The New York herald., 1878-03-24
MINNIE DAVIS.

THE EvENTFuL CAREER OF YOUNG AND
BEAUTIFUL CRIMINAL--HER LAST EXPLOIT.
Seated in Matron Fosters chair In The Tombs yes
terday awaiting the sentence which Will recoDsign
her to State Prison, was woman who. though young
In years aud Of extraordinary personal beauty, pos
sesses y OF crime iull OF unusual incidcnt
that her history seems ike French criminal ro-
nance. Her name Erminia Davis, but she "a
moro widely known AS Minnie Davis the "Fire Bug"
The story of her ie narrated by ncrsef years
ago. an that born at No. 900 Parish street,
Pnlaaepha. twenty-five years ago, and received lair
education Before she was fifteen years old she was
married to a man OF some wealth. named John @.
DAVIS The marriage celebrated on the 1st Of
January 1865. The couple went on extended bridal
tour through Canada the British Isles and France.
Two months after her husband died in Paris from
heart disease and was buried in the Cemetery OF Pere
la Cnai,e, near the grave OF Alfred do Mu set.
HIS brother, DR.. W.. c. DAVIS, AL extra
professor IN tho ST. Petersburg University
OF Medicine and surgery, came 10 Paris to supcrin-
the intermenL aud volunteered 10 accompany the
young 70 this cIty Two weeks alter thoy
10 TINS countr oOiained D0ard at No lUl
Waverisy place The Drotner-ln-lAw was fascinated
By The widows beauty, anu alter short Courtship
married her rnen tney secured board with The Rev
.. X. Wils AZ No. "a Seconu avenue Dr. DAVIS pre-
hubjecs, with whicn ne started on tour through
lhe principal cities In the Union, leaving
his wife IN New York. AZ hrst ne remit
too her moaey; but MS letters grew gradually
cooier ana Lever, aud alter the Dirtn OF ner
child ceased altogether she learned ol MS return 10
New York met MN, wUeu quarrel followed aud
DR.. u WIS aoscondcd 10 Canada ana look steamer
from Quebec TO Europe. lhen Mrs. Davis placed the
chiu out to nurse .nd sought employ ment gov
ernsss she isiea In this but succeeded Ia oulaning
"a situation AZ NO. 81 Clinton place. Ihown ol ths
when WORK slackened and utterly destitute, she pe.
II X FIRST CRIME.
Her next appearance unaer the name OF AnDe
Morgan, when She committed one vi the highest
crimes known 10 the Law. On Christmas nieut, 1870
"a In tho hall Uedroum on toe lourtn
floor Oh the dwelling house No. 4i6 Sixtn avenue,
occupied by Minute uader The name OF Morgan. luz
IL shcd Without .nuch diiltcuity anN u
was discovered nat 20 lions oi her ciothug h"a been
win she hai ins urea her MardroDe lor
$4,000 IN tue Park Fro Insurance 'mpany. On her
return 10 the nosse she was arrested, aud, after de-
leuton o. Two lays IN tue JcIerson Market Prison.
brought 10 the Poics Central Oiiice andconAaed
vi the srObg rooms 10 await me invcst'4ation
by the Fire MarsnaL sne wrots a note " the Mar
sual declaring ner innooe nco. asking him " ais
tribute kets anu ciotning among some per-
sous who u.d bss klud 70 ner and tearing te towel
IN haIh nung herself 10 the Knob OF the door. Shs
discovered ana cut down just III time W save he
lie. Shs was SEM 10 ihe fomus AID an Indictment
lor arson found against her. Tho case Was casc
Tor trial before City Judge Bcdford on January 23
lS7U owing " tnere bcing flaw III The Indictment
reuiansed.
Her lrial oegau be lore Recorder Hackett In
February, 1871, and used interest Tue press
ull ol accounts o. ner, and tnc court room was
crowded daiiy wth asnlouavio inaIes, who over
whelmed her VITA presents oi iruits aud nowers.
IN trial lasted three day -, ana resulted in YER
Dict vi gully.
STATE PRISON. aa
When Recorder HacKett seutenced Minnie to ton
we RS IN Stale Prison intensely uraInatIc
sued. SuO declared In iainted.
she served three and u half years Sing stag and
Auburn where Governor DIX saw and was grea, Iy III.
teresied III her she was pronounced insane and was
sent TO the state Asylum IN Utica There sue re-
NAMED until Two years ago. From that tune all trace
o her lost until the 9Th iust, wncn she was
rested Tor grand larceny.
Sue then obtained employment from Mrs. ANNE
Smuh, / No. 3O4 SECOND avenue, and stole that
lauy's SIX uresses and Vtner articios OF wardrobe.
Tue property iOund Bowcry hotei, where
she confessed she haG Jeff IT, Again arralgned ia
General Sessions sue was promptly convicted ana
re uanded Tor sentence
Wneu ny reporter yesterday she refused
to talk, simply asking 10 De lett alone.