Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-06-11
THE LONG VIRGINIA cREEpER
Telegraph Poles Only Rivals of This
Tall Female Crook, Who Used
Height to Good ADVANTAGE.

Telegraph Poles Only Rivals of This
Tall Female Crook, Who Used
| Height to Good ADVANTAGE.
| so far rs known Josie Edwards. alias
Josie Cherry. never picked up any OF
her Bursaers and dropped them into
the windows OF skvscfapers. She work :
ed On the ground, though most of her
lived in the ais In her home town.
| near the Blue Ridge Mountains of Nir-
! Gf.lia. Josie was known as Millicent Ed
| wards. bat she grew until she moved
her six feet of Milicent girlishness into
| New York, where she acquired imme-
| diate recognition as Il shopifter and an
teNpert in the creeper game.
It was a mean crook who one day
icalled her Virginia Greeper, and Josie
never quite separated herself from the
burden of il. though in the gallery Of
doors she acknowledges only tie alias
Josie Cherry.
This feminine streak of terror WASH {
exactly proud of her height, but she
used il to advantage in emergency
iunwinding il in a serpentine way in Il
department store when under suspi-
LEON, and escaping with the goods in
her possession. while the detectives
were looking for a woman higher up
III the air.
Frequently when she landed on tie
pavement her head was nearly hort
zontal with her feet. II WITS only when
|she lost her balance or traffic was
dense that she lifted her lungs for air.
and that was when they got her.
But Josie, born Millieent. always
took a long breath when she went out,
tor day or nights work.
She stlll works, it is said especially
when the circus is in town. Her little
| fun and source of employment is to
Iwander on the streets off Broadway,
bur near enough to moving throngs
She really is 6 feet lon circus day she.
wears higher heels than usual and tall
mats and Il frightened face. She is,
seen either hurrying along fearful of
Ieausing attention to center on her or
| else standing in a daZed way in a cor
ner and looking in every direction.
| Frequently man, usually a farmer
looking for the skyline, asks her If she
lis lost or if he can do anything for
| her She explains she is on her way
20 the circus She is the giantess there
and she came out, in fact. she stole out
1 for a breath of air, that she WASH
born to circus life, that she is not like
other freaks.
Sometimes there is something in her
| face that appeals to the man, unbrok-
1 en- to town life, but who believes he
| can take care of himself in New York
Inc matter what a rotten reputation
| tile place has outside the city limits,
land he wants to talk things over with
lher before she has to report for perfor-
nance at the Garden
| This is her lead. She would rather
mot go to a restaurant-why not come
to her quiet little flat. which she has
ltaken only during the circus run,
Stranger goes Before he departs he
is introduced to the creeping game
| Josie tborn MilliccnD usually had
girls from Boston as ready little assis-
tants in creeping activities-she main
tanned Boston women were smoother
lin the short runs of thievins and took
no unnecessary chances.
They weren't as tall as she and their
identities never FLASHED. In way
they could work on their wits.
Now. particularly at this season,
while all the women are trying to get
Ia figure like hers. she is reported as
fayoring the Fifth-avenue shops. where
lst,;iirht up-and down shapes if well
leestuned. are given manifold chances
for operation
| In front of a counter she can SEND
Ian arm in one direction and another
laru in n different locality and gather
lin lace. Jewels or furs while carrying
Ion = conversation with the salesWoman
ivho cannot be expected to look up III
1.-The air and talk to her while watching
Ian that is going on on either side.
| She has 4 few phrases by which she
lis certain to gain time to pick up
) Things she has spotted for herself. she
Twill talk of lace and other essentials
land suddenly ask. Would you mind
telling me if your hair is natural
'slade? If il isn't don't hesitate To tell
ime. 1t il beautiful, anyway, and |
would give all my money To know
lboW =You preserve il as you do. 1t is
- rare color Let me see how perfectly
lii matches your eyes
The eyes glance up at the towerlike'
hadyhke crook. Il was right declares
ilosie. You are more beautiful than
, ''nnv one | have seen in New York. |
have friends in Newport who would
give their fortunes for just one day
| Eyes looking up are now beamlns.
: Other customers ask for some re-
, Spouse to the question, May l be
waited on today
The girl with the eyes is brought
, down to existence, the shop and The
job.
But Josie has departed with choice
selection.
Her husband Dan Cherry, who was
t released from Il foreign prison, came to
New York To look up Josie--one always
looks up" Josie. Josie always had to
be looked up, that is one OF the PRIV
lieges of her height.
They went into a jewelers. together
: and Josie asked to see Il diamond pen
taant that she said her husband was
about to buy for her.
I The salesman was willing. Dan was
in a cheerful mood and his wife wore
an agreeable expression.
She kept the salesman's eyes in the
air while Dan was examining the dia-
thaV shown more