Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1919-09-18
YOUNG WOMAN IS
ARRESTED after
THEFT OF FERNS
Miss Ina Raglan Apprehended-
Plants Found in Her
Home.
SCORES STOLEN IN
ONE NIGHT RECENTLY
Accused Claims She Bought Them
From Negr0-WOmen Rush to
Girls Home to Identify
Property.

Twelve Pine Bluff people who last
week reported to the police the
mysterious disappearance of fern on
the Saturday night of September 6,
yesterday afternoon recovered their
ferns, and Miss Ina Raglan, of 200
West Nineteenth, was arrested by
Sheriff G. NJ Nichol about 5 o'clock
Miss Raglan was charged with grand
| larceny, but was released under a
$500 bond signed by A. N. Bloom.
| The date of her hearing has not been
set.
Miss Raglan said she bought the
| ferns from negro boy. She showed
no excitement when arrested, and up
on returning to her home, after hav-
ing made bond, she made the same
statement to the women who had
gathered to identify their ferns.
Looking for the ferns?" Miss
Raglan inquired Of the women, ac-
cording to the officers. "I'm so sor-
ry but ! bought them from negro
boy" she said.
The discovery by Robert Holman,
of a fern on the front porch of the
Raglan home which he claimed was
one belonging to his mother, and
stolen the night Of September 6, led
to an investigation by officers. A
search warrant was secured, Con-
stable Brannon, and Deputy Sheriff
John Perdue, and they with Sheriff
Nichol, accompanied by Mr.. Hob
man, went to the house. Holman
positively identified the fern,
but TO make sure, Mrs. Holman
was taken there, and declared
the fern hers. Constable Bran
non then remained at the house
and, using the phone there, called
the people who had reported the loss
of ferns, to come there to identify
their plants. Meanwhile, Sheriff G.
M. Nichol came back to the city to
put the woman under arrest. He
found her in front of McEwens
store in her car, and directed her to
drive to the court house, where she
made bond.
At the same time owners of plants
began to arrive at the Ragan house.
They came in stream, and as fast
as they identified their plants, were
checked out by Constable Brannon,
who. with note book and pencil,
kept a record of those claiming
ferns.
The following people from whom
plants were stolen recovered them:
:, w. A. Bohnert 1919 West Nine
teenth, ostrich feather fern; Mrs.
Nell Trotter, south Main. two big Bos-
ton ferns; Mrs. Fred Senyard. 600
West Fifth. one hanging basket
fern, one palm and jardinier; Mrs.
; J. P. Jordan, 1901 Cherry. two brass
stands. one fern; Mrs. Edgar Brew
ster, West Seventeenth, one large
,, fern: Mrs. Fred S. Schneider, 11O4
West Bararque. two palms; Mrs.
Holman, 613 West Barraque. one
iardinier and one fern; Mrs. A. W..
Scruggs, 1906 Cherry. one begonia;
,, Mrs. A. B. Ayward. 1902 Cherry, two
ferns Mrs. J. M. Simpson, 615 West
, Barraque, jardinier, one fern and
stands: Mrs. June Ingram, 918 West
Fifth, one fern; Ferdinand Baer, 1908
{, West Barraque two brass pots and
plants.
Saw Fern Taken.
The wholesale theft of ferns and
plants took place Saturday night
and early Sunday morning, Septem-
Der 6 and 7. Monday following. re-
ports of thefts were recorded at police
l headquarters all during the dav, and
by night, the list had swelled to an
I even dozen. Officers were perplexed
t at the mysterious disappearance of
2 the plants, and could assign no mo-
8 tive for the theft of this kind.
e The only intimation they had Of
the guilty party was from informa-
l. Movr 1ryhn
stated he was awakened early Sum
day morning. by the noise of an auto
mobile which had stopped at the
home of Edgar Brewster, at 3O4 West
Seventeenth, and just across the
street from McIntyre's home. He
stated, it is said that he saw mar
: remove one of the ferns from the
- Brewster front porch, and carry it to
;, the car. He heard a woman laugh
e he stated, but thought no more about
it until he read report of the whole
sale thieving in the morning paper
= Tuesday.
It was then about o'clock.
Officers are placing their depend
ence in the guilt of Miss Raglan or
7; this, and the fact that the plant!
were, found at the home of Miss Rag
an. Though she did not question thu
5 cause of her arrest yesterdav, Sheriff
e Nichol said. she did deny the charg
q under which she was arrested, claim
ing that she had purchased the plant
from little negro driving whit
horse.
Ferns Valuable.
Owners arriving at her home t.
r claim their plants yesterday after
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