The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-10-20
Gbe Ginres, New BloOnrfeIO, l1a,
A singular Case--A Woman as Sharper.

A Singular Case---A Woman rs a Sharper.
Among the recent pardons granted by
Gov. Hartranft, was that of German
named David G. Sill, who was swindled by
a woman out of over $500 in money and
sentenced to prison for one year on false
charge of robbery. The German, who is
native Of Russia, says that last winter he
determined to emigrate to this country,
having heard of it being such good place
to obtain work On the 1st or Cd of Feb
ruary last he took tho steamer at Bremen
for New York. On board the ship he met
young woman, apparently not over twen-
ty years of age. The young woman be-
came very friendly with him and seemed
to make herself interested somewhat in his
welfare. She asked him where he was
bound for. He replied, "New York. -
She then stated that she was married
woman and had a husband living in st.
Louis, as we'll as a brother that if he
would go along with her to st. Louis she
could get him employment at her brothers.
He thought this good luck, as he did not
know where to lay his foot or turn his
hand when he would get into New York,
and he gladly accepted the offer. When
they arrived at Castle Garden he had his
gold money changed into greenbacks. He
had 1871 in gold, and after getting his
money changed and paying his fare to St.
Louis he had 1891 in greenbacks. He and
the woman took the cars for st. Louis, GO
ing by way of Meadville, Pa. On the way
to Meadville the woman stated that they
would have to remain over there from ten
o'clock at night until seven o'clock in
the morning in order to make the connec-
tion of trains. At the first station before
they reached Meadville, Sill got out to get
cup of coffee, leaving the young woman
sitting in a seat apparently asleep. Just as
he entered the car again the woman jump
ed up, and fumbling about her clothes
halloed she was robbed, calling the con-
duotor with the same breath, and pointing
to him (Sill) said that's the man that rob-
bed me-" She said that she had been rob-
bed of 1888 in bank notes and 5000
check. Afterwards, however, she denied
the check part. AS soon as the train stop
ped at Meadvile, the woman had police
man called in and had Sill arrested. He
was taken to the lock up, and upon being
searched 1897 were found upon him. The
circumstantial evidence Of robbery was, of
course, very strong and Sill was held for
trial. 1t at first dumbfounded the prisoner
-he had placed SO much confidence in the
woman--and for her thus to act toward
him he couldn't understand. He at length
concluded, however, that it was "set up
job" to rob him. He remembered of
having counted his money in the presence
Of the woman, and she therefore could
guess pretty nearly what amount he had.
Knowing nearly the sum he had, she had
taken this means of robbing him of it, by
falsely alleging that she had been robbed
herself, having him arrested for 1t, and
upon his conviction, of course, she would
get the amount she claimed. She worked
her case well and got what she wanted.-
Sill was tried, convicted and sentenced to
one year in the penitentiary. The amount
she swore she had been robbed of ($399) was
then paid over TO her out Of Sill's money
found upon his person, and the remainder
was held by the county. The woman then
left Meadville, saying she was going to st.
Louis, but no one knows where. On the
Goth of April, Sill was taken to the peni-
tentiary in Allegheny and remained there
until his pardon arrived ON Tuesday morn
ing. .n