be the means of pro-
tecting others. Anna is now about fifty
three years old. and because of her pre-
vlous prison record the charges now pre-
ferred against her include second offense
rnder the statute, which incurs the penalty
OF term in the penitentiary instead of in
jail.
ment as cook and then steal articles of
clothing. which she would sell to people
living in alleys. At each place where she
worked and stole she gave different name
Among her aliases were Henderson, Emma
Williams, Kate Plat and others
Shes a first-class hypocrite' remarked
one OF the detectives this morning for she
usually ascertains the religious convictions
OF her intended victims and when she goes
to the houses she attends a church of the
same denomination. 1t is just as easy for
her 10 be one thing as it is another
Three years ago she gave the police con-
siderable troable. At that time she called
at houses and was gwen washing to do.
she invariably told the people that she had
been sent to them by God to do their work.
ana her conversation convinced them of
finally apprehended, which required about
two years, she was in possession of cloth
ing enough to start a store. Her Jail life
did not have the effect of reforming her
Tor she started on TIE downward path soon
after her release, ard five of her victims
have already been found. One of them is
Mrs ID. E. c. Laub. who lives at No. 1414
. street In her case the colored woman
showed herself extremely ungrateful. Mrs
Laubs sympathies had been aroused be-
cause Of the old womans being in prison,
and she gave her position as cook, only
10 be victim of her failing. Notwith-
standing she robbed Mrs Laub the latter
did not want her arrested
After leaving her house the light-fingered
woman of mary names found employment
at the house of Mrs. c. G. Adams, No 3ioJ
Holmead avenue. Anna proved herself an
efficient cook and her employer was so
proud of her that she showed her off to
Mrs. Laub.
The two householGers sat in the parlor
and discussed the qualities of the cook
after the latter had returned to the kitchen.
Mrs. Johnson was told she would be robbed
If she kept the woman single day. and
while this conversation was going OH the
colored woman got together what she could
in the shape of clothing and disappeared.
Mrs. E. Simpson, No. 1911 18th street;
Mrs. Eustace johnson, No. 1906 18th street,
and Mrs Caroline Helmus No. 1;s;2 Whit
ney avenue were also among her victims.
Yesterday the detectives located the wo-
man in Dixons court. in South Washing
ton and had Policeman Peek arrest her
When interviewed by the detectives she ad-
mitted her guilt, and said she had made
an effort to reform, but mad nos succeeded.
She said she tried to let other peoples
goods alone, but she could not resist the
temptation. The detectives have recovered
a number of the stolen garments. which
will be produced in court tomorrow when
the case is called. If there are any other
victims the police are anxious to hear from
them.