The evening times., 1900-01-22
A PRECoCIoUs GIRL THIEF.
\ Child Eight Genrs Old AStOunds
Connecticut DctecfINcs

NEW HAVEN, Coma. Jan. 22.-WhiIe
looking for some stolen silk Terrence T.
Smith. a detective. Saturday. stumbled
upon the most remarkable case Of childish
degeneracy ever unearthed in New Haven.
Smith had been instructed 70 look FOR
some silk that had been stolen from The
shop Of Mrs. Frank Codianna. a dressmak-
er, AT Minor Street She intimated that
she suspected a neighbor. Mrs joseph
POWELL. Lafayette Street. Smith went 70
Mrs. Powells house and questioned her.
she declared that she knew nothing about
the stolen silk. The detectives eve. how
ever, happened 10 fal upon a fine piece OF
woolen goods, which to him seemed on OF
place IN the house Of Mrs. Powell.
Nnere did you get that be enQuired.
On. said Mrs. Powell my Httle girl
found that and brought Il IN"
Then. said the detective. Il viii arrest
your daughter.
He then told Mrs Powell's eight-year-
old daughter that she must 70 with him.
! The girl put on a brazen face and SAID
! can tell you where the silk is and II
YOU VIII come along l will show IL 20 you.
She led the detective into a bedroom. ard
pointed to the bed IT'S there" she said
Getting patrol wagon the policeman
took Mrs Powell and her family Of
tcur children 10 the police station There
annie, eight years old. and the eldest OF
the children. confessed that she had on
tered Mrs. Codianua's shop twice. al night
time, through window, and carried aVav
large pieces Of richly colored six. valued
at 81 and s. per yard. She intimated that
her mother had compelled her TO steal ne
silk
Detective Smith. after hearing This coD-
tessiou, ordered the arrest Of Joseph
Powell, the father, who is employed in a
paper box factory
The home Of the POweIls WIS then
searched. and a startling batch Of plunder
was discovered. In two rooms. each of
which Is about 10 by "A feet square. the
detectives found over 81 500 worth OF
stolen goods. Among the lot are ten gold
and silver watches, Two dozen gold watch
chains three or four dozen gold rings
fourteen clocks OF all sizes. ali sorts Of
trlnkets IN jewelry, penknifes and pocket-
DOCKS, all kinds Of wOmens wearing
apparel from silk undercIothing to hats
and shoes. women's bonnets, shawis. tx-
pensive silk capes, all kinds OF mems
clothing, two dozen pairs of fine trousers
oNercoats and coats and waistcOats mems
shoes. Undertaking. carpenters saws
planes and files, and all the innumerabIe
things that department stores sell.
representatives Of half dozen Of the
biggest stores Of New Haven spent most
OF the day Identifying goods One store
alone identified over $500 worth OF the
plunder- The most remarkable thing
about this heap Of plunder Was the way II
was crsamed into the two small rooms in
which the Powells live
All OF the women's clothes we're in three
trunks. TIE watches and all the ievelrv
silks and the mems clothing were stored
IN false mattress on the bed on which
the family slept This mattress was A
Veritable curiosity box. From il Detective
Smith pulled whole bucketful Of jeweIry.
enough silk and wooden goods to fll sew
eral trunks, dozens Of pairs OF shoes and
pieces OF wearing apparel Beneath the bed
Mrs. Powell had stored all the things that
had been worn or soiled Under the car
pets more plunder was found There was
not creviee in the floor that did not con-
tain piece Of jewelry or a pocketknife.
Smith has been working on the Powell
FAMILY all day, and has found them uniuue
as criminals. From the father who Is
about forty years old he has been unable
TO get word. The mother protests her
innocence, declares that she bought all the
goods. and abuses the detective whenever
he tries to get her 20 confess. Annie was
as much of a puzzle until late YESTERDAY
afternoon, Detective Smith tried a scheme
TO get the child TO tell him what he nc
lipvpd she know