National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-10-07
A REMARKABLE CAREER.
4 STRANGE Tale OF EFfEHIHETE CRIME
A WlHlA DESERTED BY HER NOMINAL HUSBAND
and NEANLY ROBBED By HIS FRIENDS
She Appears Before a Legislative Committee
The Story OF Her Checquered Life
Washington Lobbyists, Seal
Locks and Bilge Pumps.

When the committee on crime assembled
Tuesday MI Townsend asked for an attachment
for James @. Kelso. The ex-superintendent Of
police subsequently, appeared, and Mr.. Townsend
withdrew his request
Mrs. Carlotta Frances Roddy was the first
witness. She was sttired In black, and wore
light felt hat and feather. She testified:
1 am the wife Of General Roddy, and was rob-
bed in 1872 in going from New York to chicago
part for Europe, Introduced me to F. W. Brooks,
with whom he had maintained business relations:
During the months OF October and November l
where talked with him about the automatic
ship ventilator and bilge pump, which is In use
on most of the vessels Of the United States and
ether navles. Brooks
REPEATEDLY SPOKE TO NE ABOUT MY SELMA
and Gulf railroad bonds, and said that he thought
IL was wrong in Mr.. Roddy to withhold from me
the control Of my interest In that railroad. de-
having full eontidence il Mr.. ROddy. Mr. Roddy
not having returned from Europe as soon as e1-
pected, LEFT my boarding house for the Grand
Central hotel There was introduced by clerk
Of Mr.. Roddy's firm to George A. Everett, whom
he to be an old guest OF the house and
an old friend Of Mr.. Roddy. Everett had great
mined to consult an old gentleman in Alabama
about my affairs. / accidentally mentioned to an
other person IN the bearing o. Everett the Aia,
trip to Alabama, saying that the bondswere worth
thirty cents on the dollar, he. ! said had not
nish me railroad passes by the way Of Chicago
which was six hours longer than the other route.
He added that he was going TO Chicago TO meet
left for Chicago Sunday evening, December q,
1872, four months subsequent to Mr.. Roddy's de-
parture. In the carriage which conveyed Us to
Seal Lock Company, which has gained considers
BILE notoriety through its connection with the
Treasury Department. At Niagara we were de-
tainad tina and EvaTAtt showed n
telegram from Brooks instructing him to step at
Detroit and see man named Hays, who owed the
Seal Lock Company $4,000.
THE ROBBERY.
at Detroit the conductor said that the ears
would be detained from 1 o'clock to 5. Everett
LEFT the cars-to see Hayes, he said-and returned
about O'Clock, having in the meantime robbed
day, Christmas, the 25th, the conductor said I
would be detained until evening. Mr.. Everett
was anxious for me to 60 to his family, and was
for time, remaining In the baggage car, stand
ing BY my trunk. insisted on going to the Ire
mont hotel, taking my trunk; Everett accom- accom-
ride out, though It was an unpleasant day, and
mentioned various methods Of passing the hours
20 the and
been robbed. The trunk lock had been broken
ao6 %ay . ia ana a
mer. From the trunk had been taken various
papers, including one representing my interest to
bonds, also papers representing my interest In
the Automatic Ship Ventilator, and marriage
agreement, or certificate Of my marriage to Nj.
A paper was read, signed By p: d. Rsddy, and
agreeing to deliver within certain date $50 600 In
Selma and Gulf second mortgage bonds.
Mrs. Roddy continued: Mr.. Everett did not
come to escort me 70 the train, and the next day
went out to zee how to arrest q thief 1 did not
then know what district attorney was. was
lor the clerk said that Everett had been waiting
for me, and received 9 letter from him saying
that my papers were in the handsof friends in
New York.
had Everett arrested that night a. his resi-
dence and taken to Jail. He acknowledged his
guilt, and promised to deliver up the papers on
promise, he referred the detective to his counsel
He was committed in default of $751; 900 bail which
some weeks after was reduced to $500 Detect
i've Tyrrel pressed the Investigate first at De-
troit, then at New York. When arrived In New
York, on January 4, Tyrrel told me that he had
received a telegram from Chief Washburne, Of
Kelso and get the papers. There had been found
on Everett, when arrested, receipt from the
United states Express Company for papers sent
Broadway, New York. Brooks was arrested here
and the papers found In his possession. In my
eassInsss p 70 get the papers went to District
ling. Justice Bowling granted warrant for the
arrest Of Brooks, who was locked up. Mr.. Phelps,
however, said that he understood my case per-
should not 90 before Bowling; that Tyrrel and
should 90 before the grand jury and have Brooks
and virtually committed in the State of New
York. My failure TO appear before the police
justice was taken advantage Of BY ex-Judge Gar
a biscEmaiier. On the oh Of January, ISIS, Ev
erett and Brooks were indicted for larceny IN re-
ceiying stolen goods. ! received letter from
bear the expense Of bringing Everett from CHI
eago, and suggesting that furnish the money
needed gave slSo and aiterward 100 more.
