The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-20

Arrest Of Two Women for Defraud-
ing Shopkeepers.
How the Work Was Planned and Executed
shadowing the 0perators-Ths Furnished
Room Dodge-Prepared for Escape In
Mems Clothes-The Vlctimised Firms.

TWO women, named Eva ST. valerie, aias lie sage,
and Ltbbie Davis were arrested on Sunday evening
by Detectives Woodbridge ana Lilly. These women
have been gong around among the different stores
IN the city for the past three months buying goods.
ordering them to De sent certain residence and,
when the property was delivered there. disappear
ing with 1t. They were usually assisted by o man,
who Is not yet however. in the hands Of the
police although there Is little doubt that he soon
viii be- as he Is known. This man generally laid the
plan OF
THE INTENDED swNDLE,
and the women carried out the details. From one
OF the morning papers he would select house that
advertised furnished rooms, and going to the place
In the course OF the day, he would hire rooms for
two ladies, and then inform them OF the locality OF
their new residence The next thing to settle would
be the store that should furnish the material,
and in the course OF q stroll through the principal
tn oroughfares this was decided upon. As soon as
everything was In order the ladies, or sometimes
only one, went into the store and purchased o
OF goods, invariably laces or such light,
valuable materials as could be easily disposed OF,
and gave directions to the person from whom the
purchase was made to send them TO
the house. giving the address. When the
porter Of the establishment where the
goods were bought, went to the house with the
articles, OF the ladies would receive him In the
was showing the merchandise to her sister or hus-
band, and
THEN TAKING THE GOODS
from the unsuspecting messenger the ladies would
disappear from the house with the booty and leave
the porter airing his expectations at the stove In
the parlOr. 1t was only when the amounts Of
the purchases were trifing that both the
women engaged In 1t; but when they intended to 60
largely into the business remained at the house
and the other went to the store where the purchases
were to be made. For months past these parties
have been carrying on this trade In the city, but
Mrs. ST. Valerie is an old hand and has been operat-
ing for years in almost all the principal cities In
the country. In Boston, Philadelphia, Cincinnati
ana Chicago she is well known, and has
no doubt appropriated q large quantity Of
property in those places. The workings Of the trio
In New York first became known to the police here
through the medium OF the merchants and shop
keepers who had suffered from the visits Of St.
Valerie Co. Day after day for some time past
gentlemen have been calling upon Captain Irving,
AT THE DETECTIVE OFFICE,
complaining Of their losses and soliciting the
assistance OF the police in bringing the thieves
to justice and saving other people. Captain.
detailed two officers to look after the movements Of
the swnders, but they turned out TO be too watch
full and clever TO provoke an easy detection. Com
plants stu poured IN upon tne police lor the women
afdOr, and superintendent KelsO determined to put
q stop to the affar. Detectives Woodbridge ana
McCOrd were then commissioned to look after the
case, and Ior weeks they followed the footsteps
Of the parties all over the city, without
The detectives mad exact descriptions OF the women
and were In every way prepared to pounce upon
emen ms see%ed to nave an IDEA thai Somebody was
after them, and they kept out of the way most
sectua for long time c on Tnurssa last ow
and the officers were not slow To take advantage OF
1t. ON that afternoon the detectives were walk
ladies' when they most opportunity met them on the
west SIDE OF the street, near Tenth street. The on
GERS followed the pr0menaders and continued TO
keep them in view until the ladies went to their
home. THIS was exactly
WHAT THE POLICE WANTED,
and one Of them, Mr.. McCOrd, was lett to watch the
place. while his companion, Mr.. woodbridge, went
away to make preparations for the reception or the
ladies' at Police Headquarters Detective
McC0rd renamed at his post OF observation
until relieved by woodbridge. and then they alter
they went to the house. The officers went up the
steps OF the mansion No. $50 West Twenty-second
door by the landIady, Mrs. Fash, whom they asked
II she had any furnished rooms to let. The lady, In
nervous, suspicious manner, answered that she
had, and at that moment the youngest OF the ladies
put her head ncautiOusly out at her door, and De-
tective Woodbridge whispered to his companion,
"THATs ONE OF OUR WOMEN
Detective McCord Immediately stepped into the
room and put the young lady, LiDDle Davis. under
arrest woodbridge turned to the andlady and asked
where the other woman was, but the mistress Of
the mansion pretended to have no knowledge Of
her. When asked VINO lived on the TOP neor the
ton OF the ledger almost the reverse OF what was
the ruth. The ollicer asked to be shown
We're locked and no Keys could be found to open
the doors. Upon the officers insisting, however,
ana when the detective went into the apartment he
found 1t In u state OF
Dresses shawis and NANTES were flung about In
the most admirable disorder and Mr.. Wool.
bridge found the very mantle ana cap that
% Gssa
the n an4 h for Of hs
e IN Of the
ment compelled to be satisfied with the. one priS-
Heaaquarter sic leaving Mr. HcGord behind d. with i
structions After safely securing the person OF Miss
dwelling Of Mrs. FASH, ana remained there for S
some time to watch for something 10
turn up. He had had no. been waiting long before
bavia. The detective interviewed him instead, and
q Kind Of mutual assistance compact was entered
FORCED INTO THIS POSITION
by Mrs. Fash, who he knew was deceving him,
but in what way was not Just then apparent. De-
who had offered him assistance, he LETT
M On MccS arriving SsA& the central Once no Mss
Davis was permitted an interview with her friend.
The result OF THIS was mat the young man told the
police ne thought he could assist them In arrestng
Mrs. st. Valerie. Detective Woodbridge then sent
Detective Lilly with the young man to Mrs. Fasn's,
and after looking about that place o short time
and not finding the lady, the young man
took the Officer to Mrs. Smiths, at 94
while the young man went in, ana In short time
he came out again, accompanied by Mrs. St. Valerie,
dressed as servant girl, with mood drawn closely
over her face. The young man and the lady
GOT INTO SIXTH AVENUE CAR,
and were soon followed by the detective Upon
sign from the young man Mr. Lilly raised the lady's
hood, with her permission, and then arrested her.
When brought TO Police Headquarters she was
locked up with Miss Davis, ana the pair spent sun
day night together. While Detective Lilly was wait
ing at Mrs. Fash's In the hope that st. Valerie
would put In an appearance the following letter
came TO the house,
Mrs. ST. vALERIg-If II would be agreeable TO you to
work trick tomorrow will have everything in
The about the being hunting
true. II should know It. hope you will to
this request before you leave town. 4. M
This letter the detective took and opened, and the
writer Is undoubtedly the man the police are so