The Girl Burgler
San Francsico Call
Saturday, March 26, 1898
ARREST OF A GIRL FOR BURGLARY
Edna Trueworthy, 14 Years of Age, Jailed.
Accused of Entering Hotels and Stealing Jewelry.
Caught in a Mission - Street Church After an Exciting Chase.
USED A SKELETON KEY.
A Portion of the Stolen Property was Found in Her Possession.
Edna Trueworthy, alias May Hinds, the pretty 14-year-old girl who is accused of entering the room of Mrs. Schofleld in the Russ House a short time ago and stealing considerable jewelry, was arrested last evening after an exciting chase and locked up In the City Prison. She was found in company with a girl named Alice Atwood, who was also taken into custody.
Shortly after 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon Mrs. Schofleld recognized the Trueworthy girl on Fourth street, and she started to speak to her. Evidently thinking that she had intended to have her arrested the erring girl ran up Mission street and darted into St. Patrick's Church, where she tried to conceal herself. Detectives Sullivan and Graham happened to be in the vicinity, and, seeing the girl running, they followed her into the church. She was at once taken to police headquarters and closely questioned. She at first denied her guilt, but finally broke down and made a confession. A portion of the jewelry which she had stolen was found in her possession.
To the detectives the girl admitted that a short time ago she entered a room in the Hotel St. Nicholas and stole several pieces of jewelry. Her scheme was to visit a hotel and after entering the parlor she would apparently amuse herself by playing the piano. As one of the women guests left her room the girl, with the aid of a skeleton key, would at once enter the apartments and make a thorough search for jewelry and other valuables. After satisfying herself that she had not overlooked anything she would then leave the hotel as mysteriously as she entered.
Last night the detectives recovered several pieces of Jewelry which the girl had stolen. They were found in a pawnshop on Third street, where she had sold them.
Edna is not unknown to the police. Some time ago she was arrested for stealing some jewelry, but on account of her tender age it was decided to send her to the reform school. After a few weeks' incarceration she escaped with several other girls by climbing over a high fence which surrounded the institution. To-day the detectives intend to place several charges of burglary against her.
