The Washington times., 1911-07-10
WOMAN ARRA|GNED
AS ROBBER, PLEADS
"|DON'T REMEMBER"
Mrs. Laffey Is Held for
Grand Jury Under
Heavy Bond.

The same plea, II don't remember
anything about it." that she has reitsr-
ated since her arrest on Saturday night,
was entered by Mrs. Margaret Laffey
when arraigned in United States side of
Police Court today charged with rob-
berry. Her counsel, Attorney w.
Gwyn Gardner of this city and Attorney
]. C. Rogers, of Hyattsville, asked that
her plea of not guilty be accepted and
they waived examination.
Under bonds of $4,000 this woman.
charged with as bold a robbery at point
of pistol as ever was committed in the
District, must await the action of the
grand jury.
The offense alleged is that Of robbing
one of the branch stores Of J. T. D.
Pyles OF $106. But the complaining wit
ness in the case is Charles Mattfeldt,
manager of the store at 652 Park road.
who alleges that he was held up at the
point of a revolver.
The work of the police matrons was
evidenced in the improved appearance
Of Mrs. Laffey in the dock today. Her
coal black hair, disheveled when she
was arrested, was neatly smoothed and
a clean white shirt waist added to the
trimness of her appearance.
Bears Haunted Look.
But Mrs. Laffey's face bore the va
cant expression and her eyes had the
haunted look of one whose memory has
failed. as she asserts has been her case.
To questions that were put to her the
invariable reply was. II don't remem-
Der anything ab0,rt it. I don't believe
I could have done such a thing"
The counsel for the woman say that
thev will be able 10 prove that the re-
voiver with which it is alleged she held
Mattfeldt up. was not loaded. and that
every other feature Of the case points
10 her insanity.
A civil action against the Capital
Traction Company now is pending for
tornevs assert, her mind was unbal-
anced. 1t is alleged that she was pitch
ed headlOnG from the step or an cleo
trio car. and that she struck on her
head.
Attorney Gardner says that he has
letters from many prominent men and
women in West Virginia and Virginia
who have known Mrs. Laffey for years,
and they say she has the highest char
actef.
Mr.. Lafrey. who came to Washing
ton from Piedmont, w. Va, had prom
ise from a Congressman Of a Govern
ment position. according to her counsel.
Son a Spectator.
The son "Tlmmie." the bright 16-year-
old lad. who has rallied so manfully
to the aid Of his mother. was an inter-
OnIf 10
But he would say nothing concerning
the case.
Mrs Laftey. according to a statement
Of Judge James L. Pugh. will be under
mental examination during her deten-
ton for hearing before tho grand jury.
That the insanity of the woman can
readily be established. Is the confident
assertion Of the counsel for this al
legged woman bandit.
On the other hand, Detectives Berman
and Cox, of the Central Office, who
have been put on the case in an effort
TO connect Mrs. Laffey with the rob-
berry of the Sanitary grocery store. Of
Georgetown, on April ., last. when two
young women clerks were held up and
forced. at the point of a revolver. to
deliver the contents of the cash regis
ter, said this morning that Mrs. Laffey
woman who came into the place last
week and said she had been sent to
take charge of the establishment.
Recent Escapade.
Miss Blanche Norris, one of the young
woman clerks, remembers distinctly
every feature of the Laffey woman 8
face, and even the dress she wore at
tn time, which was the same soiled one
she had on Saturday night when the
Pyles store was robbed.
Switching into the Sanitary store one
day last week. Mrs. Laffey, according
to the detectives, walked up to Miss
Norris, looked her over and in a cool
voice said: You may leave right away
and report at the main store. I am
not sure that we care to have you in
our employment longer"
Miss Norris went to the telephone and
started to call up the manager. While
she was getting the number, Mrs. Laf-
fey it is said, ran from the building
and was not seen again. The manager
told Miss Norris that the woman was
an impostor.
The police are endeavoring to con-
meet the Laffey woman with both rob-
berries, on account of the similarity Of
the methods used.
A formal charge of holding up the two
verwomen clerks at the point of pis-
tol in the Sanitary grocery store in
Georgetown, on April 3, and rif1ing the
cash register on SO, was lodged against
Mrs. Leffey on the blotter at head
quarters this afternoon. The police
saw the two robberies are so similar
a.. -orordO datails that thew Arc con-