Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-18
PAINTING BERTHA YET LIVES
Noted Woman Criminal EludeS Death,
but Runs Into 0ficers.
CAUGHT AFTER LATEST ESCAPE
FIees from an Asylum, but r. Cap
tured and n ConEratulates
the omcer ON His
skill.


she did not die as was expected she would,
Of consumption in an Illinois ssnitarium,
but is back In the limelight with her old
abandon. The most recent news from
Bertha Is that she escaped from the South
Bartonville asylum in Illinois. and, being
captured the next day, disguised as a
drummer. and in the act of reading the
newspaper accounts Of her escape.
The local police stiIl take a great In.
terest in accounts Of the career OF Bertha.
This interest is so deep and so personal
that there is a very perceptible tinge Of
resentment toward the police and the citi-
Gems Of other commonwealth than Me-
braska and other cities than Omaha to
which Bertha has turned her attention
She was born In Council Bluffs and she
became famous in Omaha. OF course, this
feeling is mingled. as the orators say, with
a feeling Of relief on the part of the police.
For Bertha leads them such a merry chase
when she is here that they lie awake
nights worrying about her. Hence the
feeling of relief when they know she has
gone elsewhere. has sought fresh fields
and pastures new. Or, perhaps II would
be more proper to speak Of Bertha as
seeking fresh streams. For Bertha fishes;
she fishes for suckers. And she is the best
fisherwoman that ever came around these
parts.
Who wouldn't BiteI
No native Omahan needs an explanation
Of her methods. II a young woman Of re-
markably handsome and refined appearance
happened to be standing beside you on the
street waiting for a car or watching a
parade, and II the handsome and refined
young woman suddenly gave a little gasp
and swayed. would you not put out your
arms willingly to catch that fair and help
less form? Certainly you would. And you
would be so absorbed In caring for the sick
girl that you wouldn't think OF such ma
terial things as your diamond stud or you
pocketbook or anything else. And then
when the beautiful girl had recovered. had
opened her innocent blue eyes and looked
wonderingly about her, when you had
helped her to her feet and received her
tender smile and her gentle Thank you SC
much: 1 must have been ILL., and when she
has disappeared In the crowd. then, an,
then you might notice that your purse,
your roll or your diamond had disap-
Feared. Naturally your first thought would
be that some 'pickpocket had taken them
: while you were ministering to the innocent
girl. Never would you suspect that inno-
q cent creature.
i Bertha operated her unique trick In
: Omdna successfully many many OHlcb'
|, But the field was exhausted and she moved
on to Chicago, where the field was larger
And now Illinois gets the glory that was
! once Nebraska's.
|. How she Was Captured.
Policeman Damn Of the Peoria police
captured Bertha last Monday, the day fol
: lowing her secape from the South Barton
n willie asylum. She was sitting in the rail
II way station dressed like a travelling man
! And she was reading the newspaper &C.
e count OF her escape from the asylum
y When she found herself in the hands Of
the law again she smilingly accompanied
+ the officer. Now she Is back in South Bar
e tonville ASYLUM. But II Is said bets arr
s being laid 16 to 1 that she will make hel
escape again before a month. Prison bar
y and asylum walls are as cobwebs u
Bertha. Here Is a list Of her detention
and escapes, not including 800 times in an,
out of Omaha jails:
Asylum for the Feeble Minded, Glen
wood. la. Discharged.
Insane asylum, Glenwood, Ia. Dis
charged.
' Insane asylum. Nevada, Mo. Discharge,
IS after several escapes.
st. Bernard's asylum. Council Bluffs, Ia
Discharged.
1t Indeterminate sentence at Joliet peni
Tertiary.
Kankakee Qll.) asylum for the insane
Escaped.
1ll.) asylum for the insan,
Escaped.
At Kankakee (nI) asylum for the insan,
Returned to Joliet penitentiary.
Elgin (Ill.) asylum for the insane. Es
ye capped.
* Elgin Qn.) asylum for the insane. Fl
capped.
r Present address, Asylum for the IncurabI
or Insane, South Bartonville, III. Escape
ell June 10 and recaptured June Il.
AAaAA =ALKGA