The San Francisco call., 1909-06-14
GIRL BURGLAR IN
SUICIDE PACT
Police Watch Mrs. Jean Thurn=
herr and Husband to Prevent
SeIf-DestructiOn
Long List of Crimes Traced to
Feminine Rallies; Known
as Cowboy Girl

BERKELEY, June lS.-Close watch
is being kept by the police on Mrs.
Jean Thurnherr. the girl burglar, and
her husband 10 prevent them from
carrying out suicide pact.
The unusual criminal and her hus-
band are said to have agreed February
10 10 take their lives in the event of
her being again arrested. She had
then just been released after having
been taken into custody on suspicion
Of having piIfered a number of arti-
cles belonging TO Mrs. Parks in the
RidgWay apartments.
Now that the burglar bride is again
in the tolls II is feared by the police
that the terms Of the pact viii be car
ried out The young husband is al
most frantic as a result Of the disclo-
sure OF his wife's criminal record. 1t
is hard for him to believe that she
has committed the several crimes that
the police have traced to her. He in
sists that she surely must have been
out Of her mind if she really has per
petrated all the crimes of which she
Is now suspected.
SIX YEARS OF CRIME
Investigation has shown that the girl
her criminal career. among them be
ing Jean Gordon. Tessie German and
Bessie Russell. Six years ago she ran
away from the home of her father
who is said 10 have held judicial po
sition in Los Angeles. Under her
maiden name of Jean Gordon she first
got into trouble in san Jose.
About three years ago she is alleged
10 have robbed a man at the ferry in
san Francisco Of sI.I00. She was placed
under the care Of Miss Stebbens who
was then probation officer. She is said
by the San Francisco police TO be the
young woman who was known there
She seemed to regret the fact that she
was not boy and conducted herself
IN masculine manner.
Christmas day. 1908, the girl removed
several small articles from the rooms
OF Mrs. A NJ. Strong in the Bon Air
apartments At the corner Of Kittridge
street and Shsttuck avenue Berkeley
January 2 she forged signature and
cashed a postal money order for $50
belonging to Mrs. R 3. Ritchey of ss10
Wheeler street, Berkeley. and February
: she committed the Parks burglary,
FOR which she was arrested on sus-
picion by Detective Sergeant Woods.
MAKES SUICIDE PACT
Then il was that the girl wife en-
tered into the suicide pact She was
very much in love with her husband
and he with her. Fearing that he might
learn Of her damaging record she pre-
vailed upon him TO agree TO kill him
self should she be arrested again. She
was pledged 10 take her life as well.
Mrs. Thurnherr narrowly escaped
capture March 10 when she entered the
home Of Mrs. n. c. Henry at sos Della
ware street. When her presence in
the house was discovered she locked
The door OF the room and jumped 10
the ground from a second story win
dow At that time Detective Charles
Becker OF the Berkeley police force
found her footprints. and, from the de-
scription OF the offender, suspected the
girl. He had worked on the case when
she was aPprehended for the Parks
burglary.
Her Last robbery was that in which
she entered the home OF P. W. Girvin.
1907 Henry street. May IS, and took
property valued at $l1e, including a
number Of Spanish hand embroidered
rugs. Becker and Woods saw one Of
these rugs in her window June 10.
This led to an investigation. The
stolen rugs were confiscated, but
the police, employing a ruse, allowed
her to go free. saying they had not
AoAnQ HUCn evidence as would Justify
them in holding her. She was then
carefully watched and was seen to
hide several articles. Much Of the stol-
en- property has been identified and the
girl has confessed her crimes.
RIDGwAY BURGLARY
The burglary OF the Ridgway apart
ments was the biggest trick turned by
the girl 'Rahies." She at that time
stole the following articles, according
70 the police report: Green silk petit
coat with plested ruffies, red lace petit
coat with lace trimming. three white
lawn chemises, a lavender crepe silk
waist and a silver bon bon dish.
TAKES FINGER PRINTS
William r. Floyd. the Rertillon ex-
pert Of the department, took the girls
finger prints on her arrest, but, owing
10 objections, postponed the taking of
measurements and photograph until
after the preliminary examination,
which viii be held tomorrow morning
before Justice Robert Edgar.