Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 January 1881 — New Role for a Thief. [ARTICLE]

New Role for a Thief.

gfc Laato OhmMi It was hi 11 six feet in height, and wore an ulster that reached nearly to the feet Officers O’Connor and Kiokum picked it up on the sidewalk at Fourth and Elm streets. It was parading the street and putting on a lot of style. As the officers conveyed it to the station it held up the skirts es a trailing princesse drees of ample proIKirtions, displaying the whitest lace and embroidered skirts. Red stockings and slippers adroned the lower limbs and feet. The officer was not an undersized man, but as he walked on the higher side of the pavement the figure towered nearly a full head above him, with a stately, almost queenly carriage. The head was adorned, with an elaborate chignon ending in a switch behind confined with a broad band resembling gold. Bangs of the blackest hair adorned the forehead. The dress was of cashmere of a pronounced magenta tint, a broad width of black material in front. The face was that of a colored person of 30, not very black but too dark for a mulatto. The figure was in keeping with the height, portly and well developed, but not A Chronicle reporter followed and got to the station just as the two entered. The person approached the railing at the station with the air of one familiar with the place. Sergeant Watkins came forward at this moment and said, “Why, Florence, we’ve again.” ' “Yes,” replied Florence, “and what do you want with me?” “Take off that stuff on your head,” said the officer.

Unwinding a red and white woolen comforter from the head, and then taking hold of the bangs with a quick motion of the arm, off came bangs, chignon and . switch, displaying a round, short, cropped head of wool. “Oft with your other traps,” said Watkins. Without a moment’s hesitation the lierson unbuttoned the alsterette, and then came the dress, kid gloves and other articles, to the corsets. The reporter blushed and said: “Oh, sergeant, you are going too far.” The person cast a glance of contempt at the reporter and began to undo the corset strings. Just then, as if being suddenly reminded of something, out came a large purse filled with silver. This was thrown disdainfully on the top of the rail. Watkins observing the reporter’s bewilderment at the singular proceedings, said: “The person is a man, and not a woman, as his dress and manner have lead you to suppose.” On the registery was the entry, “Florence Smith, aged 29, colored thief charged with appearing on the streets in attire not worn by his sex.” This man and his operations are well know to the police. He plays the role of the nymph du pave, and generally selects drunken men who nave money for his victims. Getting them to his den he always manages to relieve them of whatever loose cash they may have about them. He is a giant in strength, so resistance would be useless-.