Omaha daily bee., 1920-08-23
Pale Little Cigaret I'd.
mits Part In Bold Robbery
Of Society Home by Youth
full Gang.
COMPANION IS SHOT
TRYING TO ESCAPE
Desire for Pretty Clothes and
Dazzling Jewels, Reused by
Jealousy of Rich Girls,
Causes Downfall.

(By International News Service,
New York, Aug. 22.-Eighteen-
year-old Annie Westervelt is in jail
because of her envy OF rich girls. She
admits she aided five youths who are
accused of robbing a Fifth avenue
home.
In her cell the girl sobbed out her
story. -~-... -.-...
'lf l had only given one little
thought to MY mother and offered a
prayer to my patron saint for the
strength to overcome temptation.
wouldn't be i'll this terrible trouble
today. But / was envious OF the
girls who enjoyed wealth and lux
ury and failed to heed the COM
mandment. Thou shalt not steal.'
Now my dreams are shattered, and
l can only look forward to disgrace
and perhaps long years in prison"
Little Cigaret Girl.
1t was the thought of the sorrow
she had brought upon her widowed
mother and her two younger sisters,
Margaret, 10, and Barbara, IS years
old. that brought tears to her blue
eyes. ,..
A sad-faced little creature. the
whiteness of her skin accentuated BY
the pallor OF indoor toll in cigaret
factory, she pointed to her simple
shirt waist and plain black skirt and
said. sadly:
II wasn't satisfied with these-and
they were made by my poor mother.
too-and Just let myself believe that
perhaps ! could wear expensive
gowns and jewels like the girls |
used to see walking on Fifth avenue
on my way home from work. Yes, I
was envious and never stopped to
think of the consequences. But may
be if | tell the whole truth. just as
tell it to you, the Judge will give me
a chance to make amends. | want
to be good-for my mother. because
! know this terrible thing will break
her heart"
Father is Dead.
Her father died when Barbara. the
youngest child. was year old. The
widowed mother was compelled to
put the children in ST.. Elizabeth's
Home, Staten Island. and take en-
ploylnent as servant.
Four years ago Annie was taken
out of the orphanage, and the moth
er, by dint of self-deniai, established
home. Two years later Margaret
and Barbara were returned to the
mother. and when the younger ones
were old enough, like Annie, they
went to work.
"Of course. like most girls. /
longed for lovely dresses and jewel
ry, but I never thought till just re-
Gently that would ever do wrong
to get them. know it is sinful to
be envious, but when | saw hand
somely gowned women and girls on
Fifth avenue wearing expensive
dresses and furs and jewels, why
I just couldn't help thinking and
thinking how happy l would be if
only l could have them" the girl
said.
FlckctS fOr burglars.
"Then one night recently Waiter.
McKeon told ME it was an easy
matter to get all sorts of costly
dresses and jewels if l would help
him and the other boys in an affair
they had in mind.
Then Walter called for me, and,
believing he was going to take me
to movie" | went out with him.
Instead. however, he took me over
on Fifth avenue, where he met
Frank and George Rubino, Walters
brother, Pete and a boy named
Murphy. Then they told ME they
intended to rob the house at No.
927, and instructed me to stand on
the corner and watch for a police
man. l was so scared that could
hardly speak, but before I knew it
three of the boys scaled the iron
fence and broke into the place.
after about half hour the gates
opened and the boys came out,
carrying a small iron safe. They
put it into the taxi they had and
drove off, while Walter and /
walked home together.
Boy Partner Shot.
Before they started Of they
asked me if il would be Ill right
to take the safe to my home, and
] consented. Margaret and Barbara
were sound asleep when they car
ried it upstairs and hid it in a closet.
The next day. after rny sisters went
to work, the boys came up and
opened it with tools they had
brought.
when I beheld all the jewelry
] repented the c,azy thing l had
done. But it was too late.
"The next I feard was when the
boys were arrested in the pawnshop
on Lexington avenue. where Frank
Rubino was shot in the back while
irving to escaoe"