New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-25
AN ADROIT THIEF CAPTURED.

A YOUNG WOMAN'S CAREER IN CRIME.
SEVERAL wELL-KNowN NEw-yORKERs HER VIC
TIAis-TRAcED THROUGH LETTER AND A
PERSONAL"
young English woman. good-looking. we'll edu-
Gated aud adroit and pleasing in her speech and
manners was prisoner at Police Headquarters yes
terday on "a charge OF robbing John II. Davis,
broker of No. II Wal-st. She said thai her real
name was Mary Book, but in the three months OF
her stay this country she has been known by half
a dozen names. 1t was ascertained that she had
been successful in robbing several persons we'll
known in this city. Under the name Of Mary Mi
chael she obtained situation as governess in the
family OF j. II. Davis, No. 426 Fifth-ave, on the
18th inst. She was employed ut the agency of Mrs.
Campbell at No. 267 West Fits .fourth-st where
she said that her home was at No. % Newark ave..
Newark Her references purported to have been
furnished by persons in Philadelphia. On the day
follow ing her engagement she disappeared from MI
Davss house carry ng with her his daughters lew-
elry valued at 81, 800. Mr. Day gave information
of the robbery to Inspector Byrnes. VINO detailed
Detective Sergeants UConior, Frinck and Radford
TO search for the thiet
The officers ascertained that tho references which
the young woman had gwen were fictitious Although
they could not md the woman at once, tney ascer-
tanned tnat she had been IN several places under as
suned names. She had lived Tor time IN the
Windsor Hotel in Jersey City, calling herself Mrs.
Collins and had left the hotel without paying her
bill A Park place publishing hrm had employed
hur as a canvasser knowing her as Miss Grace Hen
derson. When she was employed she gave letter
of reference written by herself. She kept all tine
money which she collected. trace OF tho woman
was gwen by a letter addressed to Mary Michael"
which was received at the house of Mr.. Davis some
days after her disappearance. 1t had been written
by young Euglishman IN Phuadelphla, W no
crossed the ocean with her IN August and who
knew her as Mrs Louise X. Book. lie had CORE.
spouded with her and she had requested him to send
"a letter to No. 426 Fifth ave. not thinking that she
would leave the place so quickly a detective
phil Iaiu tia nd
He was persuaded not to interfere With the efforts
of the police to capture the woman On Tuesday the
follow Ing persona" was puDllshed Dy the drec-
tion of Inspector ByIues:
Louise r. b.: Answered yours from Fifth-aye No re-
ply Would be pleased 10 sec you North Eleventl-st
The woman Immediately wrote to her acquaint-
ance stating that she did not think II prudent to
give him her address, as she was In trouOle. but
promising to call at the general Post Office in this
city for letter him. She kept her promise and
was recognized at the Post Office on Thursday by
"A hall boy in the employ of Mr.. Davis: a detective,
who was with the boy, arrested her When she was
searched at Police Headquarters by Matron Webb
"a quantity of tho stolen lewelry was l0nnd III her
possession. The remainder was recovered alter
ward from pawnshOps. she was taken TO police
court yesterday and remanded until to-day
The prisoner told her history to Inspector Byrnes
when she disco, cred that the evidence OF her
guilt was compete. She said that heI age was
twenty seven years and that her maiden name was
Shaw. Her bro her. ho SAID, was wealthy cop
persmlth. and she had III her own right several
thousand pounds, of which, however SHE codld not
get POSSESSION before the death OF "A relative. she
had been married TO "a German named Book, but
had separated from hun after II short experience OF
unhappy welded life Twice she had crossed tine
ocean from England. Her first visit 10 this city
was in June last when she presented TO Mr.. Ran
SON, of the law firm OF knevas u RANSOM Presl-
dent Arthur's former partners, letter purportIng
10 have been written by of his friends IN Eng
land. The letter described her as wealthy woman
who was searching for stolen child. She COM
plined tht she had been robbed or had lost her
check book while riding IN cab, and borrowed
$40 from Mr.. Ransom. After she had taken room
at tue Victoria Hotel she sent messenger 10 Dir.
Ransom with request for 800 more aud the money
was forwarded as "a matter of course. Mr.. Ransom
did not see her again. Before she had been IN the
city many days presented forged check for
800 to Mr.. Law, of The White Star Steamship
Company, and cot the money. She sailed fOT
Liverpool before tho forgery was discovered After
her return to NewYOrK in August she lived for
time in West TwelIthst., bslng known as Mrs.
Collins. Then she went TO Brooklyn as Mrs. Patten
and stole $50 from her andlady at No. 81 Remsen.
ST. 1t believed that many other thefts have been
committed by the woman during her stay III this