The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-07-05
BEAUTIFUL GIRL
FORCED To STEAL
Tells Pathetic Story of Being
Victim of Strong
Infatuation
DRAMATIC SCENE IS
ENACTED IN COURT
Svengali-Like Influence of
Newton Sends Him to
Jail for Year-GirI
Liberated

Her Large black eyes flashing with
anger. her fraii form quivering with
pant emotion, and her finger nails
nreskiRs- HE si4a Of her palms, tr-
ginia Miller. barely a woman in years
and still d girl IN appearance, faced
four charges Of larceny in police
court yesterday, morning and told
Justice Crutchtisld a narrowing tale
OF the cruelty and wrongs she had
suffered at the hands of the man
she had loved and who had pretended
to love her.
hmm aculately clad, carefree and
apparently unconcerned, Walter New
ton. a youth In years but aged in the
ways and wiles of the world. who was
arrested as an accomplice OF the Mil
Ter girl, stood before her and listened
TO the TRADE she poured out against
him. smiling an she related how he
had beaten her. threatened her, ours
ed her and forced her to steal to
procure money for him.
With the debonair youth and the
dramatic girl In the principal roles
and the background formed by JUS
tice Crutchfield. Chief of Police Wer-
ner, Or. James Buchanan. secretary
! of the Associated Charities, Detec-
tiyes +. l.. krongel and J. f. Wiley.
representatives of several pawn
I brokers and the Borrowing and dis
tracted mother Of the girl. Mrs. E. NJ.
/ Miller, the scene was fitting climax
! to drama Of a city,
Given One Year.
w hen tine giri had confessed num-
erous thefts committed. she declared,
at the demand OF Newton with her
life as the penalty for failure to
| comply with his wishes, when ali
the witnesses had given their testi-
Inony and when Newton had failed
/ to deny the allegations OF his beau
| tifuI accussr. Justice Crutchfield
/ melted out tustice with characteristic
I brevftv and xternness. committing
| Newton TO jail for one year In default
/ of S5oo and continuing the case
against the girl indefinitely.
| There was that to the case which
/ led Justice Crutchfield to hear the
I testimony behind closed doors with
/ only the accused. witnesses and off,
clais present to listen to the I'M
travelling of a story more dramatic
and sensational than any told in
police court in months. Virginia MIL
/ Ter came to Richmond from her ma
| tive town in North Carolina about
fifteen months ago and procured en-
pIoynent with a we'll known firm In
this city.
Walter Newton, she said. WAS one
/ Of the first men she met In Richmond
and from the day shS ffi'et MIN sht
/ declared she felt the influence whieh
| she said. he later exerred over her
Newton. said the police witnesses, hac
an unsaxory reputation. but the cir
did not know that. and, besides III
was handsome TIE story she toIt
was disconnected. 10 that the ordei
! in which events occurred were DIM
|es4it to ascertain. but Hne spoke WITH
a sincerity and determination OF fac
which belied doubt.
t Steals From Policeman.
/ While residing at the nome OF Po-
/ I.ceman II. F. Sweet. At $50 Wes
Cary street. the girl was not per
mitted to receive Newton. but wher
the policeman and his family wen
away for a vacation the girls ad,
mirer had little difficufsy in caIlins
I frequently. One night Newton sale
he needed money. and ne forced tht
girl. she said. to open cweet's trunl
with a key which had belonged Il
her mother and steal two savtnr.
banks containing s14. which were tn,
property OF Sweets chffdren. New
! ton. 1t was charged. took the none,
from the hanks at Jefferson and MAR
streets. but did not share any of 4
with the girl.
/ Later. Mt Newton's order. the cir
said she stole gold watch valued
at s2s from Mrs, Swee- and pawnes
1t for $3.50, giving the money t.
| Newton. Before renting the room a
the Sweet home, the Miller girl lived
with an uncle residing IN West Car,
street. The girl then went 10 liv,
with Mary Winston. at eII Alhemarl,
street. When she left that place sh,
| said she took diamond studded
locket and gold chain valued at $3s
which she pawned for ~. She safe
she gave the money TO Newton 1,
order that he could redeem a sui
which he had pawned. The polio,
say Newton wore the surf when ar
rested and admitted taking the none,
from the. girl.
On Monday last the girl said New
ton told her he needed money an,
must have it quick. outlining to. Ae
TIA scheme whereby she could stea
tewelry with little risk OF detection
The girl said she went to the jswelr.
store OF William Tobien, yr., and ask
ed to see broocheA wniie the sales
man was not looking she said she stol
a brooch, studded with IS pearls IL
the form OF crescent, with q dia
mond in the center. She pawned /
for IS, giving the broker the nam
OF Gay Norman. She sara she CAV
all OF the money to Newton
One OF her first victims was he
mother. said the girl. ana related hov
she stole ring set with rubies an,
pearls In q cluster from Mrs. Mile
and pawned 1t for $3.Du. giving tn
money TO Newton. Newton was ais
given sixty cents which the girl sal
she obtained at pawn shop for
pearl scarf pin which sne purloine
from her uncle.