The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-26
Jhe Nera1d aud NeuS
DRAWN BY DIAMONDS
As NEEDLE TO POLE.
THE STORY OF A FAIR GEORGIA KLEP-
TOMANIAC.
Penitentiary or the ASylum-To One OF
these Unfortunate Young Woman VIII
Be Sent.
THE State. |

outrivals the yellowest of the metro.
politan puzzles is one in which the
Georgia seaport city, Savannah, IS
puzzled to understand, in which a
pretty girl of some 10 years has won
the soabriquet Of the 'Qneen OF
Dismonds," from the fact that she
seems to be possessed of a klepto-
mania, snd only on the subject of
this most valuable jewel.
Naughty of manner, in the bright
est possible of moods and gay of
speech, with absolutely no thought
of the immensity of the crime with
which she is charged, except for an
occasional expression of doubtful
sorrow at the fact that she has been
captured and her name placed be
fore the public in the manner it has,
Mamie deChrist occupies lonely
cell in the Chatham county jail.
She receives occasionally a visitor
from among the set with which she
used to mingle and rehearses the
story of misdeeds that would make
the strongest man blush with shame.
Today she is confronted by one of
two dark propositions either Of
which will blight what might have
been bright future had she chosen
to make it such. She sees either the
prospect of a long term in the State
prison or life in the mad house.
The question as to which institution
she shoRld properly be sent by the
authorities will be in q measure de-
cided by jury of physicians which
will examine into the condition of
her r1ini on q writ of lunacy SWORD
out before the county ordinary by
her mother. .-
From psst experiences it is plain
that should the woman make two sp-
pearsnees before this jury and make
a statement each time, they will be
as widely different as the waters Of
the Dead sea and the nectar of the
gods. Scarcely in degree will the
first story agree with that of the sec
ond statement. Time and time again
see has made most positive state
ment; earnest in the extreme one
day, but denied with an equal ear
nestness the day following.
The arrest of Miss deChrist in At,
lsnts last week was of most seDss.
tionai nature and has continually
since then kept Savannah agog with
the excitement of wonder impelled
by wondering what next, and the
entire State filed with interest as 20
the possibility of an unexpected
turn IN the case. New York in all
its history has never produced q
drama of more startling nature
than the exploit of Mamie deChrist
last July, and the connecting subse-
quent events, when she appeared re-
peatedly at the jewelry stores Of
Theus Bros. and A. S. Desbullions
and succeeded in robbing them by q
most marvellous nerve of watches Of
high value, dismond brooches and
rings of various prices. >Imsgips,
tion does not picture q cooler scene,
which was her salvation, throughout
her transactions, than the stylishly
dressed, pretty, petite brunette who
enters the jewelry stores with an air
that fitted to nicety with the sto
ries which the told AT the store of
Theus Bios. she. was: Miss Williams,
the .niec9 Of Mr.. j. P. Williams. g
Savannah millionaire, and at the
other establishment she was Miss
Blan, a niece of Capt. Henry Blum,
president of the Germania bank
At the one place she presented
note scribbled on society stationery
from Mrs. Williams asking that she
be shown lot of jewelry from which
to choose pieces to be taken to Mrs.
Williams that she herself might make
selections, and at the other she dis
played a similar note purporting to
be fro: the wife of the wealthy bank
or. At neither store could the jew
elers do enough for the relative of
either of those ladies and really in
sisted on her taking more bsubles
L IL