Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-03-12

NIxsD CASE N THE PoLIcs COURT.
raiened in the Police Court Tuesday on the
charge OF obtaining $50 from Martha j. Alex
ander, colored woman, by fraud.
srArKMRNr OF MARTHA.
Martha testified that she had been in the en-
Ploy ment OF Mrs. Fogg, an invalid lady and
friend Of defendants, A. nurse, where she re-
NAMED until the time OF Mrs. F.'s death, which
occurred in December last; that after the death
OF her employer, and after she (witness) had re-
turned to her own house. defendants accused
money from Mrs. Fogg. They went to her
house, where they accused her Of it; broke into
the room and ransacked IL; went through
the pretence a that the articles ass e belonged
TO Mrs. Fogg. They carried away dresses,
shawls. linen, lace, &c, &C., her own property,
and valuable shawl which she had retained
as q pledge for q loan Of IS to friend, al
together over one hundred dollars worth,
besides Mr.. Rice took her handbook from her
trunk and tried to get her to sign an order tor
him TO draw her money, $50, from the Freed
mems Bank. accusing her OF stealing the money
from Mrs. Fogg, and on her refusing TO sign the
order Mr.. Rice wrote the order, signed her
name TO IL, took the handbook away with the
articles, and afterwards drew her money from
the bank. Witness went to the bank two weeks
afterwards and found her money. On cross-ex.
animation che testified that her room and trunk
were broken open and searched without her
consent, under her protest. and without any
process of law.
Mr.. Fleetwood, of the Freedman's Bank, tes-
book, in which was written the order purport-
ing to have been signed by Martha authorizing
VT. Rice, as executor of Mrs. FOgg, TO draw
Ma-tha's money. The money vas paid tn him
as such. He exhibited the receipt for the money =,
signed by j. VI. Rice.
The teller in the same bank testified that Mr.
Rice presented the bapk-bOok and order to him
for the money, and he at first refused 70 pay it
until satisfied that il was ali right. Mr.. Rice
went away, and soon returne with a note fro N
Mr.. j. A. Graham. of the Treasury ID apartment,
or VIII "a mai
him the money.
THE OTHER SIDE.
Here Mr.. Rice stated to the court that Mrs.
FOgg died in December, and by her will he was
made her executor, in which capacity he was
now acting. Before Mrs Fogg's death and dur
ing her illness she had got Mrs. Steiner to settle
Martha Alexander, and which were extrsor.
binary in amount. Many articles were also
missing. AS executor he felt in duty bound to
been made to the detectives, who, however, did
nothing, and he next applied to the Police
Court for search warrant, which request was
denied on the ground that there was not suffi
cient evidence OF larceny. He then, in CON-
pany with Mrs. Sterner, went to Martba's
house and accused her of taking the articles,
which she denied, protesting her innocence,
% so without the presence OF an officer, but
Martha, in some alarm, refused TO send for one,
and begged him not TO do so, but to search
themselves. They did search, and found all
the missing goods, consisting of costly clothing,
all packed up In an extra mattrass on Martha's
bed. AS to the bank book, that was found in
Martha's trunk; she took all the things out II
self: the order was written by him and read over
10 M artha, and she affixed her mark to it will
Ilngly, to compensate in part for the money she
had stolen from Mrs. FOgg. Here Mr. Rice ex-
hiblted an agreement drawn up by Miss Car
peDter, friend of Mrs. Sternum, and signed
by martha, wherein she acknow hedges to taking
articles and money from Mrs. Fogg, and agrees
TO let Mrs. Sternum hold certain articles of
hers until satisfaction was made, otherwise she
(Martha) would be liable TO arrest and punish
ment.
Here Mr.. Gloss prosecuting attorney sub
mitted that this was a direct attempt to COM
pound felony, and that defendants should be
held for it.
The court overruled this request.
Mrs. Sterner here made a statement corrob-
orstive of that made by Mr. Rice She stated
that she was present when Mr.. Rice wrote the
order, and heard Martha give her consent to his
drawing the money. Witness also recognized
her own signature to the order In the bank
book as witness.
DIR. Duncanson testified to attending Mrs
Fogg during her illness, and that about one
month prior to her death Mrs. Fogg had told
nlm that she had been robbed of money and ar
ucles, and was quite excited about it.
NEW TURN TO THE CASH.
Here the judge said ii was q very remarkable
case. He proceeded to review the testimony
and dismissed the defendants.
Martha was thereupon held on the charge of
larceny and perjury, and committed for hear
ing in default of $500 bail.
The tables were turned in the Police COnrt
yesterday, when Martha Alexander was charged
with grand larceny of ladies clothing valued at
$50, belonging to the estate of Isabella FOgp
deceased. After hearing the evidence, Judge
hOn9s at 500, in default OF which Martha was
Committed.