The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-09-28
BY EDITH v. ROSS

! The case of the state against Edith
Trowbridge. a girl of twenty-five. bad
been tried before Judge Gritilths. and
the evidence had proved her guilty -
yond a doubt The charge WAS grand
larceny. though II WIS arterwnrd
changed to receiving stolen property
Some goods had been missed from 8
store. woman was seen % take
them and had been followed She was
tracked to an apartment house, where
she was losH Among others the apart
ments In which Miss Trowbrdge Lived
was searched. and the articies--some
lingerie-were found between the mat
tresses Of Der bed
/ Miss Trowbridge bad captured both
judge and jury by her innocent and
modest appearance. but the evidence
was so strong against her that II vas
impossible for the twelve Jurymen TO
acquit her The judge gave her the
lightest sentence the law would al.
low-two years In the penitenuary
But even 30 light a sentence was a
horror 10 one who had been carefully
reared and well educated After II
had been pronounced the prisoner. hav-
ing been embraced by her mother,
turned 10 George Nbitcomb. 20 whom
she was engaged 10 be married and
on whose face were written horror and
indignation.
"Cheer up. George she said. You
and know that am innocent. Two
years will soon pass. and then we will
be reunited"
ITS horrlber' WINS bis only reply.
When Judge Gridlths left the court
room at the end of a days work he
thrust from his mind, as was his Gus
tom. the scenes OF the day. A hap
pier scene to come took their place.
In few days would occur birthday
to bis daughter. girl Just emerging
from her teens. and her father was
thinking of giving her a present of
some article OF jewelry. On his way
home he stopped at Benkards, the
principal jeweler Of the town. There
he looked over various articles until
his fancy was caught by q bracelet, a
golden serpent with two ruby eyes.
He asked the price, but found 1t to
be greater than what he had laid out
for his purpose. The salesman show
ed him others, which he examined APP
provingly. but always returned to the
snake with the ruby eyes.
Il wish IT," he said. for my daugh
ter. whose twentieth birthday comes
around In a few dnys. But I'll net de-
eide today. Perhaps III come in to-
morrow"
When after Judge Gritiiths' depar-
ture the clerk put away q dozen or
more articles that be had been show
ing the judge he missed the bracelet.
Frightened. be looked over every ar
ticle on and In the case, thinking that
he might have overlooked 1t. then on
the floor to see If 1t had been dropped.
The bracelet was not to be found.
One thing was certain-the bracelet
had been taken. The salesman report
ed that while showing goods to an
eminently respectable appearing gen
tleman bracelet had been lost. a
member Of the firm questioned him
closely, but got no further information
than has been given here. The sales
man had recently been given position
on trial. He was very anxious to
make sales. and both he and his en-
ployer considered that his anxiety in
this respect had momentarily diverted
his attention from what every sales
man must consta ntly be on the watch
for-theft.
A week passed and nothing had been
heard from the missing bracelet. Then
one day an anonymous note In an evil
IDENTIFY disguised hand was received at
Benkard's. II was as follows:
ION Wednesday. the 7th of June last,
/ was in your store looking at some
| iewelry. stood near a case at which
a gentleman was examining different
articles. saw a lady standing at the
same case. She picked up several ar
ttcles, looked at them. examined the
tags attached to them and put them
down. While the salesman was intent
on his customer she took up bracelet.
held 1t In both hands and examined
1t closely. She wore loose flowing
sleeves, and while the salesman was
examining the tag on a brooch for the
purpose of learning its price she drop
ped the bracelet into one of her sleeves.
1.-THE young lady was evidently not
a common thief At any rate. she was
handsomely dressed. Curiosity led me
to discover whom she was and what
Der object might be In stealing the
bracelet. She went directly from the
store, hurrying as soon as she reached
the door. | followed her and saw her
get on a trolley car. | boarded the
car myself aud left 1t when the thief
left It. Passing Off the main street.
she turned into a residential avenue,
stopped at a stone front dwelling and
entered with n latchkey.
1.-THE adventure interested me, and l
took pains to Investigate as to who
lived in the house. | learned that 1t
was the residence Of prominent citi
zen. Describing the girl thief to those
who were familiar with the family, /
was told that had described his only
daughter
81 found myself In an unpleasant p"
sition. To accuse young lady, the
daughter of a respectable and inhuen-