Barton County democrat., 1913-09-19
WOMAN FoReER TO PRISON.
Former Barton County Woman sept
to Prison In Missouri.

NAo hoilOWnS dIlcle from the
Kansas City Star Of Tuesday is rela-
tive to a former Barton county wom-
an. The Acotf family were formerly
residents Of this city. coming here
from Heller. 1t Is said that the rep
utation Of Mrs. Acoff for honesty was
not any too good while here, and II
does not seem to have improved to
any great extent. The article from
the Star Is as follogs:
After the recital Of a we'll con-
structed heart-stirring story Of pow
erty, mans perfidy and mother love,
which produced great effect on her
hearers until Judge Latshaw got af-
ter her and picked the story to piec-
es, Mrs. Minnie Aeoff, alias Irene
Snyder, alias Miss Johnson, was SEN
fenced to two years in the peniten-
tiary this morning for forgery. She
plead guilty to forging two checks foy
$50 each On J. ]. Snyder, cashing
one Of the checks at Emery, Bird &
Thagers, and the other at Cline'S.
Mrs. Acoff's life evidently has been
a checkered one. Five years ago a
worthless husband deserted her and
three children at Great Bend, Kars.,
leaving her to shift for herself. Ac-
cording to her story she worked in
hotels, in restaurants and in private
families for several years to provide
for herself and the children.
After worrying along for nearly
five years a man came along who
professed his love and a desire to
marry her.
ale told me Of his love in terms
that couldn't be surpassed in a nov
el," she said, "and finally induced m,
to take the three children and g
with him from Oklahoma City where
was then working, to Minneapolis
Minn., where We were to get married
and go to housekeeping. We got al
far as DesMoines and he skipped on
and l came here to look for work
and stopped at the Coates House
where | thought I might be able L
see the man who had left me In DeS
Moines. | called up several peopl
, who had advertised in the papers 10
servants, but when | could give n
city references they refused to Civ
me work.
aThe children were hungry and
dreaded the time when the hotel ash
ed me to settle the bill for them AZ
myself. There was nothing left to d
so l forged the checks"
She stood up straight and listene
to the arraigqnmeht without a shoV
, Of fear She dldnt know what II a
'lmeant when the Judge asked her
she was Guilty or not guilty" an
when he asked her how 1t all cam
about she started to repeat her orit
inal story.
When she told OF going to the firs
place and eashing the check for 81
and then went right over to Kline
and passed the other, the judg
said: 50. =. Ti'i1lY,
:. well you were going to clean u
before you got out Of town. The firs
worked we'll and so ought the secon,
Is there anything further"
Something in the judges mannt
causea her to halt in her tale
need and sorrow, while the jude
turned to the detective who had a
rested her and learned that she W.
wanted in Wichita on eight counts
forgery, but she denied the WIGHT
charges. The detective then told
=, all the assumed riames she had ia
. en-. Her excuses were lame. The
the Judge paused to listen for fur
ither Information, and hearing non
!. SAID, Two years in the penitential
+ at tetfetscii City" ar,l~,-..
The two little girls, aged II an
;. 6, will be placed in the charge Of II
juvenile court.