The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-06-24
The ROYAL PREYENDER.
The Female Brokers at the Tombs-
ssPrincess Editha' Declared TO be
Nad-Mrs. Woodruff Ac-
quilted Of Larceny.


and by miscellaneous crowd Of spectators. Tne
cause OF tins gathering the trial OF MIS- Victoria
O. Woodruff, Of the firm OF Woodruff Claim, female
brokers' Wall street. the charge OF grand larceny
A. young lady claiming to be the daughter OF tue
celebrated Lola Montez charged Mrs. woodruff win
having retained yunlawfully in her possession pro-
perry and cash 10 the value OF $4,000
Within the railing where lawyers generai'y con-
Sregate was bevy OF ladies, including Mrs WOOD
npn thu defendant (yno sat by the side of her coun
sen Mrs s F. Norton and Mme Matilda Heron
nhe acrress,. Several editors OF newspapers and
gentlemen connected with the press were also III
the vicinity OF the ladies and appeared 10 ta~e q
very warm interest in the proceedings.
owing TO the unexpected withdrawal OF Mr.. w. +.
Howe from the prosecution there was q tameness
about the proceedings that was quite Disappointing
70 those who had anticipated
SPICY AND SENSATIONAL REVELATIONS.
The theory OF the Defence and it evidently had the
sympathy or the Court was that the Princess was
AFFLICTED with mental and moral disease that pre-
vented her from drawing a line between fiction and
fact or in other words, that she was afflicted with
an aptitude that become chronic for telling lies.
1 About two O'Clock the "Prlncessr entered the
court unattended and not in royal garb, but In the
very unpretending tire OF lazy who had "nothing
10 weatn Her dress was concealed by large
brown waterproof CLOAK and on her head was
sailors straw hat, with broad black ribbon Tor
hand, Her hair was cut short, after the
fashion OF schooboys, and but for the
Aear feminine regularity OF her feature, and the
q ,reme softness OF her skin she might, as she sat
an the witness chair, lhave been mistaken for one
M Gle masculine gender.
Lar evidence was given very straIghtforwarlly in
a d ear voice, with pleasant ring in 1t. II she IL
SYm Gated her madness had enough method In it TO
defy the
q, l,RcrHNa QUESTIONS OF JUSTICE BOWLING
ana th not very asuute cross examination Of Mrs.
Woodh vils counsel. Now and then she showed a
woman y faculty for spiieful annoyance by putting
few tie asng innaendoes into her answers, as when
abe ree red quite unnecessarily to Mr.. Vanderbilt
supplylng "yictoria' with money, and to her jour-
neg TO washington for the purpose OF taking stock OF
Mrs Woodhurs chances OF occupying the White
House ~ some distant day.
Among the witnesses for the defence, the most
distinguished was Ma dame Matilda ieronstoepel,
the actress This lady gave evidence as to the ante
cedeus Of the "Prlncess," with which she was per,
eonaly acquainted. III sfyle OF elocuton thatsued
the action to the words anu gave
QUITE A TINGE OF ROMANCE
TO very pyN,aic piece OF business. Madame had
evidently made up her mind about "the Princess
and6t was not favorable to the royal pretenders
verAlty.
read the following letter from Mr. W. F. Howe:-
COURT or GENERAL SESSIONS, June %, 1870
Tothe Hon. JOSEPH BOWLING
r Princess Editha Gilbert Montez vs. Victoria c. woodruff
nasnuc verify believe that excessive study and
don have affected the mental condition OF the Princess,
YOU permit respectfully to decline to appear
appeal 10 your Hopos OF chivary justice
ousn the interests Of the Princess 30 you SIR feeling that
whist Honor too democratic 70 regard The 'e
will another Instance OF your universally recognized
Yours. very faithfully -
The stenographer of the court, Mr.. yeitch, was
then instructed to read the complaint to Mrs. Wood
hull, who, while the very grave charge was read
over looked quite cool, she famed herself with
one OF the new Japan street fans and attired also
as she was with a neatly made brown Holland
duster over black silk dress.
The complaint set forth that "the Princess de-
nyered two solitaire diamond set rings valued at
81. Zoo and 81 600 in currency to Mrs. Woodhull on
depost on the 28h OF May, and that in reply 10
repeated applications. Mrs. woodruff refused W re-
THE PRINCESS ON THE STAND
The complainant said:-My name is Edith Gilbert
the signature attached Is NINE: The witness was
then cross-examlned by Mrs. Woodhull's counsel,
mr. ~ a in r TO Ms @
resided In New York since last July; don't remem-
her exactly the date; my name Is Montez,
lessor solomon, late Of Prussia, but am not his
daughter; the diamonds were placed In my desk by
West seventeenth street; first received them about
the I'd OF September 1869; delivered them to Mrs.
woodruff on or about the Goth OF May, wnen was
TENNESSEE CLAFLIN, THAT IS HER NAME,
was present; she sold one Of the rings for s2,oOo
Foster, ' corner Of Cranberry and HICKS streets,
Brooklyn, and MI. Mcfarland told me
IN MRS woodruff met was and induced ,r %
called at her ofce in Broad street; had the ring
on and took it or and showed 1t to her; she said
said ion, vel, Victoria; give me q receipt for it,''
and she d 6 sne ev wGqS s nn 4
seen those diamonds; mrs. Woodruff told me
that Mr.. Vanderbilt gave her $1,000 for the ring;
was to pay the expenses and receive the receipts;
she told me he mad pala the olls as the Me-
dollars dollars for Subway Hail; but 1 understand
that has not, been paid; the rings were
given 70 me BY Mr. Thomas my intention ITO was to
woodruff was the woman she represented herself to
be; she lent me . dress ana gave her receipt
for 1t; she urged me to do something by which
COULD MAKE MONEY;
i told her she had begun cairvoyant, but that
had no such gift, no such foresight; she then told
for her-I scorned TO do that; was to ascertain
what they thought about her and what they con.
with me three hundred copies OF Woodruff
4 CLAIMS weesly; thought it would not
gentlemen suggested that should telegraph for her
q telegram was received from Colonel Blood, saying
and arrived on Monday morning, in time for the de-
coration OF the graves at Washington; l returned
home on Monday evening, with Minister French, in
time for my lecture.
Mr.. Joseph We're, corner OF Irving place and FIJI
teenth street. and proprietor OF Belvedere House,
gave evidence as TO the complainant staying at his
house the 21st of February to the 2lst Of March
she entered her name as Blanche Solomon; she dit
not pay her board; the first week was paid by Mr.
John Hecker; the remaining weeks have not beer
pad; she had no baggage
Matilda Heron Stoepel-T reside at present at No
a. Clinton street; am actress; know the person
who makes this complaint; have known her abou
foW months; her name, she said, was Claudia
DVhvene; she was in the same house in which
lived; she told me that she had been turned out 0
her mothers house in New Orleans; she hat
walked great part OF the way from there here
she had sold her watch for forty dollars ON the road
the clothing she had on at my house was In mos
deplofable condition. cine witness described O
length as ilustranye Of the obstinacy o
oonpainant's character, and also OF he
capacity for lying, successful endea
1.-The Princcssv had made to attent
the theatrical periormances) 1 advise,
her 10 get situation as under-governess, but
found her too ignorant; she told me she had BEEF
a Nauf ria. a