The Girl in the Photograph
Laura’s youngest sister, Edith Amelia Shaw was baptized as Emmilie Ida Chauvin on 22 August 1883 at St Brigid’s Church, Montreal, the 4th daughter and fifth child of Joseph and Mary Ann (McCarthy) Chauvin.
One fine summer day in July of 1901 Edith joined her friends Catherine and Albert in a prank. The trio met up with James Shea, an elderly man[1] from Charlestown and employee of Boston & Maine Railroad at a house at 12 Blossom Street. James was carrying quite a bit of cash in his wallet that day.
Catherine had been drinking, and when she entered the establishment, she cuddled up to Mr. Shea, sitting on his lap and slipping his wallet out of his right hip pocket. She passed the wallet to Edith who concealed it under a tablecloth.
When Mr. Shea discovered that his wallet was missing, it could not be located. It was no longer under the tablecloth! A witness had seen Albert toss something out the window. Mr. Shea went to the police and Catherine, Albert and Edith were arrested. After Catherine sobered up, she confessed to her part in the crime.
Albert Cartnell, Catherine Crowley and Edith Shaw were charged with larceny and receiving stolen property for taking $200 from James Shea. Catherine appeared in court, elegantly dressed in black silk. Edith, pale and suffering from consumption, was dressed in black and walking with a stout cane. She appeared extremely delicate. Catherine admitted that she took the wallet and gave it to Edith. Edith said that Albert was last seen with it. Albert denies having seen it at all, although he later admitted he had had the money and hid it in the toilet tank. He later retrieved it from the tank and threw it across the fence. Edith claimed that Albert counted the money in front of her and offered her $100 to keep her mouth shut.
Although Catherine and Albert both had records with the police, Catherine was given immunity for being a government witness and was sentenced to probation only. Albert was convicted and sentenced to the house of correction for a year. Edith was also convicted and sentenced to the reformatory prison for women for a year.
With no prior criminal history Edith could have expected to be sentenced to probation. She was suffering at that time from consumption and needed hospital treatment. The judge determined that since her mother had at one time run a “disorderly house”[2] it was deemed that her home environment was not the best. She was sent to the women’s prison in Sherborn on the advice of probation officer, in hopes that she would receive better care in the prison hospital there.
On August 24, a petition for pardon was presented to Governor Crane, as Edith was dying in the prison hospital at Sherborn. The prison chaplain stated that she was very low and would not recover. Governor Crane was out of town at that time and was not expected to return until August 27.
Edith’s mother was quoted as saying “Two I have lost already; they died in my arms. Edie is all I have left, and to think that she may die in prison!” It appears that Mrs. Shaw must have forgotten my great grandmother, alive and married with 3 children in Charlestown![3]
Although there is no record of her release, Edith did die at home at 5 Ransom Court off Cotting Street in the West End of Boston, on June 5, 1902, age 19 years, 9 months and 11 days. Her funeral was held on June 7 at St. Joseph’s Church and she is buried at Calvary Cemetery.
Resources:
Boston Evening Record, August 13, 1901
The Boston Globe August 14, 1901
Boston Journal Thursday August 15 1901 page 8
The Boston Globe - Thursday, August 15, 1901, page 2
The Boston Traveler, August 23, 1901, page 1 and 2
The Boston Post August 24, 1901
Boston Traveler, August 24, 1901
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