The Washington herald., 1908-09-02
GIRL ADMITS THEFTS
Ethel Rector Is Victim Of
Strange Malady.
CANNOT ACCOUNT FOR ACTIONS
Although Fifteen Years Old, She Is
said to Have Stolen $500 Worth of
Wearing Apparel from Washington
Department stores - Arrested on
the Eve of Her wedding.

Unable to account for her actions, and
believed to have been temporarily de-
ranged from a recent illness, pretty fif-
teen-year-old Ethel Rector. a telephone
operator in the Wyoming. living at $50
Pennsylvania avenue. was put on pro5a-
ton yesterday by Judge De Lacy, Of the
Juvenile Court, after pleading guilty 70
charges Of petit larceny. The girl VIII
be looked after by the Board OF Chill
dren's Guardians.
Ethel wac alleged 10 have stolen about
$500 worth Of wearing apparel from the
largest department stores IN Washington.
According % the police. she obtained the
clothing under false preteuses. having
them charged 10 a person known 70 the
firm with whom she was dealing. She
used the names Of well-known women IN
society circles II this city
Is n Telephone Girl
IN her position as telephone girI n the
Wyoming. Ethel was able 20 learn the
names OF persons having accounts n de
pa-tment and other stores
Her first transaction was made on July
I. according 70 detectives who worked on
the case. On that date, IL IS said. she
went TO the PaIais Royal and obtained a
bill OF goods. charging Il % Ms NJ z.
ButteCworth. OF the Wyoming, widow of
Benjamin Butterwgrtl- Dresses. collars,
lace, hosiery. underwear. and numerous
other articles were included in the bin,
which amounted 70 about SO At a later
date. IL is said. she purchased clothing
az the same store. having il charged 70
the name Of Mrs L a Barr. Of the
Wyoming
A bin Of goods for S95. purchased at
Woodward & LothrCp's, was charged 10
Mrs. Williams. wife of Lieut. Commander
Williams. II was alleged Ethel purchased
shoes and hosiery al BurC's shoe store.
charging them % Airs. l. a Barr.
Miss Rector was arrested by Detectives
O'Dea and Evans when she returned 20
Gardnkle's. where she had ordered a dress
valued az So Before ordering the dress
Ethel is said 20 have obtained clothing
worth 81 from the same store using the
name OF Mrs. sue Carpenter OF the WyO-
ming
According 10 the police. Miss Rector
intended marrying a man named Casey
tomorrow. II is thought she wanted the
dresses and Gue-y for her trousseau- As
telephone C'rL she IS said 20 have re-
ceive6 SD a month. She resigned her
position on Friday last
Unable to Explain.
Miss Rector. when questioned By de-
cectivez. was unable 20 explain why she
purchased the clothing she said she
could remember having bought clothing
at a number Cf stores b-- could not -e-
call clearly the details OF tle transac-
ti0u. II the opinion cf persons &C
cuallted with ne-. Ethel Is thought 20
have suffered a temporary arrangement
4 few weeks ago she was suddenly taken
ll. and lt IS thought her strange actions
since then are due % her illness
A few minutes before she was conduct
ed into court Ethel gave vent % her feel
t-gs and cried so violently she became
EysrericaL Dr. Fowler. Cf TIE health de-
QaT-Uelt. attended the SRI.
she IS Of nervous temperament tail for
her ase. and rather slender, with a mass
of black hair which accentuates her dell
cate aQp5G-aECe-