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

Mrs. Ella Rivers and Mrs. Edit
Riggs Are the Names OF tho
Two UnfOFtunates, who
Hail from Charleston.
Fhe Atlanta Journal says Mrs.
Edith Riggs and Mrs. ELLA Rivers
OF charleston, S. c., recently arrested
for .shoplifting, after having robbed
many department stores in Atlanta,
under tive indictments charging
larceny from the house, were convict.
ed in the Fulton criminal superior
court Wednesday morning. Judge L.
S. Roam imposed a fine Of $500, cash
On each Of the women, in lieu of the
payment of which they will serve a
sentence twelve months on the county
public. Works. The $500 aggregates a
lncof 500 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
tbc one case all were treated rs misde-
meanors by Judge Roam, whose heart
was touched by the pathetic scene
which was enacted in the court room.
Tie fines have not been paid, but
III is understood that movement is
on foot In Atlanta among certain
cha Eitable people to raise the $1,000
by public subscription, several good
ladies having interested themselves in
the 6aSe.
Attorneys Harvey Hill and Van
Astbr Bachelor, representing tho
wofAen, elected to have the prisoners
triel together. To save time they
entlred into an agreement with the
sculptor that the result in one case
should hold good in the five.
hIter the jury had been drawn aud
theevidence for the state introduced
thehttorncYs representing the women
to the surprise Of the court, The solicit
tor and everyone else in the room,
statfd they had couple Of witnesses
to Introduce. 1t had been thought
thaCl no testimony for tile defense
wCull be offered, the counsel depend
ing tntirely upon the statements of
theirclientS.
UNFORTUNATE CHILDREN.
IhS nineteen-year-old daughter of
Mrs. Riggs, who arrived, with her
brotler, from Charleston Tuesday
nighI, was called. The girl is an idiot
and paralytic. She was assited to
the stand, but her feeble mind was
'c,t'able3 of grasping. The sight was
'esmost pitiable ever seen In
N. f05 5in..5ys.i .i'ne g.ir1, paid no,
attention whatever to the queries of
thGattorneys, she disregarded the re-
nafkes Of the judge and made no sign
of rccoe nizing her mother, who sat
weeping. She could give no informa
tiop or testimony regarding her
nlo;her.
The brother was next called. He
is iixtetn years OF age, and, like his
sishr, 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 mumbed feebly.
t. see mama" Not once, however
dicthc witness display any sign of re-
coMlZlpg his mother, who was still
weeping.
Irs. Riggs was placed on the land
TO make her statement. She said:
A MOTHERS APPEAL.
Gentlemen of the jury: l am
nee to anwer the charge OF dis
grGefUl act. l feel mortally ashamed.
l lope to bc able under this terrible
ornal to give you true sketch OF nv
sidlife. | want to appeal to your
teiier hearts for whatever considera- !
tiO you think | deserve. When l6 |
yefS Of age, married The father of !
tn, two unfortunate children you |
hae seen. He drank very hard, neg
leted his home and family. After
lw years he was taken TO the insane |
aslum. l was penniless and almost
frjndless. 10 tell all OF my suffer /
ing would take all day The sad |
SiAt you have seen best tells the |
stry. Whatever mistakes | have /
mhe in the past was done for the sal
yaion OF my poor, crippled children.
IL iOuS @cdlS Il nave struggled /
fO them. There is no home in South |
Csollna for unlortunatcs so afflicted. |
snt them north, but they were re- |
ftcd 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. l have never
ben away from them before In CON
sleration Of these helpless children
aid what my freedom is worth to
tenn, | humbly beg for mercy. am
t'elr only support and nothing but
al ovcrpoWering 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 living death. Brave men |
lave fallen. | am only a weak and |
Perburdened woman. If you feel |
that | deserve no pity, then, for
teaven's sake, look at the helpless
children. They cannot speak, but
ihcir humble presence is a crying plea |
Dr their mothers freedom
The jury was out only a few min
ates before returning verdict, find |
hg the women guilty and recon-
nendng them TO the mercy OF the |