Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-12-22

petlUlons ano callers in behalf of the
lady since the day she was sentenced
one OF the se letters was frem Bishop
Pentck, The Rev. Preston Nash, OF
this city, has also been untiring in his
Efforts Co secure the freedom of the
accused and to remove from her the
stigma or an act of which she was tech
nicslly guilty. Her counsel. /. O.
has also worked zealous.
ly for her"
NOW here is young woman found
with whole store outfit in her private
dwelling. goods Dfessedly stolen, no,
from one dry-goods emporium, but
from another, fact which gives color
to the suspicion that the place was .
depot for stolen goods aud that the
WYATT girl was not alone in her pecu-
lutions and yet she is said to be only
technically guilty.
l. But the affair gets even more anus
ing IL not more serious. 1t seemed
that somebody was making q desper-
ate effort to "bsmLoozle" the Govern
or, for here is what took place:
Governor Tyler decided to have an
interview with Miss Wyatt for himself
AND he accordingly instructed Deputy
Buck Johnson Co bring her to tho Cap.
itol. The officer complied. and at l is
O'Clock he appeared. Mics Wyatt.
dressed in black, wearing @ black veil
her face showing the greatest agony
and suffering, her eyes red from weer-
ing, entered the room occupied By pri-
vate secretary Owen. where she wa.
met by the Rev. Mr.. Nash, Who escort
Cd her INTO the private flee of the
Governor"
We regret to learn of such absurd
conduct. A prisoner, confessedly Ru,l
ty OF . felony Of over $50 worth o,
goods when stolen at any one time.
carried into the presence OF the Cover.
nor, aud interviewed ia order that q
ninety day Jail sentence might be lift
ed from her shoulders.
All right. Gov. TYLER, all RICH,
When one Of the Negro female shop.
lifters gets into similar predicament.
remember, please the precedent which
you have set.
We do not believe that any coIored
minister of standing in Richmona
could have been induced to 20 into
court and before the Governor in be-
half OF Sunday School teacher OF his
flock, who had been guilty of such
conduct and had put up such AimsY
excuses as are contained in the foil wv
ing recital:
The story &c disclosed to Governor
Tyler IL In substance as follows: When
Miss wyatt was accused of the crin ne
she was almost crased, and did not
know what TO do. She was for a short
time in the book department.. and she
took some books home with her 60
read in order TO fzmiliarize herself
with their contents. Hhe had certain
household duties TO perform, and i'm
this way did not read the books. These
che failed to return contrary to rules.
g expecting to find time to read them.
La this way q number accumulated.
IL was her purpose TO read some of
them to her aunt, with whom she
lived. but the Illness of the auat pre-
vented this. The Bibles and prayer
books were taken home in order that
her aunt might select one to purchase
for gift.
"The various articles OF wearing APP
parel are easily accounted for. Miss
wyatt was twice engaged to be mar
ried, on both occasions her trousseau
was completed, and both times lust
peicre the ceremony the groom-elect
1ieo. The trousseau WAS packed away.
I hese were part of the goods which
Miss Wyatt was accused of stealing
Other stuff found in Miss Wystt's
apartment che says she purchased.
many OF them having been given her
In pay ment of service while working
Sith her aunt in millinery store in
Petersburg.
When Miss Wyatt was in court.
having by advice OF counsel plead
guilty, she could make no defence, be-
IieSing that her statement would be
given no credenee, and she was given
me highest sentence possible. Miss
wyatt says that some OF the articles
which is Is alleged she took from the
Meyer store were given her by the
wife OF well-known clergyman. She
declares that not an article found in
1er room, save books mentioned above.
belonged TO anyone except herself"
Now IL is evident that the reporter
Who wrote that ghost stsry" does not |
believe It himself for he remarks:
Friends Of MISS Wyatt believe abe
Q victim OF kleptomsnia, and say she
las been 30 affl isted frem childhood"
II 10 evident that the hard-workinx.
sales-ladies in the stores
u this city cannot but consider the
'etion OF the WYATT girls friends a. q
election upon them.
They naturally condemn sny of their
lumber guilty Of such outrageous
eculati ons.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars
re handled by the white sales-lsdies
4 this city and every cent accounted
or and it 10 to their interest to have
IL such characters ss the one noted
exposed ana forced out of a business
or which they are neither adapted or /
TIED.
We think Justice CRuToHFIKLD was
light and that Gov Tvsrp 49, ~....