Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-24
COMMITTED TO JAIL
WOMAN ACCUSED OF RoBBING
MRS. PAYNE IN CUSTODY.
Will Await the Action of the Grand
Jury-She is Apparently
Unconcerned.

Agnes French. Tie woman charged with
robbfng Mrs Payne. wife of Postmaster
General Payne. was turned over to the GUS
tody of the marshal for the District this
morning and was committed to jail to await
the action OF the grand jury.
Her conduct at police headquarters TINS
morning gave the detectives the impress
sion that it was not the first time she had
been through the MILL as the measuring
and photographing of prisoners is charac-
terized. She had been arrested for going
off with diamonds and cash belonging TO
Postmaster General and Mrs. Payne. as
heretofore stated in The Star. She was
brought here last night about IL o'clock, in
charge of Detective Peck and Deputy Mar
shall McGrath of Brooklyn. Detective Peck
brought with him the jewelry that the
woman was accused of purlolnfng, and also
$50 of the $50 that she had alse been
charged with stealing
Mrs. French denies that she has ever
been in similar trouble before and seems
to think she will not receive much punish
ment for this soffense. She is small
woman, and was dressed in neat fitting
black suit. the clothing she purchased with
some of the money she carried away. She
had spent the night at the house of de-
tention. and was accompanied to head
quarters by matron
Had But Little to Say.
The prisoner had but little to say while
at headquarters. although she had been
quite laxative in New York. Upon reach
ing the upper floor OF the building she was
ushered into the room of the photographer,
and instead of making objection to taking
a seat before the camera she gave. her hair
an extra brush and did what she could to
assist Photographer SaRdberg in getting a
good likeness of her. Next she was es-
corted to an adjoining room. where she
was measured by the Bertilion system.
This .necessitated the removal. of her shoes
and the barring of her arm.
The different mea SurementS were taken.
but when it came to noting the color of
her hair the operator came to halt At
glance he saw that 1t had been bleached
at one time, but the bleached hair that
was left was only in streaks. A close ex-
animation showed plainly that her hair had
been gray. Agnes gave her age as thirty
eight years.
Widow With Two Children.
Agnes French as she gives her name. is
widow with two children. The children
are in California. Her statement is, that
she was born in Kentucky. and that when
she was child she was sent to a convent
because she had been unable to get along
with her stepmother. Then she married
Albert French. Philadelphia, and he
died two years after their marriage. She
studied to be nurse. and recently came
to this city to live. Her position In the
family of Postmaster General Payne, she
said. was all that was to be desired and
why she robbed her employer she had NOT
the slightest idea.
Il didn't need the jewelry nor the money!
SEe SAID, and there was absolutely no
reason why l should have taken them
She said she would write Mrs Payne an
explanation of the affair. She said in New
York she had no objection to returning
here for trial, and she was taken before
United States Commissioner Morle Dur
inc tha =: axr
against her Mrs. French appeared but little
interested In the proceedings and when
asked If she had anything to say her re-
spon-e was: Nothing
Valves Preliminaries.
She thereupon waived a hearing and was
committed to answer the charge flied
against. her in this city Her arrest in
Brooklyn was made by Detective Peck upon
the description he had been given of her
He had also been told that a costly boa be-
longing TO Mrs, Payne had been taken. and
TINS the woman was wearing when he met
her on the street.
Hello, Agnes Was the way he addressed
her.
Don't you think you are mistaken" she
asked My name is rot Agnes"
Don't tell me that" the detective said to
her Haven't I'seen you about the Airing
ton Hotel a-nunbef of times. And you
have on that boa now"
wen, sdiu Agnes, you We got me now
and there is 10 use holding out
She laughed and said she would go with
the officer
I'm satisfied now" she remarked I'm
even.'
Fails to Explain.
What she meant by this remark she failed
to explain. 1t is the detectives belief that
she had no reason for making it unless it
had reference to Lee is Jennifer, the col
4 ,,nx,, 40.
completely in the crime. This she denied.
| She said Jennifer had nothing whatever to
/ do with the robbery, and that he did not
know she had taken the. money and 'jeweiry
| from her employer While at the hotel
| she says. she gave him some of her own
money. The diamonds she kept hidden in a
| bureau drawer eneath her hat The woman
| had not recovered from the effects of the
| intox1cants In which she had INDUCED be-
| fore leaving here Saturday. Bond in her
case was fixed at $2OGo by United States