Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-09-02
RABBITS FOOT.
Secured Freedom for Dozen Persona
Charged With Murder.


Charged With Murder.
Perhaps it is just little oversight
on the part of Nan Patterson, or may
oe she wished to keep the mascot
because OF the memories 1t recalled.
~ any rate, Warlen Flynn, of the
Iombs, and John G.. Jones. the caterer
of the prison. are anxious to have th,,
laet Wrought to the attention of tho
| former "Florodora" girl that when She
lett the prison she took with her the
Official talisman of The placc-a ral,.
DIS foot with Il little silver handle.
Ihosc who befriended Nan in pris-
| ON DO not believe She intends to keen
inc rabbits foot, but they say It is
hlShiy thouShtless of her, not to saw
unteelins to keep 1t whom others arc
IN great need of its potent influence.
nan IL Is said. has received the full
nehci't oil the. charm, aud, remember
ing her own experiences, she could
not hesitate to turn it over to some.
Dolly whose future is rs dark as hers
was three months ago.
There Is long history attached to
the rabbits foot, and the Tombs mon
say no one who has worn it, with tho
exception nj Holland u. MolincuX, ever
was convicted. And Mulincux. il is
pointed out. finally was acquitted.
MISS Patterson wore tho rabbits
foot suspended from her neck by a
long gold chain tIroughou; the three
trials. II was handed to her by Jones'.
VINO told her it had becn worn hy more
than dozen persons charged with
murder In the first degree, and none
of them had bcen convicted. The
young woman grabbed at tho talisman
IKE drowning person al life pre-
iorvor, and never took II from brr
neck until she was released from
hriSon. IL Ind become n tradition in
he prison thati tho talisman was To no
worn only by those who, in tho opin-
Ion of the caterer, were deserving of
It's magic influence.
The rabbits foot WIS brought into
The prison about ~ years ago by n
negro charged with having murdered
ms wife. On the first trial thc Jury
stood eleven for conviction and one for
lcqnittal He was placed on trial
again. and the Jury stood seven for
conviction AMI Ave for acQuittal. A
hlrd trlal resulted In another dis
agreement. and he was not tried again.
IN the day he left the prison on his
'wn rccornizancc he handed tn an.
'thcr prisoner. also charged with mur.
Ter in the first degree, tho little rab
tits foot.
st brought me luck the negro
said, and you'll never Ec convicted II
ION wear it,
The man took the charm anu wore
t. until his trial, which lasted Just one
lay. When tho evidence of the nrosc-
'ntion was all in Recorder Smyth took
he case from the Jury and discharged
he defendant.
Inc next prisoner to wear ii was az,
Italian woman charged with having
nur'lrcd her sweetheart She was dc.
:endcd by Emanuel Friend. who re.
icrrc'l to tho rabbits foot In n half
ocular manner in his summing up.
tile jury brought in n verdict of not
guilty. Tho furrcd paw then passed
Town from prisoner to prisoner until
The arrival of Albert \. Patrick. The
loot WINS offered to him hy the caterer,
pnt he refused 1t. He said he was not
'upcrstltious. Patrick was convicted
If murder in the frs, degree. and tho
court OF Appeals sustained the con-
lection.
When Nan Patterson took the rab-
hts foot she promised to return 1t Ms
inon MS she was freed. Bit when sl,.
was leaving the prison She neglected
o hand it back. and Jones forgot to
ask for it. He remembered 1t the next
lay. but he said recently he had been
Unable TO find Miss Patterson and ask
her for it.
Jones Is anxious 10 tnrn tho rabbits
foot over to Bertha Claiche, who he
thinks is sadly III need oil it. Tho
Young woman, the caterer believes, is
deserving of her freedom. though she
killed the man who wrongcd her.
Without the talisman Jones does not
think 1t will be possible for her to
escape conviction, $50 lie is particular
'iy anxious to have tho fact that it Is
missing from its proper place brought
10 Miss Pattcrson's attention New
York Press.