Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-05-05
THE PoRTiA or THE UNDER
WORLD.
Female Crock Who Escaped Prison
Sentences by Either Verdict of Ac-
quittai or Disagreement Of jury,

TEGidie NToCk VINO Escaped PRISON
Sentences by Either Verdict of Ac-
quittai or Disagreement Of Jury.
a Portia Of the underwol til who had
"a habit Of securing a disagreement of
hcf jury. thereby escaping tnc UNI
pleasantness of prison life and conse-
quent interruption Of her criminal ca
reer, was Virginia Flaraentein, alias
Fay Wilson, alias Chicago Fay, origi-
aaroi. Of the creeper game in Chicagoll
aad one of the remarkably successful
thieves in New York.
Fay had her following, toe. as no
ono was permitted To tell hard luck
story to her twice. She gave the first
time and when she died recently her
world was sad, but able to attend the
bu1ial service, which was read at 20
West Forty second street.
There was nothing in her origin or
early training that led one To suspect
Virginia Floraentein would ever stray
from the stiictest conventional life and
atmosphere. Her family was proud of
its history, its blood and Virginia was
a fair and promising representative of
| the race. She vas sent to o convent
near New Orleans, where her associ-
ates were all members of old and dis
tinguished Creole families.
After her Introduction into exclusive
New Orleans society she was courted
by many youths who occupied posi-
lions socially equal to hers. Her par
ents looked with favor upon one sutton
/ in particular who WAS heir TO plan
tation adjoining theirs.
With their consent he asked Virginia
to marry him. She refused; her par
ents were amazed; they urged her to
accept 1t was then that she manifest
ed rebellous spirit for the first time.
I'll marry the man | love or I'll
never marry at ALL was her answer.
She doubtless didn't think she was
the first Young woman tor make such q
declaration, and she didn't care wheth-
err il sounded original or not. She had
vision of what life would be with the
one man-and until she met him she
was content to wait.
| Within a year she met him. He
wasn't in her set and he never heard
of any of the girls with whom she went
to school. He was stranger in New
lOrleans. but admitted he didn't come
from any place-the world was his
home.
Would she keep house for him in the
world and talks a chance with him?
Virginia was willng-she was on the
edge of romance and SO informed
her family. They responded, but not
lin a way she hoped. She was forbid
den to see the young man again.
| The girl announced she wouldn't live
without him. Father replied that he
/ H. tt.,,
and find if he had any claim To marry
into an old and honorable family.
There wasn't much in the banking
land social circles to investigate. He
found some information from the Chief
of Police and he proceeded to lay the
facts before his daughter.
Next day Virginia met the man and
married him. Her parents disowned
her disinherited her and did all the
usual stern things popular under such
conditions.
Virginia soon separated from her
IDEAL and found herself, geographical
ly, in Chicago, with the knowledge that
it takes money to live and with the
conviction that she was not equipped
for earning any sort of a decent living.
There was no time to mourn over the
past She must use her wits. She did,
oh, she. did, as criminal records testify,
and before a month had passed she
was we'll known to the police as Fay
Wilson.
A dentist parlor was opened. Suffer
ing humanity saw the painless sign and
went in. A Chicago man who was
known to carry no less than thous-
and dollars at time loosely in his
clothes, dropped in one day and was
robbed of $4,000. He had no difficulty in
discovering his loss, as the dentist shop
had not deprived him of his memory
He told the police about it, and faS
| Wilson was arrested.
Her friends sent lawyers to her ana
suggested she build up strong de-
Tense.
II don't need lawyers. she toid
lthem In the same definite way she IN
formed her parents they needht at
ten6 to her heart affairs nor make
future fer her. Il will defend myseIt
This she did and Chicago was given a
sensation. The courtroom was hlfeo our
ing the trial. Fay pictured herself as
leading an honest life she needed money
for food and clothes; she was earning it.
She had relieved the man only OF MS PAIN
| She was standing there without the pro-
! lection of a man.. alone in the world.
The Jury showed emotion much of 1t re-
manning with the members when they
went into consultation,
There was a disagreement aud Fay
was released on bail. She took the first
| train for New York, where she opened
efeeper joint in West Thirty-sixth
street, near Eighth avenue. but was not
permitted to work unmoiested
The only thing to do was to move SO
she established headquarters in Fortieth
street, near Seventh avenue. Her pur-
suit was framing up place and having
it burglarized sharing the profit and dis
posing of the proceeds.