The New York herald., 1879-07-11
DISPUTED IDENTITY.

DILNa DENIES HAVING EVER SEEN HER AC-
cusER-CoNTRADIcToRY IMPRESSIONS
Either very curious case of mistaken identity is
now under investigation at the Jefferson Market
Police Court Mary Stella Hascy the subject of it.
is q woman Of more than ordinary cunning and
coolness She arrested and brought to court
through her alleged completely with Lynch. the
diamond broker in swindling Messrs Rogers Fay.
of Fulton Market out of $3500. Through Mrs.
Schoonmaker, supposed to reside in Forty-second
street. they were led. as already related in the
HERALD, to advance $1,000 to Lynch for diamonds
she had pledged there. which both she and the
jeweller appraised at $4,000. Lynch had been
rested on criminal charge. and civil suit had at
the saIno time been begun against him. Mrs Schoon
maker had disappeared. but one day passing
through Sixth avenue private detective in Rogers
Fay's employ noticed in o silk store
that answered her description. Rogers went to the
place himself and pronounced the person. who
saleslady the missing Mrs. Schoonmaker On wednes-
day she was arrested and put under 81 900 bail by
Justice Murray, which furnished by her
ployer, Mr.. J. s. Collins. On her liberation she
followed by Roger Fay's detectives, who kept
track of her. while lawyer hurried off and pro-
cured civil order Of arrest On it Mrs. Hascy
taken into custody and lodged in Ludlow Street
Jail. There her lawyer yesterday visited her and
drew up affidavit in which she utterly denied
having ever appeared under the name OF Mrs.
schoonmaksr or been guilty of the actions ascribed
to that woman. Both Messrs. Fay Rogers saw
her in court and declared to the Justice and after
ward to the Sherfs officers that they had no doubt
whatever about the identity of the woman. They
said person OF her appearance might be glanced
were in conversation with her for many hours. In
the matter OF striking appearance they correct
Mrs. Hascy is tall. stately woman. with features
l,r1t k1u<tt
could readily be forgotten She says herself that
she has lived in this city for thirteen years. having
come here from Philadelphia where her mother
lived. She entered the employ of Collins eighteen
months ago, and had been there constantly ever
since. with the exception of few weeks she spent
u vacation ut her mother house.
MIR. LYNCH DOES NOT KNOW HER.
Early yesterday Mr.. Lynch was brought into the
room and scrutinized her carefully She raised her
ewes to his face and returned his look Of inquiry but
neither seemed to recognize the other.
II never saw him before in my life" was the prs-
oner's statement
Lynch oaid 81 never forget face when see it.
certainly would not easily forget hers. But
eyeglasses when she called on mo. but that would
alter her appearance as to hinder her identih
cation. cannot see how this woman could be con-
founded with her at ALL.
k Later in the day Mr.. Lynch made afhdavit that
she was not the woman he had transacted business
for, and that she not the woman who hsi called
on him and signed her name Schoonmaker. Mr..
Collins. the proprietor Of the store on sixth avenue
and Seventeenth street. stated that Mrs. Hesse had
been In his employ fifteen months; that she had
to him with good references. and that she was
q hardworkng, conscientious woman. and he was
sorry to lose her but could not think of retaining
her after all this notoriety.
Another gentleman mot Mr.. Rogers-he could not
be found) interested in the case, said There has
been q regular system Of swindlin9 going here
for long time and this will bring some other
atrocious to light. We have the right woman
aud we are in the right way to catch several other
people, too. dozen victims who have suffered from
this scrt of thing have been TO and consult with
US during the past week. Mr.. Massey the gentleman
from No. 26S West Forty-second street. called
Mr.. Fay and told him they did not
know the woman Mr.. Rogers met In the house.
She went there to see his wife about some room
renting. and said she would like to her lawyer
there. and in few minutes gentleman arrived.
When Mr.. Rogers went to that house this present
Mrs. Hoxey. alias schoonmaker: was there. She re-
ceived hlm in wrapper. and told him she
staying there with her sister, who under treat
ment by physician in the house. We will relate
other instances about the house corroboraive of
position when the time comes.
MAssEYs IGNORANCE
Idon't want to convey the idea that Mr. Massey or
his wife know anything of things-I think is very
unlikely-but have all been in the hands of very
clever rogues. This woman got SIS from Mr.. Col
Inns to attend that store on Sixth avenue but she
show that the diamond occurred in last March.
when she vacation. She has we'd all alone
working hard she said. for years. and only making
her wages When she was arrested in Twelfth street
to-day we went In at the to take drink and
the man in the saloon told us she had husband-a
big fellow, with blonde mustache. She identi-
fed to-day by man who was swindled out of every
cent he possessed in the world and whose wife and
children are now starving in consequence Nothing
like Il has been heard OF In modern times"
In Ludlow Street Jail Mrs. Hssey said to q HERALD
reporter FL am not Mrs. Schoonmaker. aud never
have borne any other name since my marriage than
Hesse. l never had o diamond in my life.
never could afford to buy any. When was brought
here was put ON the top tier with the men. They
told me would have to pay $50 week down stairs.
me another IS and borrowed the rest of my land
lady"