Mexico weekly ledger., 1876-11-16
A QUEEN OF CONFIDENCE.
The Willing Victims OF a Beyyftchfne
fteauty-Her Capture i'm Philadelphia
and Exposure i'm Jersey City,
From the New York SUM-

Mrs. Mary A. Gibson, the charming
widow who beguiled several of jersey
Clty's leading politicians, occupied a
room in the Gregory Street police sta
ton yesterday. Her victims, who had
read OF her capture, made an early
visit. Her dark eyes sparkled as she
glanced at each crest-fallen and duped
victim. She is, perhaps, thirty:six
years of age, well formed, and having
the brightest of dark eyes, and pleasing,
amiable features. Diamonds sparkle
on her fingers and in her ears, and she
wears costly lace and velvet.
Among the visitors was Isaac Par
menter, a halter of Newark Avenue.
She walked into his store about three
years ago bearing a letter from an in
innate friend named BLOW in Philadel-
phia. "She is a woman of great
wealth." wrote BLOW. whatever ad-
vice or aid you give her will be appre-
GATED" In bewitching tones she told
Mr. Parmenter of her vast real estate
on the Boulevard, New York; how the
property had been sold through neglect.
and only $3.50 vas required to release
it from the Sheriff's hands. Would Mr..
Parmenter lend her the money, and
save her a journey to Philadelphia? He
photographed to his friend. The reply
was, "She is o. K; loan her the
money"
Then followed the story of the estate
in Germany and the Baden-Baden in
h%eritance. She said that money was
needed to prosecute her claims, and the
willing Parmenter lent her 800 more,
and, on repeated assurances of his
friend, the sum was swelled to $500.
Then she disappeared, and Parmenter
went to Philadelphia to seek his friend
and the whereabouts of his fair creditor.
There he found that she was a conf
dence woman.
Last summer she appeared at the
Schutzen Park, Union Hill, gorgeous in
silk and velvet. She expended money
lavishly, and was known as the erich
widow from Philadelphia" Among
those successful in forming her ac-
quaintance was Justice Frederick T.
Farrier, a Republican politician of Jer-
sey City. She confidentially told him
her name was Mary Hanson, that she
was a widow of Philadelphia, and lev
ing on her money. Her uncle, the Rev.
Francis Xavier Woolf, of Baden-Baden,
died recently, and had b~equeathed her
an estate valued at $1,000 The laws
of Germany had prevented her from
realizing the amount, and of course
money was needed to carry it through
the courts. AS a Justice profound in
the law he could tell her what to do,
and she sought his counsel on
more than one occasion. The
Justice was charmed with her Sc
ciety, and at once introduced her to
his home. She was also a welcome
guest at the house of Horace Far.
rier, the Justices brother, and the Far
riers were envied in the acquaintance
ship of the millionaire widow. Not a
shadow of suspicion was cast on her
actions. She vas a devout Christian,
and appeared to be shocked at the lev
ity of many with whom she became &C
quainted. She departed for Philadel-
phla after eXacting a promise from her
friends to visit her and the great Ex-
hibition. They went. All branches of
the Farrier family, including the JUS
tice, his brothers Horace and William,
and his friends, Samuel A. Garrettson
and ex-Freeholder John Garrettson.
They were entertained royalty at Mrs.
tlo > hoOcCf S;CcO SatLCl III otlCFlS
where Christian notices, elegantly
worked, were pendant from the walls,
and horses and carriages rolled the Wis
itors to the Exhibition grounds. Then
she returned, and partook again of the
hospitality of the Farriers. She com
planned of the laws delay in transfer
ring the estate in Germany, and found
willing ears to her story. She began to
receive telegraphic dispatches from
Cardinal McCloskey and Archbishop
Wood, who had interested themselves
in her case, and these kilograms she
showed to her friends. OF Horace Far
rier she borrowed S1,400, giving him a
security lien on her estate sealed in a
MISUNDERSTANDING envelope which
was not to be opened without her per-
mission. From Samuel ID. Garrettson
she procured $1,000, from William
Hughes 500, and from various other
residents and politicians sums ranging
from S59 to 5000. She introduced d
pretty young lady to William Farrier,
to whom report says young Farrier was
betrothed, and to whom was to be given
a wedding gift of $4,000, and a hand
somely furnished house.
On Thursday Mr.. Parmenter received
a letter from Philadelphia saying that
Mrs. Hanson, alias Gibson, was visiting
Mr.. Farrier's residence in Jersey City.
He quietly communicated with Police
Inspector Murphy, and it was arranged
that Mr.. Parmenter should see the
woman. He identified her at once, and
on the same day she started suddenly
for Philadelphia. MIR. Parmenter COM
municated his discovery to Justice
Reese and thence to the Farrier family.
1t fell like a ~thunderbolt. Her arrest
was at once determined on, and In
spector Murphy captured her in her
luxurious apartments in Philadelphia.
Her husband, Henry Gibson, who is
said to be an expert in confidence oper-
atoms, was with her. The police yes
terday opened the envelope supposed to
contain the necessary papers to prove
her claim to the properly in Germany,
and found that it contained two sheets