The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-07-16
A Three Years Hunt Ended,

FAIRFIELD, N. Y, July 10.
Three years ago well-to-do farmer
named John p. Wood lived near this place.
He was eccentric in bis business matters,
and he had been five times married. His
last wife was widow namel Mary Wiley,
who had grown-up son whose character
was questionable, named Charles NJ. Wiley.
Wood did not permit Wiley to come to his
house. Among Woods effects we're six
800 bonds of the Ionia and Lansing rail-
road company, of Michigan, and three un-
registered government bonds of 81 900,
$400 and 800 each. These he kept in a
tin box, which he Lad secreted In place
known only to himself aud wife. He had
sums of money thus hidden also. In the
spring of 1874 Wood was ebseat from his
house all of one day. When he returned
his wife told bin that the house had been
robbed and his bonds and money we're all
gone Wood made an examination and
found that his treasure was indeed missing.
When the farmer made the discovery he
ran about among the neighbors bewailing
his loss. AS Charles NJ. Wiley, his step
son, had been stopping in the vicinity for
several days, the neighbors ut once suspect
cd Dlm anu MS mOtneT Win USlub tuO iOO-
bers. This belief Wood accepted also.
Search for Wiley was made, but no trace
| CT him or the bonds could be found.
Wood continued to live with his wife,
but soon after the robbery he was taken
suddenly sick. He died in great agony,
with every symptom Of poisoning. His
death YVES declared by physicians to be due
to poison. His wife was suspected, and
she lett the place. Wood left will devils
| ing all his property, including the stolen
bonds, TO a daughter in Vermont. The
executor of the will of the deceased farmer
at once had the movements of Mrs Wiley
Swallowed. She was traced to Buffalo.
| There she met her son, who was engaged
as schoolteacher in that city. They
| lived in Buffalo some months, when they
suddenly disappeared. Trace of them was
lost for a long time, when they were dis
covered at Wells, Hamilton county. From
the quantities of counterfeit money that
appeared in the community soon after they
took up their quarters there, it became
talked about that Wiley and his mother
were passing it. 1t soon became too warm
for them, and they disappeared from Wells.
| A few weeks afterward they we're traced
to Worthwhile, Fulton county. Wiley went
into the livery business there, and his sta
bles were not long in gaining the reputa
ton of being receptacle of stolen horses
The actions of both Wiley and his mother
were suspicious, but Notwithstanding tbs
ill-favor in which they were held, Vile,
succeeded in inducing the daughter Of
Leonard Lyon, a respectable citizen of th,
village, TO become his wife. 1t was thi
circumstance that led indirectly to the dis
covery of evidence that the Wood robbery
had been committed by him, aided by hi
mother.
Wiley had not been married long tefor,
he abused bis wife 30 shamefully, that sh
was compelled to leave him. 1t is openl.
charged that his brutality frequently cause
her to keep her bed for days. The Fair
field robbery was well known in Worthwhile
and 80 when short time since Wiley ap
preached his father-in-law, MIR. Lyon, will
, an offer of $500 in bonds as security TO
his good behavior if his wife were permitte
10 live with him again, the suspicion tina
n he knew something of the affair was rem
e dered almost certainty, and it was re
n solved to set trap for him. Lyon agree
: to the proposal. Wiley produced the bonds
U and told his father-in-law to put them IN
+ der his carpet for safe keeping, where the
had been kept by him, wiley. sila
Terey was the ardter in the settlement c
d tie Wiley-Lyon difficulties, and when th
1t bonds passed from Wiley to his father-il
|. law, rerey informed representatives of Il
, heirs of MIR. Wood, and on Friday Sheri
J. Dunn of Johnstown, with Deputies Holm,
Re and Taber of Herkimer, proceeded to nortl
% vile and arrested Wiley and his mothe
ia In their house were found letters from Sc
eral bankers, to whom they had applied
negotiate for the sale of the bonds. Tit
were taken TO Herkimer and locked up
jail. The suspected poisoning of NJ
Wood is to be given thorough investig
- ton. Great excitement prevails over t
Ii arrests.-Ne,o York Times.