The Washington herald., 1922-12-15
MRS. JESTER
|SACCUSEDOF
MANY THEFTS
Entertained LavishIy In Home
on Dupont Circle Before
Divorce Three Years Ago
GAVE NAME "ARMSTR0NG"
Police Claim to Have Found
in Her Apartment Much Jew.
J elry of WeIl-KnoWn Persons

Alleged to have defrauded a
number of Washington merchants
and to have left a trail of worth
less checks in this city while on
visit here ten months ago, Mrs
Lucille Jester, thirty-eight years old,
who was arrested in New York on
Wednesday in connection with a
series of cleverly executed rob-
berries, may be prosecuted here if
she gains her freedom in the Met
ropolis.
ENTERTAINED LAvISHLY.
Mrs. Jester. who is the divorced
wife of the late Harvey Jester,
Washington newspaper man and
insurance broker is well known in
Washington society and diplomatic
At her home in Dupont circle. up to
three years ago when Mr.. Jester
divorced her in Philadelphia on
grounds of alleged misconduct, de-
sertion and cruelty.
According to dispatches last
night. Mrs Jester, who gave her
snane to the police as Emily Arm
strong" was arrested by a detec-
tive who had trailed her from a
pawnshop to her home In the
Bronx Search Of her apartment
Is said to have revealed a pearl
necklace. which Is being sought by
Mrs. Edgar Speyer. wife Of the
brother of the New York banker,
and numerous other pieces Of jew
elry. bric-a-brac and other articles
which 1t is alleged she confessed to
have stolen.
nDER Attn ~ I0rUy
According to her confession. 81
operated not only In the fash;o:
able hotels Of New York, but at
the railroad terminals where she is
said to have admitted stealing
handbags from persons Of apparent
refinement and wealth. taking them
to her apartment to be looted A
number Of bags. reported to the po
lice as having been stolen from
terminals and hotels. were said to
have been found in her room.
Friends of hers in Washington
believe she Is a victim Of klepto-
mania.
, Upon her last visit to the Capi-
\tal. Mrs. Jester stopped at the New
Willard Hotel for several days. AT
other times during the visit. she
spent part of the time with wealthy
friends whom she had met while
a resident here.
FIGURED IN LIMELIGHT.
1t is said that not only did she
pass a number of bad checks. but
ordered expensive garments. hats
and shoes he sent her at the home
Of her hostess. No questions were
asked, the hostess generally being
a prominent society woman and
the articles purchased would he
sent post haste. Before II was time
for the bills to arrive, or the checks
to go through the banks. Mrs. Jes-
ter is said to have fled the city
not only with plenty Of cash. but
with an abundance Of clothing.
Mrs. Jester figured in the lime
hight Immediately after she was d.
yorced. it being alleged that she
kidnaped her son and daughter.
who had been awarded the husband
BY the courts, while they were at
tendiaS a boarding school In Long
Island Driving to the school in
an expensive automobile. Mrs. Jes-
fer is said TO have seized the chill
dren and to have driven away with
them. The boy. now living in WASH
4 tnzton. escaped and returned to his
father. The daughter is believed to
he still with Mrs. Jester.
FRIENDS NOT SURPRISED.
Washington acquaintances OF the
woman also say that seven years
ago she took the two children to
France to be educated. While in
Paris. she is alleged to have passed
numerous checks and to have
fleeced a number of merchants.
Although not a handsome woman.
she is 81 sI to have the appearance
of refinement. with an extremely
dominating and convincing person
ality 1t was no great surprise TO
her friends and acQuaintances IN
the Capital to hear of her arrest.
Twice Mrs. Jester was committed
10 Bellevue Hospital in New York
for observation and twice she es-
caped from that well-guarded insti-
tution-dodging out of the admitting
office the first time and climbing
down the fire escape the second.
Her commitment followed an all
night ride about the city in taxi
cab, a ride she could neither pay for
nor explain.
Before her marriage. Mrs. Jester
lived in Chicago.