Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-16
CHARGED WITH THEFT
GIRLS ACCUSED OF ROBBERIES AT
SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
Each Makes Confession Of Similar
Thefts in New York City
Parents Notified.

In the arrest yesterday afternoon OF Two
young girls by Precinct Detective O'Dea or
the sixth precinct the police believe they
have In custody the persons who are re-
sponsible for the petty theving which has
been occurring in the public schools
throughout the city during the last few
days. The girls described themselves as
being Fannie Lewis. eighteen years old, OF
$50 East 1O1st street, New York city, and
Celia ellison, sixteen years old, who gave
her address as II East Hath street, New
York city.
1t is thought they are responsible for
rcbheries at ten of the local school houses.
but because of their unfamiiarity with
the city they were unable to tell just where
the buildings are located. They acknowl-
edged to having committed thefts in fully
100 school buildings in New York during
the last year before they came to this city.
Tie girls were placed under arres. by
Detective ODea as they were leaving "A
local theater after attending matinee
performance where they occupied seats n
a private box. They were escorted to po-
lice headquarters. After entering the build
ing the ellison girl threw a pocket book I'M
der a chair. but Detective Muller, who was
watching picked it up.
When questioned the girls said they
began stealing about year ago. when one
of them robbed her brother of $33 in cash
and a diamond scarfpin, after which they
began robbing school houses coming to this
city after they became tired of their opera
tons in New York city. They talked free
ly. each one discriminating the other. They
admitted having visited number of school
buildings since their arrival here and from
reports of robberies the detectives nave
learned that the Business High School and
the Wallach, Arthur. Peabody and Seat On
schools were among those visited.
Leads to Detection.
AT the Arthur School they secured a
chatelaine bag containing So in money and
quarterly ticket between Washington and
Berwyn and pocket book containing -
cents and a bunch of keys. The theft of
hand bag belonging to Mrs. l.. w. Little of
Riverdale, Nd, a teacher in the WallaciI
School. led to discovery of their pecuia-
tons. The girls attempted to sell the rail-
road ticket to a local ticket broker who
communicated with the Baltimore and OHIO
railroad people and learned that the ticket
was the property of Mrs. Little. The poica
were at once notified and description was
given of the girls. Detective O'Dea, who
was assigned to the case identified them
by means of the description and located
them at theater, stated, during the
afternoon performance.
According to statements made by the
youthful prisoners they would visit a school
house about lunch time. and if stopped by
anybody wouldhask for pupil. Their plan.
they said was for one to stand watch il
the hallway while the other would rifle the
desks. OF the purses stolen the only one
recovered was the one which the ellison
girl attempted to dispose of at police head
quarters. The police learned that one was
dropped in the Baltimore and Ohio depo..
enc was given to the cashier of local
restaurant and the others were dropped on
the street.
The girls came here the Sd instant from
Baltimore, where they spent a few days,
and the police of that city have been in
formed of their arrest here. Their parents
and the authorities of New York have also
been informed After the arrest Detective
O'Dea searched their room at 325 c street
northwest. but found no stolen property.
The girls are held at the house of deten-
ton until tomorrow. when they will be
taken into the Police Court.