The Republican journal., 1876-11-09
A Clever Confidence Woman

NEW YoR&, Nov ). Not = little ex-
| element has been created in Jersey City
| by the arrest of Mrs. Mary A. Gibson. on
Il charge Of carrying on extensive CON
Gdencc operations Her victims, upon
learning OF her capture, made IN early
visit to the police station where she was
lodged Her dark eyes sparkled as she
glanced al each crestlallen and duped
victim. She is, perhaps, Sc years Of age,
handsome, well formed, and having the
brightest OF dark eyes, and pleasing ami
able features Diamonds sparkled on her
fingers and III her ears, and she wears
costly lace and velvet. Two years ago
she presented herself 1T the hat establish
mcnt Of Isaac i'armcnter, bearing from n
friend of Mr., parmentor in Philadelphia a
letter of Introduction. The letter explain
ed that she was largely interested in pro-
perry in New York, and desired his aid
and advice in adjusting affairs connected
with it, She told Nh Parmentcr that she
had learned from New York city officials
that some lots had been sold for taxes.
and $50 was needed to release them
She had @lO0 and Mr. Parmenter lent
llef the ftinaI!HUl.
Last summer she appeared at the Schnt-
zen Park. Union Hill, gorgeous in silk
and velvet. She expended money lavish
ly, and was known as the rich widow
from Philadelphia Among those sue
cesstul in forming her acquaintance was
Justice Farrier of Jersey City She con
fidentially told him her name was Mary
Hanson, that she was a widow of Phila-
delphia, and living Oh her money. Her
uncle, the Rev Francis Xavier Wuulf of
Baden Baden, died recently. and had be
queathed her an estate valued al 500 900.
The laws OF Germany had prevented her
from realizing the amount, and OF course
money was needed to carry ii through the
Courts. As Justice profound in the law
he could tell her what to do, and She
sought his counsel on more than one oc-
caSion. The Justice was charmed with
her society, and at once introduced her to
his home. She was also Il welcome quest
at the house OF Horace Earrler, the jus
tees brother, and the Earriers We're en-
We'd in the acquaintance OF the millionaire
widow Not IA shadow OF suspicion was
cast on her actions. She was devout
Christian, and appeared to be shocked at
the levity OF many with whom she became
acquainted She departed ior phiiadel-
phia after eXac1ng IA promise from her
friends to visit her and the great eXhib-
| ton.
| They went All branches OF the Farrier
| family, including the Justice, his brothers
! Horace and William, and his friends.
Samuel A. Garrettson and John Garrett
son They We're entertained royalty ut
| Mrs Hanson's house, where Christian mot
| toes, elegantly worked, were pendent from
| the walls, and horses and carriages rolled
| the visitors to the Exhibition grounds.
| Then she returned and partook OF the hos
| pitality of the Farriers She complained
of the laws delay in transferring the cs-
tate in Germany, and found willing ears
| to her story. From Samuel ID. Garrettson
| she procured $1,000, from William Hughes
500, and some from various other resi-
dents. She placed in the hands of Horace
| Farrier two heavily sealed yellow envel-
opes bearing the address of Cardinal Me
Closkey. These" she said, "contain the
papers which entitle me to my inheritance
in Germany. They are, as you see. ad-
dressed to Cardinal McCloskey, and, of
course | have not dared to open them. ]
leave them with you. so that if in my tray
clings | should be killed my property will
be secure to the dear friends | leave be-
hind me-" Farrier accepted them, and re-
garding them as ample security for what
ever moneys he might advance, subse
quently advanced her $500
Or Tuesday Mr.. rarmenter. who now
suspected that she was a confidence wo-
man, received a letter from Philadelphia
! saying that Mrs Gibson was visiting Mr.
Farrier's residence in Jersey City. lie
quietly communicated with an officer 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. Mr.. Parmenter commu-
nicated his discovery to Justice Reese and
thence to the Farrier family 1t fell like
a thnnderbolt Her arrest was ut once de-
termined on, and Inspector Murphy cap
| tured her in her luxurious apartments in
Philadelphia Her husband, Henry Glib
son, who is said to be an expert in conf
dence operations, was with her. The po-
| lice yesterday opened the envelope sup
posed to contain the necessary papers to
prove her claim to the property in Ger
many, and found that it contained two
sheets of blank paper.
The house and ell with contents on the lower
road to Damariscotta Mills in Newcastle, owned
by Mrs. Mary A. Given, were totally destroyed
by fire early Saturday morning. Insured,
house, 800; furniture, $500, which will about
cover the loss. Cause, unknown. but supposed
incendiary.