The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-03-21
A FEMALE THIEF CAUGHT.

CAPTURE OF MINNIE WATSON, WITH MANY
ALIASES, WHO HAS BEEN A COSTLY SERVANT
IN SEVERAL NEW PORK HOUSES.
Bosrox, March 90 1873.
A noted female professional thioi was caught here
and sent 10 New York this morning sno Ia an
English woman, about thrty-three yearsold ana has
been IN this country nine years. What her name IS
no one knows. Her aliases have been at various
tmcs Minnie Watson Minnie Herbert, Mrs. Harris,
Mrs Miller, Mrs. johnson, Mrs Harrison and
Mra Wheeler. There 10 no doubt that
sho was s.profcssional" whom she reached these
shores, Tor the skilful manner in which she almost
Immediately began hieving precludes all belief thas
she was novice. In 1871 Minnie 'hred out' as a
chambermaid in New York mansion and succeeded
IN appropriating $500 worth OF jewelry. She
was however arrested, tried and convicted,
and spent four years In Sing Sing. In June,
1877, tho ssrcformatory" influence of that cell
ebrated institution having failed OF their pur-
pose heroine, now under another namc,
secured employment ut tho New York Hotel as .
chambcrmaid, and proceeded at once TO "ty pipes"
for another joh, which she intcnded should BIO moro
successful than her hrst venture. Everything worked
we'll, and In few weeks she "skipped out' Of tho
metropolis with clothing ana jeweiry worth So. 0o0
This property belonged TO guests in the hotel among
them George Risnold, the actor. now playing al the
Globe who will, doubt, rejoice this afternoon to
learn that tho woman who stole MS diamonds 10 IN
quod-
Minnie got married while in New York, and with
her husband went 10 Chicago, where she was en-
ployed In her former capacity IL tho rainier house
This was in September 1871 In a few weeks she
again ait out, This timo taking with her $l2 600
worth oil tcwelry and diamonds belonging 10 guests oil
this famous hostclry. This plumber She turned over
to her better half, who HE'D him away 10 suburb OF
Cn,cago, while Minnie jumped 70 st. LOUIS the
Chicago police, however. scented the hidden pelf,
and succeeded In nabbing the husband ana re-
covering nearly all the stun stolen from the
New York Hotel ana the Palmer House. He was sent
10 the Pcnitentiary where he 10 now serving Jour
year sentence. Minpie's exploits in st. Louis-it,
indeed she did anything at all in that cy-are un-
known. The next we hear 0! her she was IN New
York again. employed as champermaid in the family
OF Dudley 5. Gregory, an IRON merchant. Mr Gregory
agreeable servant girl was soon gone and with
her $4,000 in dresses and Jewelry belonging
to his family. This brings us 10 December
% last This gay dcceiver seemed to have NO fear OF
detection; for, changing again her name. sho hired
role OF an Invalid widow. Hero she remained until
February Is without fire IN her room, pretending
sickness and poverty ana thus gaining the Sympathy
named, however, she disappeared aud one OF Tho
aforesaid ladies, Mrs Matthew'S, wept bitterly 10
ind herself out 81, 500 IN diamonds and jowelry.
VISIT TO BOSTON
The New York police now thoroughly awake.
but could not with all their shrcwdness, trace the
missing thief. In tho course OF n week. however, Do
tcctIvc Kerns OF Police ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS sur
missing that al bad Americans before tacy dio 60 70
SPECIAL officer Wood Tho two oficers-a strong team
too-put their heads together and set about search
the slight clew they had slipped away flom
thsm and Officer Kerns returned 10 New York. leav-
ing the case with his Boston colleague. Last Saur
day Mr. Kcrns came again and the search was
removed The hunt was a still one, and NO SUCCESS
rewarded tho officers until about Two O'Clock ycster
day afternoon, when, ss they were In Court street,
eyes Tell upon the object OF their search The
aid OF Mr L. b. McCausland, a bank detective, was
secu red and from that moment Minnie WIS shodowcd
40 perfectly that she might we'll have been In the
T0nbe. At SIX O'Clock last evening tho bird flow
home to a furnished ROOM which she had hired on
Green street, and tho pursuers pounccd upon her.
She did not wnste timo protesting innocence; and
il was breath saved, the Dyes Of The detectives
scanned everything in tho room, and soon their
hands were on large quantity OF valuable stun,
which was none than part Of that stolen IRON
mr.. Gregory and Mrs. Matthews In New York. In
addition TO this the officers secured much other
under. the original owners OF which are unknown.
The diamonds had been sold TO gentleman in this
CITY, who had idea Of tneir being stolen goods, and
they were quickly In the hands OF the officers
Minnie spent last night IN the fombs and this noon,
after having been exhibited. at tho Chiefs office,
started for New York in the company OF Detective
KcrDS.