Here’s the first in a trio of court cases that were reported on the front page of the June 15, 1894 issue of the Chicago Daily News,
“ZELLA’S CASE IN COURT.
Justice Everett Hears About the Trunk Marshall Field & Co. Seized.
Zella Nicholaus, that famous Wabash woman who has caused so much trouble for Merchant Nicholaus and many others, will appear before Judge Everett late this afternoon as defendant in an attachment suit brought by Marshall Field & Co.
She was represented by Attorney Fred Trude and Frank R. Margetts appeared for Marshall Field & Co. A crowd of curious men and women crowded around the courtroom door to see the notorious defendant.
Some days ago, it will be remembered, a cruel constable-one Eicke by name-seized Zella’s trunk, containing her dainty linens and costumes, and announced his intention of keeping it until a bill of $200, which Zella owed Marshall Field & Co. for material to make the aforesaid costumes, was satisfied. This all happened at the Normandie hotel at 3 o’clock in the morning, just as Zella and somebody else were about to leave town on an early morning train.”
where2look4ancestors 
My grandmother worked there :).
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Really? That’s neat!
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She was the head fitter of the 28 shop in Marshall Field’s. Amazingly talented.
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What fun! Head fitter, as in hats? My 2nd great-grandmother was a milliner too! Small world, isn’t it?
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No, head fitter as in the tailor department. They are the ones who fitted clothing to the fancy ladies who shopped in the 28 shop. Not mere hemming ;). She was also asked to design and make them clothing and draperies, etc.
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Wow – she must have been very talented!
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She definitely was!
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