The Washington herald., 1907-10-14
TELLS OF DUAL LIFE
Woman Under Arrest in Chi
cagO Puzzles Police,
CAREER IS AN AMAZING ONE
Wife of Millionaire Manufactures of
Milwaukee Lives JekyII-Hyde Life
in Crooks Quarters and in Fine
Hotels of Chicago-Has Baby Girl,
of whom She Is Fond.

Chicago. Oct. E-PTeparations have
been made TO arrest Ralph Smith" the
mysterious society light and clubman,
who is said to have operated with Mrs.
Evelyn Romadka, the rich woman
'Raffies. who is under bail for hearing
next Tuesday.
Smith" has entree TO the best society
in Chicago, is supposed to be a million
aire. is known as a man-around-town in
New York
Besides completely in the robbing of
fashionable Chicago homes, Smith IS
said to be directly connected with steal
ing 10000 worth of gems from residences
III Fifth avenue, New York.
A woman in high standing in New YORK
acted as Smiths" fence, it is said, as
Mrs. Romadka is believed to have done
in Chicago.
Two additional warrants have been
sworn out for Jones, Mrs. Romadka S
negl0 aecnmplice, charging him with re-
eeiving stolen property.
Wife of millionaire.
Mrs Romadlla IS the wife of Charles
J. Romadka, Milwaukee trunk manu-
5 facturer, who is said TO be a millionaire.
This beautiful young woman calmly con-
fessed to the police of this city that she
had slipped from the lap Of luxury in an
swe~ 10 the lure of the 'loOtlust,' and
plunged mto a lurid saturnaha Of rob
berries, Durglaries. plottings with denizens
cf the underworld, until the officers, cal
loused as they are in the ways of crime,
fT..r
Her eyes flashing through tears. the
millionaire woman burglar told Of her
desire Tor excitement Even such ex-
hilaration as can be afforded by large in
come and the whirl of society finally
palled upon her, and il was then, ac-
cording to her wonderful story, that she
answered an advertisement and became
a servant girl so that she might gamble
with her own freedom as the odds against
the possession Of a $500 sealskin coat.
Fearing that her Identity might become
known in Milwaukee, where she held
sway in elite society, she came to Chi
CagO. Here. unknown she practiced the
wiles of her will and gIoried in the eternal
excitement Of the burglar and the proWi-
ing parts which she played alternately
with that of the deniZens OF cafes.
Told of Her Dual Life.
Living in meager quarters, she was a
woman burglar and mixed with the un-
derworld Living in the best hostelries
of the city. she mixed with clubmen, So
ciety women. and was whiTled about the
streets In automobiles and carriages
This Jekyl-Hyde existence she told Of
unfalteringly
But there was a third factor in her
composite disposition. She was mother,
When tired by the vigilance required as
the burglar and WeaTied of wine, and sup
pers, she sought refuge, peace and com
fort at the side of her baby girl
Startling developments came fast.
reaching a climax when. at the Harrison
street station. il was discovered that Mrs.
Romadk4 carried a .3S-caliber revolver
fastened TO garter holster beneath her
skirts. and just in time to prevent her
using IL to fight her way TO freedom or
die in the attempt. Following the dis
covery Of the deadly pearl-handled
weapon. Mrs Romadka showed great
agitation. which finally terminated ina
deep melancholy-she had lost what she
believed was her only chance TO gain an
alternative 10 the penitenuary or insane
asylum.