New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-10
A HoUsEMAID's BOLD CRIME.

A HOUSEMAIDS BUILD ChlnL'
A SERVANT DRUGS HER MISTRESS, SETS FIRE TO
THE HOUSE AND STEALS DRESSES AND JEWELRf
WORTH $1,000.
The occupants of the large brown-stohe
clearinghouse No. 1876 East FOrty-ninth-st were
startled Mt AN early hour Yesterday morning by the dis
coyery OF an attempt TO set fire to the place lnves
cation revealed the fact that robbery had been COM
mitted aud the house had evidently been set Oh ~
10 conceal the crime. The premises are rehWu w ME-
Welzhoefer widow OF Max Welzhoefer, who years ago
was a wholesale dealer in cigars in Broadway Mrs'
fer snbets the lower part OF the house TO
German family retaining the two upper floors ior ner
own use The second floor divided into three rooms
one Of which occupied kitchen ana the Otner TWO
as seeping apartments Mrs. Welzhoefer occupies the
front bedroom, and her two children nave inc Sn'a
room between the front and back rooms.
About six months ago, Mrs WeZhOefer applied at an
nteIicenee Office on Fffy-third-st for German ser
want young woman was sent TO her who stated lhaI
her name was Hannah Lyons She was lavish WIN fel-
ercnce as to capaby and good character ana gave as
au being out of employment that her former
mistress had broken up housekeeping and had gone into
the country Although Mrs Welzhoefer did not like the
girls appearance she was in such pressing need OF
that she engaged her The girl did her
work faithfully and seemed to take great interest IN her
misress's children that in few weeks Mis- Welz-
hoe fer had overcome her aversion TO her. She was en-
trusted with important errands, and was treated
her, however, puzzled Mrs. WelzhOeIer In con-
yersation she never looked one in the eve.
Her eyes had furtive expression and she seemed to
feel great relief when released from conversation She
also had arked aversion to venturing out upon the
street She preferred to clean the house from top TO
bottom rather than go to the corner on an Grand
About 10 o'clock on Thursday night, Mrs. Wezhoeferin
accordance with custom prepared TO 60 to bed
She sent Hannah to the for quart of beer The
girl at first declined TO but after much persuasion
was induced to obey. Meanwhile the lady secured the
inner doors usual and, upon the girs return us
missed her for the night The servants room was on tue
prevented her from taxing much she tno st5
but she now believes that the girl put chlorOorm In IL 10
drug her. that she might better accomplish her pu
Sne was awakened at z O'Clock yesterday morn
ing by the iceman's ring at the door-ben.
KEYS which she generally placed under her pillow she
suddenly remembered that she had lett them Oh tue
started to continue her search the kitchen. She
opened the kitchen door, when flame and smoke came
moned assistance. and the fire was extinGuished.
It discovered that fine black SIX dress belonging
to Mrs. WelzhOefer saturated with the contents OF
bafgallon can had been placed IN the corner
isnted Mrs Wezhoeer at first had no suspicion Of the
incendary. Search made for the servant Dut sne
and and All 'O' OF her Clothing had disappeared Mrs.
WeZhOefer, then made search Tor her own
dresses and all of her jewery had been stolen.
She estimates the value OF the articles stolen ~ $1,000
The damage caused by the fire was slight. from what
has been learned SINCE 1t is thought that the servant
had an accomplish IN the robbery; young man; who
some time ago in the absence OF Mrs Wehoefer visited
the servant and remained all night Is supposed to have
assisted in the crime.
Detectives Mccormick and Mcconnell have arrested
Hannah Lyons. They traced her to No. 80 Broome-
ST.. aud learned that she had come there Yesterday,
with some OF the dresses stolen from her mistress She
protested that she had bought them at pawn Office and
Invited the people 10 20 with her TO Jersey City,
which they did They returned in the after
noon, when the detective with Mrs. Welzhoefer,
caught the girl She was dressed In Of the silk
dresses she had stolen. The iewery and money could
not be found She locked up In the Central once,
very much intoxicated.