Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-27
FEARFUL REPENTANCE
YOUNG WOMEN ARRAIGNED ON
CHARGES OF THEFT.
Plead They Did Not Know What They
Were Doing-Court I'M
poses Fine.

Fearful and apparently repentant Tor
their wrong doings. Mrs. Clara W. Owens
and Mrs. Inez Hurst Nader, the two young
women OF Baltimore, each about nineteen
years of age. who were taken into custody
Monday afternoon by Detectives Trumbo
and Lacy. were arraigned before Judge
Scott of the United States branch Of the
Police Court today on five separate charges
Of theft. Both were greatly agitated and
it was necessary for them to lean against
table for support. Mrs. Nader appeared
In court wearing complete black suit and
coat with a short black veil over her face.
which she threw back over her hat when
Clerk Potts began to read the charges.
Mrs. Owens was attired in a dark gray
suit with coat to match, and wore a
brown hat, with veil Of the same color.
which she kept over her face at all times.
She had Set Of light gray furs around her
neck and carried in her hands a mutt,
which she handled nervously.
The defendants occupied positions behind
their counsel. Attorney Campbell Caring
ton. and Mrs. Owens in response to each
charge admitted that she was guilty. Mrs.
Nader, however remained silent and 1t
was not until Judge Scott called to her
attention that she had not replied to the
clerks inquiry. that she explained that she
was not guilty of any of the charges.
The witnesses in the cases were called
women to the stores. each stating that Mrs.
Owens in each case acted as the spokes-
man and did the purchasing. From Galt's
jewelry store, they secured bracelet and
card case of an aggregate value of $1S25,
which they had charged to the account of
a Mr.. Tally, but the police as yet have
been unable to find anybody by that name
who was willing to pay the bill. The re-
mainder Of theoArticles were obtained by
the young women stating that they were to
be charged TO the account of a Col Pendle
ton, another person whom the police were
| not able to locate.
A hat worth SIS. purchased at Mrs. Min
ME J. Hunts store. 1909 F street north
west, was" to- have been paid for by Col.
Pendletena al was also a handbag valued at
$50 which they ordered of James s. Top
ham; q bracelet and brooch valued at So. 20
| from Shaw & Berry Company, and guam
| tity of clothing. amounting to $22.25, from
Woodward & Lothrop's.
Appeal for Leniency.
! Mrs. Nader, the first of the defendants
| to make statement, appealed to Judge
| Scott to be lenient with them, saying that
| she and Mrs. Owens had been drinking and
| that she did not realize what she was do
| ing.
DR.. Edward T: Stevens of Baltimore.
grandfather of Mrs. Owens. appeared in
court a witness and testified that both
| of the young women belonged to good fam
| lies and had never before been accused of
1 UOlnS WRONG. MTS. owens, he Salu. was the
| daughter of Robert H. Muir. a drummer.
| Attorney Darlington made strong ap-
| peal to the court to be lenient with the de-
! PENDANTS on account of their youth and good
/ family connections, and their not having
| been in trouble before. He said he was sure
| they realized the position they were in,
| and in the future would do better. They
! were not hardened criminals he declared
J and the thefts were probably committed on
| the impulse of a moment.
Judges Decision.
| After referring to the good character Of
| the young women Judge Scott commented
| ON the fact that the thefts were not COM
| mitted on the impulse of minute OF in
haste. They We're carefully planned. the
| court said, and 1t was necessary that the
| law should be enforced in their case not
| only for their own good, but as an example
| to others who might be tempted to take
| away the property of another. Fines
| amounting to $95 were -thereupon imposed
| on each of the defendants, and an aggre-
| gate sentence of nine months in Jail was
! named as the alternative for each. Mrs
/ Nader, who was wearing a garment Sc
| cured by her at Woodward & Lothrop's,
! was ordered to make restitution of $275.
| the cost of the article.
! Detective O'Donnell of Baltimore who
! was present in court, interviewed Mrs Mai
! der at the conclusion of the trial and took
| from her black waist which it is alleged
| belongs to a Baltimore firm.