Law & Order: Gypsy Woman Sentenced to Pen, Grant Parish, Louisiana Source: The Colfax Chronicle, June 26, 1920 Submitted to USGENWEB by: Gaytha Thompson 540 May Drive Madison, Tn 37115 LaFamTree@aol.com ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** GYPSY WOMAN SENTENCED TO PEN Colfax Chronicle June 26, 1920 On Wednesday a band of about a dozen gypsies in two automobiles consisting of three men, three women and six children, visited Colfax and while practicing their trade at flem-famming and fortune telling, one of their number giving the name of Minnie Thompson, came to sudden grief. The whole party was the typical band of wandering gypsies. The women particularly being attired in the colors of the rainbow, red, blue, green, yellow, etc, with a liberal display of gaudy jewelry such as rings, bracelets and other supposed charms. While in the store of Mr. Ch. H. Rhodes, the woman, Minnie Thompson, managed to get her hands into the money drawer and stole a twenty dollar bill and a ten dollar bill. Soon after she left, Mr. Rhodes discovered he was short the money and called the Sheriffs department to arrest her. The women and two men were arrested and put in jail and Thursday afternoon they were brought up for trial in front of Judge J. A. William, with attorney W. R. Jones representing the accused and attorney C. H. McCain dating as district attorney pro tem. Judge Williams found that the evidence convicted the woman and sentenced her to twelve months in the penitentiary subject to a credit of three months condition on good behavior. The men were discharged, there being no evidence connecting them with the theft. In passing sentence on the woman and discharging the men with an order to leave the parish, his Honor said he proposed to do all he could to break up the habit of wanders going through his district fleecing the people and living off their ill gotten gains.