The San Francisco call., 1909-06-13
Mrs. Jean Thnrnherr jailed for
Score of Daring RObberies
in Berkeley
Nineteen Year Old MatrOn
Breaks Down After Sweat
ing" by Police
Eyades Capture for Many
Months, but Stolen Dolly
Leads to Arrest
Especial Dispatch 10 The Call

Especial Dispatch to The Call
DERKELEY. June 12.-Pinning in a
window of her home at 1911 Henry
street dolly stolen months ago
from Mrs. p W. Girvin. Mrs Jean
Thurnherr, 10 years old. and only 10
months bride, revealed herself to the
police as feminine Rafles. who has
committed a series of burglaries and
evaded capture for months. The
young woman is a daughter of law
yer Of Los Angeles, now dead. and is
petite and attractive, yet Marshal voll-
mer declares he has in his fair pris-
oner an accomplished burglar.
Woman Breaks Down
The arrest was made yesterday aft
ernoon. The police were not sure OF
their prey. The third degree" fol-
lowed, but for hours Mrs. Fhurnherr
steadfastly denied accusation after ac-
eusation. Finally she 5roke down. said
the marshal. and the long list of
burgIaries and her narrow escapes were
revealed
According to the Berkeley police. the
young bride with the refined counte-
nance and pleading eyes is adept not
only at house breaking but at con-
cealing her identity as thief In
fact. the police had the little lady in
jail on February 9. proved nothing, ana
released her.
The bride burglar. it is alleged. could
work under the very eyes of the po-
lice; and when on March 10 she was
trapped in Mrs H. c. Henrys home at
1905 Delaware street. she locked a bed
room door against the family. leaped
two stories to the ground and left no
cIew.
Seen Destroying Evidence
The girls arrest yesterday found the
police wary. After questioning her
little. vollmer adopted the Old police
ruse of freeing his prisoner Mrs.
Thurnherr was shadovsed and watched.
The detectives saw her enter her bun
galow home at 1911 Henry street and
observed her destroying evidence of
guilt. Valuable linens. dainty silver
ware and trinkets were cast into the
fire. and after the girl had been re-
arrested, a search warrant was utilized
to recover some of the things said to
have been stolen.
Without this evidence. the police say.
they would have been helpless in
wringing a confession from the woman.
Twenty hours of secret ~sweating' fol-
lowed. and then the prisoner broke
down and revealed her history.
She began her thefts last November
while she and her husband, Albert
Thurnherr. a driver for Marshall Steele.
haberdasher. lived at the Bon Air
apartment house. Mrs A. NJ Strong.
the proprietor. missed linens and other
articles of value during several months.
and early in December informed the po-
lice. They could not find the thief
Stole Money Order
shortly afterward the Thurnherrs re-
moved to the Ridsway apartments in
Center street where Mrs. Thurnherr re-
ceived a letter addressed to Mrs r. B.
Ritchey of $40 Wheeler street which
she opened. She cashed an inclosed
money order for ss5. This was one Of
the most battling mysteries Of the po-
lice and Mrs. Thurnherr was not ae-
cused of the crime until February 9.
At the time she was taken into Gus
tody she was also questioned about the
loss of silk petticoats. lace waists ana
other attire stolen from Mrs 5. Parks
Of the Ridgway apartments in Center
street.
The young woman denied all knOwl-
edge of the theft and the police. though
sure of her guilt. were compelled to
release her for the want OF evidence.
Then the home Of Mrs Henry in Della
ware street was entered shortly after
ward silver ware and other articles
valued at 5000 We're stolen from the
home of P. W. Girvin. who is a neigh
Dor OF Mrs Thurnherr.
1t is the theory Of the police that
fascination for fine clothes and Jewels
led TO the downfall OF the young
matron but Albert Thurnherr, her heart
broken husband. declared that bis wife