The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-23
To SAVE WOMAN BY
EXPOSING HER PAST
STORY OF "MRs. RANDOLPH FITZ-
HUGH. OF VIRGINIA. WILL
BE GIVEN TO JUDGE.
NOW HELD FOR THEFT
VIRGINIA FAMILY Is READY TO
CARE FOR CATHERINE FEM
NELL. OF STANTON. 1T
SHE IS RELEASED.

NEW YORK, June 22.--In a last
effort to save Mrs. Randolph Fitz-
hugh" the Southern woman who con-
fessed to stealing handbags from wo-
men worshipers in church. Greed NJ.
Fulton. of Washington, will reveal
the mystery which has surrounded her.
Mrs. Randolph Fitzhugh" is Cath
crime Fennell, OF Staunton. Va. Pres
ident Wilson's birthplace. On her
monther's side her closest relatives
are the Randolph and Fitzhughs, blue
blooded Nirginians. On her fathers
side she Is connected with the Ash
bys and McKims.
Miss Funnel, when a. brown-eyed
girl of sixteen, tried to murder her
cling from an attack of typhoid fever.
She was placed in the Staunton
Asylum for the Insane, where she
remained until 1911.
She is now in the Tombs awaiting
sentence. which may mean several
years in State prison away from her
boy of fifteen months.
The girl at fourteen was considered
among tho most beautiful in the
the date set for her wedding she was
stricken with typhoid.
AS soon as she was well enough
her fiance drove over to pass the week
end. The girl was happy to see her
sweetheart Suddenly Miss Fennell
left, returned with an axe and struck
tthe young man.
| Then she knelt beside him, whisper
! ing, I'VE shall depart together. We
1 shall go away forever together" 1t
was in that position the family found
/ her.
The man was taken to the hos
pital and for weeks lowered between
life and death. The girl was placed
In the asylum. where she remained
for ten years, when she was dis
charged as cured.
In the meantime, her father, moth
err and brother had gone insane. She
went to washington to live with a
married sister, her only close rela-
tive.
A few months after her arrival she
met a young lawyer employed in the
department of agriculture. She fell
in love. Her sister did not like the
young lawyer and told her so.
The man persuaded the woman
, then twenty-five. to elope. The couple
left Washington and went to Balti-
more. where a marriage was per-
, formed by a supposed clergyman.
, They returned to Washington. The
! girls sister disowned her. Severa
, months afterward the man went &c
, Chicago. She has never seen hiu
, sir3e, although up to the early par
OF last winter he sent small remit
tances.
Her marriage never has been re
corded No minister by the name n
the one who is supposed to have
married her has ever been found by
the authorities in Baltimore.
Fifteen months ago son was born
Heart broken Miss Fennell came Il
New York and lived here on thu
, scanty allowance sent from Chicago
When last winter the remittance
ceased the young mother was desper
, ate. IT was then, IL was said las
: night. that her mentality began t
/, give way. In her alteration, it is al
: legged, she stole, thinking 1t the onl!
manner to support her child.
When finally arrested, In her des
= peration to protect her family anC
her child she told conflicting stories
She never gave one clue that would
enable her lawyers here or her prose
cutors to trace her history.
II came to New York at Mrs. FftZ
, highs request" said Fulton. II have
: talked to the district attorney. Mrs
, Fitzhugh is mentally irresponsible
To send her to prison or to the Bed
ford reformatory would be to sen
. tence her almost to death,
"She Is a woman to be pitied. If
can convince the court of certain
facts and show him there Is a family
a very good family. who live in Fir
ginia. between Richmond and Fred
ericksburg, who are willing to make
n home for her and for her child.
hope she may obtain suspended sen
tence"