Daily Republican., 1883-02-05
PHILADELPHIALETTER.
A BWlNDLER'S GAME-THE rU
NERAL or MAGGIE t1tR.
LETTE.
Special correspondence Of the REPUBLICAN.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb, 4tL.

~iI, anu IL lh euudilN tTHf Wl'H LI'
tricks adopted by swindlers and conf
dence people. Some twenty years ago,
a handsome carriage stopped in front OF
what was at that time one Of the larges,
and finest jewelry stores on Chestnu,
street, and beautiful lady about 81
years Of age, ,attired in deep black ALI ght-
ed, and upon entering the store request
ed the clerk to show her some diamonds.
After some time spent in examination,
in which all the skill Of n cDnnoisseur
was displayed, she selected n necklace
: and other articles amounting to 5000.
She then asked 10 scs the proprietor.
and after stating that she urgently
wished to use the jewelry at a party to
which she was going that evening, re,
questcd him tO allow clerk to accom-
pany her to her residenccin West Phila,
delphia, and she would not only pay the
bill, but also send him back to the store
in her carriage.
The icweler hesitated but moment
when calling his trusted cashier he in
Istructed him in the nature Of the mis-
sion, and requested him to accompany
) the lady, 1t was a beautiful day, and
as the carriage rolled along the lady
proved herself not only brilliant con-
versatiOnst, but also charming com
panion, and the minutes flew IKE seq
onds with the entranced cashier
Havcrford road was reached, and thr
carriage finally stopped in front Of the
entrance to Kirkbride's Insane Asylum.
The lady excused herself, as she had to
see the doctor for 'just "A single mo-
ment," and would return Immediately.
Previous to leaving the store, the jew
elry had been placed in a casket, which
was in turn deposited under the seat.
While the nnsuspecting cashier re-
maincd in the carriage, his mind filled
with thoughts of his fair companion, Il
different scene was being enacted in
ushered into the doctors office, her
smiles fled and look of deep sorrow
and grief Swallowed her handsome face,
and with what was almost a wall Of
despair she said, "Oh doctor,
I've brought him, but the thought of
parting with him although it is only for
- short time, almost kills me- Here
she broke down completely, and after
several minutes she recovered her com
posure sufficiently to say that her hus-
band, who was then outside in the car
riage, was worse that day than she had
ever seen before.
He supposed that he was cashier in
a large jewelry house on Chestnut street
and was intr,ISted with valuable jewell
ry, and before leaving home had insist
ed on placing n large revolver under the
seat. In conclusion she added, " he is
so bad to-day that he don't even know
me, and was afraid he would Kill me
| before we reached here y
The doctor left the room for a few
minutes, and calling three stout attcn-
dants instructed them to bring in the
man, and on no account tD allow him to-
get the revolver from under the seat
The men, accustomed to crazy people,
proceeded to the carriage, and informed
the cashier that he was wanted inside
for few minutes, and upon his ex-
pressing his willingness to 60, and
reaching down to get the casket, jump
ed on him with, "none of that, old trl-
low, we know all about it, " dragged
him and fastened him in 4 cell.
The lady left - small sum Of money
with the doctor to provide for her 'poor
H'lSlldIl'l > NdIllN, anu w ~
turn the next day, left sobbing and
weeping. The hoyses heads were turn
ed, and the carriage driven at rapid
gait to the New York depot, where the
deeply affected wife took a train for
that city.
Meanwhile, the unfortunate cashier
protested that he was not insane, and i'll
the course of a few days, as the woman
did not return, the doctor commenced
to think perhaps there was some truth
in his srAry, and he had been The victim
of an adroit swindler. He was strength
encd in this belief by an account which
was published in the papers, of the mys-
terious disappearance Of the cashier of
Blank & Blank jewelry store, which
conceded with what the man said, and
he sent note to the head of the firm re-
qucsting him to call at the institution.
Mr. Blank FASTENED to the place, and
in few minutes succeeded obtaining
his cashiers release, after an incarcera-
ton of some four or five days,
The doctor said the day previous to
the man being brought to the place,
the woman came to him and told how
her husband had failed in business and
became insane. That she was wealthy |
in her own right, and had cared for him
at home until she had became afraid
of him on account Of his increasing vio- !
encc. Detectives were put on her
track, and she was arrested in Boston,
brought to this city, and after being
tried, sentenced to term of years in |
the pcnitentiary.
This swindlc was one OF the active
causes that induced the Legislature to
pass the law, which now makes it ncccs-
sary to have the certificate Of two dis
interested physicians, that II person is
insane, before they can be placed in an
asylum.
A case similar to the above has just
happened in Baltimore, the swindler in
this case being an elderly lady, who,
after lodging her victim in an asylum,
made her escape with over $4OO worth
of dry goods, including seal skin
sack.
The recent unprovoked shooting Of
little Maggie Curlette, by woman on
Taskcr street, has caused considerable
excitement in that vicinity, and If the
officers had not removed the woman and
her uncle when they did, il is probable
the highly inccnsed ncighbors would
have taken the law in their own hands.
The funeral services took place on Fri
day evening at the Methodist Church, {
Eighteenth and Wharton streets, and |
the streets were blocked with people for :
several squares. At the close Of tn"
service the lid Of the casKrt was remov {
ed, and the crowd allowed to pass !
through and view the remains, and it is
estimated that not less than 5000 avail
ed themselves Of the opportunity. AT ,
forwards the corpse was taken to her
parents residence, when the lid was =
again removed, and it was long after
midnight ERE the crowd dispersed.
The funeral took place on Saturday
morning when tn" relatives started
with the remains for your city, where
they own lot in the Wilmington and :
Brandywinc Cemetery. !
Another link that binds us TO the