The evening world., 1904-06-03
Pretty, eyed, Fourteen
Year-0Id Errand Girl Alleged
to Have Raised Checks and
Cashed Them.
FIRMS SIGNATURE
DECEIVED CASHIER.
Arrested Once Before on Similar
Charge, She Escaped Punish
ment by Promises to BE Good
in the Future.

In the Children's Court to-day Katie
Burden Schmidt, fourteen. pretty. with
, big, dark eyes that looked so confidently
up to Magistrate Zeller, came up for
further examination upon charges OF
check-raising, forgery and theft.
The story of Katie's misdeeds reveals
n dexterity and knowledge OF the conse-
auences OF her acts tina is remarkable
in one of her years. Although only four
teen she appears possessed OF the Wis
dom OF a girl OF twenty.
The complaint against her was made
by seamon Gcnzberg. OF the ladies' tai
loring firm OF Genzberg G. Messner, OF
No. Sc West Fifty-third street. In court
1t was discovered that an older and
equally serious charge was hanging over
her young head. 1t was also learned
that she figured as a suspect IN an in
cendiary fire some months ago.
According to Mr.. Genzberg's story
Katie, who was employed by the firm az
4 errand girl about six months ago at
tz5o a week, had access to the FIRMS
papers and check book. On looking
through the bank book and check book
lately 1t was discovered that she had
raised checks. and in one instance had
forged one.
Raised Check Sc.
On May . Katie was sent to the River
side Bank with a check for SO. She
raised this to S., and the cashier was
deceived and paid her the money.
On May 8 she is said to have taken the
arms check book, written a check for
% to her wi order. signed the firms
name well enough TO deceive the cashier
of the bank. had the check cashed and
kept the money.
On May % she is accused of having
raised the firms check for $40 TO si6.
The alteration was noticed at the bank.
however. and she returned TO the store
and said she had lost the check. An
investigation followed which resulted In
her arrest.
During the investigation 1t was
learned that Katie had been arrested on
Nov. II last for robbing another en-
ployer OF $40 In cash and q check for
500.
At that time Katie had bsen working
Cor Miss Ella Moore and Miss Elizabeth
sullivan, dressmakers. The Arm began
Katie was suspected. May Baker. book
keeper for the firm, laid her pay en-
velope down one day and when she
picAeu IL up again SiV was missing.
Check for 300 Gone.
e tie was suspected, and failed to
report for duty the next day. 1t was
ohen discovered that the FIRMS cash
box. containing a check for $500 and 10
In cash. was missing.
Katie was arrested and locked up In
the West Forty-seventh street station.
She said she had given the money to
Z her mother and brother. and that her
brother had melted her TO steal. Katie
and the brother both promised to b.
rood and were released under sus-
pended sentence.
After escaping the penalty for these
uisdeeds Katie went TO wohk for an
Dther dressmaker, Nine. Guevanger, at
No. 10 West Forty-sixth street. A fro
was discovered one day among some
old papers on the third floor OF the
building. and she was suspected OF
having set fire to the place. The Fire
Marshal and the police questioned her.
but she was able to clear her skirt OF
the charge.
j. Mr.. Genzberg and Cashier Chatheld,
or the Riverside Bank, appeared as wit
nesses against Katie and told the story
or her rnisdeeds. Justice Wyatt COM
nnitted the girl to the New York Juvenile
Asylum, where she will have to stay
for eighteen months at least, and long
er II she does not behave