The Detroit times., 1910-01-07
BROKEN IN HEALTH
WHEN SHE IS FREED
Former Wife Of Milwaukee Million
aire Turns Gray While in
Joliet Penitentiary.

CHICAGO. Jan. 7!---Mrs. Evelyn c.
Romadka. former wife OF Charles J.
Romadka. millionaire trunk manufac'
turer of Milwaukee. has been released
from the state. prison at Joliet. She
Is the woman whose sensational ex-
ploits as the accomplice of Negro
thief gained her erea. notoriety a
short time ago. After only about
year within prison walls the once
beautiful woman seemed haggard and
old. Her hair has turned gray dur
Ing her incarceration and she falter-
cd SO that she had To be helped out
OF the prison warden's ofiice by her
relatives.
-fhc-rciease- of - Mrs. Remadka- IL
the fnal chapter In q remarkable
story which began two years ago last
fall and for time attracted great
deal of attention. When IL began she
was guest at the Victoria hotel on
Michigan-ave.. a fasnionabiy dressed
handsome woman. Suddenly on Oct
Z. 1907, she was accused OF having
stolen $1,000 worth or jewelry from
the home of Mrs. Clarence 4. Beck.
$500 South Park;ave., and arrested.
From then on starting Developments
followed thick and fast. Albert Jones.
Negro, was taken into custody and
part of the stolen Jewels were found
In his possession. He confessed and
accused Mrs. Romadka OF planning
] L.. hi Ia. nd q a
participated. Her husband came To
Chicago from Milwaukee,, and when he
learned OF the evidence against her
deserted her. Oct 10 she was released
on bail. but her sbondsman, A. j. Ward,
suddenly asked To be relieved as sure
~. and she was sent back TO jail.
Forsaken by everybody. she appear
ed before Judge Brentano Nov. 10,
where, as "A Anal blow. John r. Dono-
van, the attorney employed by the
+ husband withdrew from the case.
/ Then she pleaded guilty and was SEN
fenced 10 serve an indeterminate term
OF from one TO 20 years.
Almost Immediately after she was
taken TO Joliet campaign 10 secure
her release was begun by her rela'
tiyes. They claimed that she was par
! TALLY insane at the time the thefts
were committed. Married when very
young 70 a man twice her years was
claimed led her to take up the life or
thief for excitement.
! The parole under winch Mrs. Ro-
madka was released was issued Dec
l5 by the board of pardons after a
secret session Early this week word
was sent To Warden Murphy that she
was TO he set free and her brother
and a sister appeared at the prison
to take her away The place TO which
she has been taken has been kept a
secret.
| Attorney Maurice McKenna OF Fond
du I,ac. Wis, who prepared the pet'.
ton for Mrs. Romadka's release and
who made the arguments before .ae
board OF pardons, said that when all
the facts I'm the case were known the
woman would be pronounced more
sinned against than SHINING. An unfor-
tunate marriage and unhappy environ
ment were what led her into a GRIM
inal career. he said.
While nothing could be learned as
to where Mrs Romadka Is now living.
II was stated that she Intended to take
up the life of a nurse and to live In
seclusion the rest Of her days. During
the months she was In prison Mrs.
Romadka developed religious tend
ency. and II is believed she will ally
herself with some religious institution
and dedicate her life TO serving the
unfortunate and the weak.
4 A cover for stationary washtubs
that rolls up has been patented by ~