The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-02-14
Sh0plifter, Sen
fenced for Life,
Tells Her Own Story

HS0S OSSS$
the law now terms q hardened GRIM
inal. Her demeanor is not that Of a
narcotic addict, which to some extent
| she admittedly has been. II impris-
onment and worry have erased much
Of the girlish charm which n is
sure she had. she still looks young.
No underworld slang colors Ruth's
conversation. Scarcely any trace Of
bitterness is discernible in her tone.
despite the thoughts that race
through her mind.
They convicted Gladys Mae
Parks" she recalled. "of taking the
lives Of two innocent little children.
Her sentence was Is years.
II took two baby dresses, and some
night gowns and a bottle Of perfume.
And they give me life.
Il never harmed any individual. !
never lifted q hand against anybody.
They'll tell you I've got q bad record.
but there are plenty Of women here
who have done really bad things.
They don't get life In prison. A
woman gets drunk and kills another
woman with her car: that's third de-
gree manslaughter. A girl helps in
a hold-up in which q Waterman Is
shot; she goes Free"
Born on East Side
Yet for q career Of delinquency in
which she used morphine. and tried
to steal 1872 worth Of merchandise
from department stores. Ruth st.
Clair received q sentence which in
eight Of the United States could not
have been more severe had she COM
mitted cold blooded murder.
II was born on the lower east side
Of New York in 1900" Ruth went on.
II went to school some, and worked
in q laundry. I was only 3 when q
man about so years old took advart-
age Of mi. The last education I got
was in q reformatory. I was Is when
I left.
1.-THE first time I ever stole anything
was when I first ran away from home.
It was raining, and / took an UNI
brella.
II really wanted to be good. but It
seemed like I couldn't help stealing.
I only took pretty things to wear, BE-
cause I never had nice clothes. I'd
drift along. fighting this desire to
steal. ashamed to embarraSs my
mother or married sister by living
with them.
Became Drug Addict
"When I gotta job on the stage. I
thought the battle was won. I was In
q musical show at the Hippodrome.
and later I danced awhile in vaude-
vile. II I hand't been sick. I could
have gone straight.
"Hut I started using morphine. In
1918. after I'd violated . parole. I got
out Of the penitentiary and . boy !
knew, who got out about the same
time, and who used morphine too.
wanted me to marry him.
~ asked mcthec. She was awfully
kind that day. She said, We'll, you're
both young, and you have both been
In trouble. and you have both learned
q Lesson. Maybe you can work to-
gether and get Strengthened OUT"
But they couldn't. The man failed
to provide: Q home and Ruth left him
In six weeks.
Ruth had three subsequent convtc.
tiors Of grand larceny In the second
degree. Her sentences were six
months. one year and two yeark. Dur
ing this time she was fighting the
drug habit in addition TO her klepto-
mania. Then came her fourth Of
tense.
Il went into . store 70 buy . cor
set." she said. " paid for It, too, but
the counters were piled high With
pretty things, easy 70 take. I wanted
the baby dresses for . present to .
friend OF mine. I admired her 20
much; she used TO take dope. but quit
and got married.
We'll. they caught me with some
things. ! knew about the Daumes