The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-17
PARENTS MAY HELP
MAYNARD DAUGHTERS
Misses Gibson and Lewis
Arraigned for Larceny.
COURT GRANTS CONTINUANCE
Lewis Girl Tells of Their Career of
Theft-Stole for Benefit of "Gen-
tlemen Friends"

Celia Gibson and Fannie Lewis, the
two girls arrested yesterday and charg-
ed with stealing seven pocketbooks, six
hatpins. an umbrella, and a lot of other
articles, so the police say. from local
school teachers. were arraigned on six
charges of petit larceny in the Police
Court today. The case was not heard
because counsel for the girls asked for
continuance until next Thursday which
was granted by Judge Scott 1t is I'M
derstood Attorney Baker has ascsr-
tanned that the girls are daughters of re-
spectacle parents in New York. and he
will endeavor to make good the losses
suffered by the teachers and have the
charges and prosecution dropped.
Fannie Lewis. in her confession toNDe-
tective O'Dea, placed all the blame pos
sihle for the local robberies on Celia
Gibson.
We began stealing about a year ago"
she said in her confession. we were
going with some gentlemen friends and
their lady friends taught us how to steal.
One of these girls died of consumption
about a year ago. and / don't know
where the other one Is. We were told
that schoolhouses were the best places
to steal, as the teachers would think
the pupils were guilty and would not
suspect US.
Robbed Teachers Desks.
Before we robbed a schoolhouse we
would go there about the lunch hour
at noon and as the scholars came cut
we would go in and go through the
Ncloak rooms. taking anything we saw
we wanted. IL we were after money we
simply went to the teachers desk, and
while I watched the door Celia would
open the desk drawer and get the
pocketbook or any money she saw there.
It's d funny thing. but school teachers
always keep their money in their desks
and then leave the drawer unlocked.
I'VE never got any great amount. but
once. and then we got s6o in a desk
drawer in school on 10th Street IN
New York Usually we would only get
few dollars. sometimes a ring. or pin,
or some other piece of jewelry. Some of
the tewelry we sent to friends. and the
rest we sold or pawned and gave the
money to our gentlemen friends or spent
IL going to the theaters.
I'VE intended to stay in Washington
until we had robbed all the school
houses and then go to some other
place. We wanted TO see the country"
Parents Bowed With Shame.
Edward Lewis and wife. who live at
$50 East 1O1st Street. New Yosk. are
aged and they feel keenly the disgrace
brought upon them by their daughter.
Fannie was a headstrong girl" said
her father, when interviewed, but we
did not think she was a thief. She was
in love with young fellow who worked
as sheet writer for a bookmaker. !
wanted her to give him up. as we were
suspicious OF him. While he was I'm
Washington at che Bennlng races. he
wrote to Fannie. and she left home 10
join him. She. has written US three let
tiers since she left. We had a letter
yesterday saying she was working in a
Washington dry goods store. 1 don't
know that can do anything TO help her
in her trouble"
| at the Gibson home, at II East 1i4tb
Street. there are a father and mother
and six brothers and sisters lamenting
the disgrace Of Celia. the seventeen
year-old daughter.
Il tried TO keep Celia away from that
Lewis GIRL said Mrs. Gibson. Il knew
she had bad influence over my daugh-
ter. Celia has not been at school since
she was fourteen. / thought she was
working In Sixth Avenue department
sApre. but If it is true she and Fannie
We're robbing schools she must have
deceived me. Fannie used to call for
her every morning. sometimes as early
as o'clock. Celia always brought
home her wages on Saturday night Two
weeks ago she told her little brothers
and sisters she was going away She
kissed hem and gave each Of them a
nickel. have not heard from her since
she left