held in IS 900 bail. These indictments were pend
ing for eighteen months, and received over one
hundred letters in regard to them from the Dis
trict Attorney. b. ..-fsusF
TIE LETTERS.
Mr.. Townsend read several Of the letters writ
ten at various periods during the eighteen months.
In the first letters Mr.. Phelps addressed the fair
complainant as gear MIS- SIS sn t
was modified to "Miss Shotvell' and MADAME"
q Mr.. Townsend also read the deposition Of De-
S5y os
On the arrival OF the train at Detroit, when Ever
EFT LEFT the cars for the pretended purpose Of col
Cas- hotel, taking with him Miss ShotWeIi's
trunk. At the hotel he pretended TO have lost
the key of the trunk, and borrowed hammer.
with which he broke It oper. Then he distracted
the papers, replaced the canvas covering aud took
" e trunk back to the cars
krlss Shotwell continued her testimony. She
said:
After the indictments were found several over
lures for settlement were made, and wherever
she went she was followed by ISLANDERS set ahoat by
the defendants One Of these ISLANDERS was that
she was identical with woman known as looy-
ist and mistress Of Brooks, named Minnie Ben
ton. At the end Of eighteen months being dss-
marriage agreement, to support from Roddy, she
obtained a warrant Tor his arrest for abandoning
rested rest and bsiisd. rev weeks afterwards she
that she " as his vile. The witness atdet:
ARRESTED.
Captain Byrnes and another otic,r arrested me
on the nth of June. Byrnes said the charge was
and an attempt to ii lcsmail Mr.. RodIy. Byrne5
was very brutal In his manner. He took all my
papers, and spoke threatenlngly when asked for
Them. i was taken before Justice Morgan, and l
said, This is absurd. Mr.. Phelps win not allow
it." John l. Davenport was there, and said
" You are indicted for perjury" was not allowed
10 soy any thing. My bail was fixed at 2 OO), and
/ was kept in the police prison from Thursday
night until Saturday morning. got nothing but
two cups of tea during that time; Friends who
but they went to Superintendent Mstsell and
found cut that / must be there. But before they
could reach me they had taken me IN the BIaeS
promised me counsel. wrote several times to
Mr. Phelps, asking for q trial. After about six
weeks was Drought 10 trldl IN INC 0ouordl 81
sions. Judge Fullerton, counsel for the men who
mad robbed me- appeared in behalf Of the people
to prosecute me. Mr.. Algernon S. Sullivan and
Mr. Beall defended me. After four days trial
was acquitted Then was taken back to the
Tonbs and kept ten days, and then the indict
ment for perjury was mol. pressed and l was re-
leased. Being unwell, i was escorted TO my
mothers house. in New Jersey, by the warden Of
the prisoD. After staying there month re-
turned and learned from Warden Quinn that the
indictments against Everett ard Brooks had been
mol pressed. / got few of my letters back, but
never get back the Roddy and Phelps letters.
have never been q lobbyist IN Washington, nor
have ever blackmailed any one.
ENDORSED By JUDGE NELSON.
Mr.. Townsend read letter from Judge Neil
son. Of Brook lyn, describing Mrs. Roddy as q wo-
man sin character, integrity, and every other re-
spect worthy OF the utmost respect and conf
He also read the following letter from Gen.
MY own DARLING WIFE: will be on hind
INSTANTLY No delay shall arise to thwart your
wishes Your loving husband, sc.
Miss Shotvell added:
Before / met Roddy had 81, 500 cash and real
property worth q, 900 In New Jersey.
was offered 5000 to withdraw my charges
against Everett and Brooks, and Mr.. Russell, Of
the district attorneys ONCE, advised me to accept
the money and abandon the prosecution. I de-
clined to do so, and thereafter Russell vilihed
me.
Inever lived In New York until 1867. / came
i hare TO study music. NV mother lives at Hack