Telegram Herald

A BURGLAR QUEEN.

Ella Larrabee Tells the Story of Her Strange Career.

One of the Most Remarkable Criminal Stories on Record—Early Lessons in Crime—A House Breaker at Fourteen—In Doubt About Honesty.

COPYRIGHT 1889.

It was a pretty figure that came forward to where I sat in the office of Kings County, N. Y., prison, in spite of the hideous striped dress, the overshadowing hood that almost hid the face, and a wonderful face it was one to meet in a prison! Ruddy-cheeked and blue-eyed, with a profile that might have made a model's fortune; hair that crept out in stray, rebellious, curling locks of auburn from beneath the cap and which she tucked into place in a girlish way with a shapely hand which would have been pretty but for the cheap rings on her fingers.

This anonymous twenty-year-old bit of femininity, who has often turned men's heads in more senses than one, was Helen Elger, alias Ella Larrabee, the "Queen of the Cracksmen" and the only female burglar in America. From her own lips I gathered the romantic story of her life, and the cause that led her to adopt the profession of housebreaker.

Seating herself by my side, she pulled off her hood and began her recital in a voice that at first showed a trace of nervousness. But reserve was brushed aside when she told exultantly of her more remarkable exploits.

"I have no recollection of my parents," she began. "When a mere child I was in the keeping of a man who was not my father and whose name I took, passing as his daughter. That is the name by which I have been known to the police.

I well remember my first job. I was only fourteen when I began stealing from houses. I had no fear, but lots of caution, and I was clever at managing a guile which has helped me out of many a scrape. I had the house in my eye for weeks before I got the chance to work it. One night, I watched that house for hours. When the lights were out. Then I watched the policeman on post go by. I soon made up my mind I had nothing to fear from that direction. A memorized explanation ran rapidly on tip of my tongue.

"Should I go away? Would it be wise for a girl like me? I decided I would. I crept to the basement and with a small knife slipped the window catch. Another moment and I was inside. Not a sound I heard, so I crept upstairs to the second floor, taking the precaution to lock the second door for exit after the ransack. Upstairs I searched every room; it seemed like hours. At last I found what I wanted. With the money I crept down stairs after my heart beating with excitement and not a bit afraid. I reached the basement, pushed the door quietly and in an instant I was on the street. There was no one the wiser."