THE CINCINNATI TIMES-STAR
June 29, 1904

NEWS
scans from newspaper collection of
Ruth Adams-Battle

transcribed by Dorothy Wiland

GIRL HORSETHIEF HAS SURRENDERED.
Edith Laudenack, Who Says She Stole a Horse and Buggy in Louisville,
Yielded Herself to the Police of St. Bernard With the Stolen Rig.

“Oh, tell me, pretty maiden, are there any more at home like you-oo-oo.” Hummed the marshal of St. Bernard, as Edith Laudeuack hitched her horse to the doorknob of the village police station Monday night.  And after he heard her tale he was devoutly grateful that there are no more at home like her-er-er.  For Edith makes the Florodora sextette look like six counterfeit nickels.  She has Bandit Tracy whipped to a custard.  She has Mocking Maud, the Maverick Queen, beaten eight ways from the dance.  Unless Edith is trifling with truth, she is horse thief and traveler wrapped up in one original package, and only desires to get back to her old Kentucky home that she may take a fresh start with.

For her story, however, the marshal of St. Bernard does not vouch.  He only points with price to the fact that Edith is an official guest of the village, while her somewhat wayworn steed is packing enough oats into his frame to last for another trip from Ghent to Aix.  And he has place himself in communication with the guardians of the peace in Louisville to see whether Edith has told the truth, or whether she is merely getting local color for a new vaudeville sketch.  Edith says she is 15 years of age.  This is the only statement she has made as yet which has not been incredulously sniffed at.  She is rather good looking, fairly well dressed, seems possessed of average intelligence, and has the cold never of a porch-climber.  She drove up to the door of Imwalle’s stable, in St. Bernard Monday night, threw the reins cut to the hostler with a flourish, and demanded that the proprietor be shown in.   When he appeared she coolly informed him that she was driving a horse and buggy which she had stolen in Louisville last Tuesday.  She had, she said driven the nag all the way from that city, but was now out of money.  She was tired of driving, anyhow, and had determined to surrender.  She kindly asked that he would have her locked up and take possession of the horse and buggy.

She was placed under arrest, and the horse was fed.  Incidentally, so was Edith.  Now, St. Bernard is waiting to hear from Louisville.  If the policemen there deny that Edith swiped the outfit in which she traveled no one knows what will be done.  Edith does not seem to be worrying any.  She has declined to give further information about herself.  The girl is dressed as if she lived in the country, in a thick jacket and sunbonnet.  She is very tall and large for her alleged age.  In reply to questions, she declared that “it is not the first time I ever took a horse.” And that she “might have sold it, but she didn’t want to.”  She said she had no one to assist her, and that her

A dispatch from Louisville states that the horse was stolen from the stable of A. P. Hill of that city, who has offered a reward of $50 for its return.  The girl hired it for the evening and did not return.  Her home is in Loving, ILL.