Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1911-08-22
LITTLE GIRL AS
A BOLD THIEF
Accused of Robbing Houses
When People Went to Help
Her With Gifts.
CAUGHT WITH GOODS
Had Watch, Jewelry and
Money on Person When
Captured After a Chase.

AS result of her alleged bold op-
erations in Water street, this morn
Ing, Katie Plufk, a little girl, who
the police have been trying to trace
for sometime past, was caught and Is
now in police cell awaiting a hear
ing. 1t Is declared she stole a gold
watch valued at $50, four gold shirt
waist pins, scarf pin and fifty FIVE
cents In cash. The arrest was made
at the residence of Mrs John NJ
O'Brten and Mrs. James O'Brien, who
had befriended her upon q number of
occasions, at 212 Water street. When
searched the money and jewelry was
found in her stockings and in a
pocket in her petticoat She was de-
tained at the O'Brien house until Pa
trolman Nels Tonnesen arrived and
arrested her.
1t is plain to the police that she
has committed numerous thefts
about the city. BY her methods of
begging she has proved troublesome
to the authorities and they are glad
she Is now within the clutches of the
law. 1t is declared she was caught
with the goods on and there is no
manner in which she can escape pun
tshment. The police have linked her
with other petty crimes, among them
being the robbery of SO from a bath
house few months ago.
The girl, who is thirteen years old
and lives in Convery place, was ar
rested through her boldness in the
O'Brien home. Mrs. John M. O'Brien
said she had been begging there upon
numerous other occasions and about
two months ago their suspicious be-
came aroused when, after she had
been befriended with gifts Of food and
clothing, she stole an egg. This
morning she again visited the
O'Brien residence and stole quietly
through the front door which was
open. She entered a bed room and
passed into the dining room, picking
up a gold watch and ffty-flve cents
on the way. After having commit
ted the theft she was met by a mem
Der of the O'Brien family whom she
asked for a glass of water. The
girl was told to go and get the wa
ter and upon reaching the front door
she ran down the street.
AT that time Miss Catherine Con-
way, a relative visiting there from
Connecticut neeoeo
upon reaching for 1t she discovered
ffty-fve cents she had had been
stolen. Mrs. O'Brien and her thir-
teen year old son, John, gave chase
after the girl and caught her near
Bayards Beach. She was brought
back to the house and searched In
the meap time the police were nott-
fed. Tha pins and ring were turn
ed over 10 the police, and the girl,
after being searched again at police
headquarters, was locked up on a
charge of grand larceny.
The little girl went over to South
Amboy Saturday and robbed the resi-
dences of Robert Kerr and F. w.
Stems, in Stevens avenue, 1t Is claim
ed, and took a mesh bag from the
Kerr home and ring and string of
pearls from the Stems residence.
Miss Margaret Stems came here this
morning and identified the ring and
pearls.
The complaint made by E. G.
O'Brien, of 212 Water street, was
withdrawn when Miss Margaret
Stems made complaint against the
girl for stealing a ring and string of
pearls. The Plufka girl was turn
ed over to the custody Of Chief of
Police Mcdonald, of South Amboy,
where she will most likely be placed
on trial for her operations in that
city