Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1907-01-17
SHOP I|FTERS
GET one YEAR

two women arrested in this city tor
shop lifting about month ago were
sentenced by Judge Evans Monday,
each to one years imprisonment i'll
the county Jail and are already be-
hind the bars. The case, which came
up for the last thing, Monday, was
nothing short of sensational and it in
jected into the prosaic proceedings of
the afternoon vast deal of spice and
color of pathos.
The women pleaded guilty and on
what ground they could hope to es-
{ cape, if Justice were done, is not clear
Yet the sentence fell like a thunder
bolt not only on the women, but also
on the attorneys interested, those for
the prosecution as we'll as for the de-
fense. All plans were laid to bring
about the utmost clemency and no one
seemed to have any doubt but that the
plans would succeed.
1t was nearly five o'clock when the
courts attention was called to the fact
that the two lady defendants were on
hand and Judge Evans was begged to
take the matter up to the end that
the case might be- &disposed of without
any further inconvenience. IL was ex-
plained that the two women had plead
ed guilty and all that remained was
Il
Judge Evans. however, refused to
dispose of the case without hearing
evidence and demanded that the pros
ecutors be brought into court to tes-
tify.
The case of Commonwealth VS..
Richard Mccormick was resumed un-
til the merchants from whose stores
goods had been stolen by the women
appeared when the court ordered the
hearing of testimony suspended and
took up the shoplitters' case.
S. Lowenstein, Abram Rosensteln
and Fred Howe, as prosecutors, were
in succession called to the stand, each
identifying the women, describing the
articles purloined, and relating the
circumstances attending the theft.
There were three in tictments. Form
er district attorney Ralph Kisner then
made touching and eloquent plea for
the women. He did not deny the mere
theft. but said it was a remarkable
case, i'll which there seeIded to be no
criminal intent, as the women merely
took the articles from one store aud
left them in another store. They made
no effort to get away with the goods
and besides full restitution had been
made 1t was a case, he said, that cali
ed for mercy. He believed that the
ends of Justice would be subserved II
sentence were suspended upon payment
of costs
When he concluded speaking Viii
liam Kase West, who represented the
prosecution, arose aud said that he had
no objections to urge against the ex-
ercise of clemency, even to the extent
of suspending sentence. He even ad-
duced some reasons why mercy should
| be shown, one of them being that Mrs.
Krebs is a married woman and is need
ed in her home, her husband being a
! trusted emplOye of the Pennsylvania
| railroad company. District Attorney
| c. P. Gearhart then explained his
position, which was not antagonistic
| TO clemency.
Meanwhile Mrs. Krebs and Mrs.
'Harr occupied seats inside the bar.
They were both tastefully dressed ano
looked we'll. 1t is true they bore q
nervous aud anxious look, although il
was pretty clear that they were satisti
ed with the drift affairs were taking.
| When the district attorney ceaseC
speaking Judge Evans called the two
defendants before him.
1t seemed terrible ordeal for the
women. Judge Evans reminded then
that they had pleaded guilty to larceny
and informed them that on the three
indictments he could send each to the
penitentary for nine years. He asked
! Mrs, Krebs how old she was and IL
reply she said she was "a years. Mrs
Harr in reply to a similar question
said she was 81 years of age. Judg'
Evans told them that he had no desir'
to be unduly severe, but that he coult
not suspend sentence. Merchants mus
be protected aad people who eDte
stores and steal goods must expect t.
pay the penalty.
At this juncture it became prett.
evident that clemency would not oh
tain to any extent aud significan
glances were exchanged between tn
ATTORNEYS interested, while Mrs. KIeb
set up q bitter wall, which reveale
that she saw in part what was coming
Iu moment all doubt was removed
when Judge Evans sadi:
Laura Harr, the sentence of th
| COURT Is lIIdC " Ou pay bilO SbStS VI BAoE
ecution, a fine of $25, restore the good
that you stole and undergo an impriS
onment in the county Jail for perio
of one year "
Mrs. Harr ever since heI humiliatin
arrest in all her trying ordeals ha
maintained her composure, but I'll
sentence was too much for her and {
she realized its dreadful import 81
began to weep quietly to hersel
There were few who did not feel
paug of pity for the misguided woman
p Then addressing Mrs Krebs Judg
g Evans pronounced the same scntenc'
, When the drealfu words lone year
the county jail" fell from his lips, Z
% woman being sentenced fairly surie
r ed in her dismay aud grief.
,v,r, .I,,,, 10 ,rar.o1