The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-05-06
A SAD CASE.
Twp White Women shoplifters Con-
vi ted in an Atlanta Court.
MAKE a PATHETIC APPEAL.

| :
Mrs. Ella Rivers and rIrs. Edit
Riggs Are the Names of tho
Two Unfortunatcs, who
Hall from Charleston.
| The Atlanta Journal SAYS Mrs.
Edith Riggs and Mrs. Ella Rivers
OF charleston, S. c., rec ntly arrested
for .shoplifting, after baving robbed
many department stores in Atlanta,
under tive indictments charging
larceny from the house, were convict.
ed lin the Fulton criminal superior
court Wednesday morning. Judge l..
5. Roam imposed fine of $500, cash
on each OF the women, in lieu Of the
payment OF which they will serve q
sentence twelve months on the county
public orks. The $500 aggregates a
fine 800 in each OF the cases against
the women, their counsel having
agreed to abide by the finding and
sentence In one case. The charges
against the women were fclonies, but
on the recommendation of the Jury in
The one case all were treated rs misic.
meanors by Judge Roam, whose heart
was touched by the pathetic scene
which was enacted in the court room.
The fines have not been paid, but
1T is understood that a movement is
on Toot in Atlanta among certain
chaEitablc people to raise the 81, 900
by public subscription, several good
ladiss having interested themselves in
the case.
Attorneys Harvey Hill and Van
Astpr Batchelor, representing the
wTAAen, eleoted to have the prisoners
tried together. To save time they
entered into an agreement with the
soliditor that the result in one case
should hold good in the five.
SIter the jury had been drawn aud
theIevidence for the state introduced.
thchttorncYs representing the women,
TO the surprise of the court, the solicit
tor land everyone else in the room.
Stattd they had a couple Of witnesses
to Introduce. 1t had been thought
thai no testimony for tie defense
wCuli be offered, the counsel depend
ing fntirely upon the statements of
theirclients.
UNFORTUNATE CHILDREN.
The nineteen-year-old daughter of
Mrs. Riggs, who arrived, with her
brotler, from Charleston Tuesday
nighh was called The girl is an idiot
and paralytic. She was assited to
the stand, but her feeble mind was
'c,.'able of erasping. 1.-The sight was
emoSts plttahle ever seen In
"a e,,, O room. " I'ne giriS paid Z 10:
attention whatever to the queries of
thGattorneys, she disregarded the re-
makes Of the judge and made no sign
OF tccoe niZing her mother, who sat
weeping. She could give no informa-
tio1 or testimony regarding her
nloher
Ihe trothcr was next called. He
is ixte:n years of age, and, like his
sisnr, is also an idiot. But the boy
could talk. Occasionally ray of
intelligence would break the mono
tory of his gasping. When Harvey
Hill asked the lad why he had came
to Atlanta, the boy mumbled feebly.
t. see mama" Not once, however
diothc witness display any sign OF re-
conizlpg his mother, who was still
weeping.
lrs. Riggs was placed on the stand
to make her statement. She said:
a MOTIER's APPEAL.
Gentlemen Of the jury | am
nee to anwer the charge OF a dis
gr@efUl act. l feel mortally ashamed. !
bpc to be able under this terrible |
orcal to give you true ikctch OF nv
s,Nlifc. | want TO appeal to your
tel1er hearts for whatever considera |
TIC you think l deserve. When !6 /
yeas Of age, | married the father of |
tn, two unfortunate children you |
haze seen. lie drank very hard, neg
Iced his home and family. After |
iw years he was taken 10 the insane !
aSlum. l was penniless and almost
frindlcss. 10 tell all Of my suffer
ins would take all day. The sad |
siAt you have seen best tells the
stry. Whatever mistakes | have |
mtie in the past was done for the sal |
vion OF my poor, crippled children.
Fe ID long years have struggled |
70 them. There is no home in South |
Ctolina for unlortunates so afflicted. |
INT them north, but they were re-
flcd because had no funds with |
VIII which To keep them. They can
nther walk nor talk. No one can
Understand their wants but me.
hey need my care. have never
ben away from them before. In CON
sieration Of these helpless children
aid what my freedom is worth to
tenn, | humbly beg for mercy. | am
ter only support and nothing but
al overpowcring desire to relieve their
Wlnts would have persuaded me to do ,
wat | have done. | read OF the |
p.ckage with which did my work in |
anew York paper. 1t was my first
attempt. 1t will be my last. Rcmcm-
ter that mercy is all | ask My life
lhs been a living death Brave men
lave fallen. | am only weak and |
tyerburdened woman. II you feel
that l deserve no pity, then, for
heaven'S sake, look at the helpless
children. They cannot speak, but
their humble presence is crying plea
Dr their mothers freedom" "