The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-06-26
A FEMALE BURGLAR.
Who Aids Her Husband in Robbing Post
Offices and Safes.

Who Aids Her Husband in Robbing Post
Offices and Safes.
NEW HAVEN, June 25.-Mrs. Mary Davis, a
pretty woman, with blue eyes and pleasant
voice., is in jail in Bridgeport, charged with
completely in the robbery of the port office at
Bristol, and suspected of being the actual lead
or OF the gang of burglars which has been op-
ersting sac successfully in this State. She is
about % years of age. has a fine form, talks flu
emily and uses good English.
On Tuesday night last the Office of the Der
Dy Lumber Company OF Derby, was entered by
four masked men, who overrowered the watch
men, pounded and gagged him, and leisurely
proceeded to open the three safes in the office,
which job they completed with the dexterity
OF trained burglars. The watchman noted at
lne tlme tnat the voice OF the pereon who held
pistol to his head and threatened to blow his
brains out if he stirred, was unusually solt and
melodious, and that the hand which grpsped
MS throat was smaller than that of man. In-
vestlgatlon next morning, however failed to
reveal any proofs of the identity of the sweet
voiced desperate. Bill Davis, a notorious
cracksman, was arrested on suspicion of being
concerned IN the crime, and it was alSo learned
that his wife was in come way implicated
Meanwhile, the detectives who were inye3tigat-
ing the Rristol burglary, came to the conclu
sion that the job had been planned and its ac-
tual execution directed by woman. 1t was
known that strange young woman had, Just
previous TO the robbery, made frequent trips
TO the pcat office to inquire for letters that
never came, and TO diccuGs with the postmaster
the time of the arrival and departure of mails.
Among the footprints in front of the office on
the morning following the burglary, was that
OF small and narrow foot evidently made by
wonlan's high-heeled shoe As the man who
saw the burglars drive away was positive that
there were four of ther. and that they were
all dressed In mems clothing, the idea of there
being woman in the case was droppoJ until
the news came to Bristol that Mrs. Davis was
suspected OF being concerned in the burglary.
linen the detectives came to Derby, looked in
to the case, and concluded that Mrs. Davis was
the mysterious woman who had figured in the
post office robbery at Bristol.
After consultation between United States
Deputy Marshal Clark, Chief of Police Mar
tin and Post Office Inspector Newcomb, it was
determined to arrest Mrs. Davis and two pals
OF DAVIS, named Congdon and Rice. Martin,
clark and Newcomb went TO Davis house.
Mrs. Davis refused them admittance, and
threatened to shoot them if they came in.
They broke open the dc Or aud were confronted
by Mrs. Davis. When she was informed that
she was under arrest she said "My husband
mas got me into pretty scrape by doing such
work" The houco Yves searched, and a COM
plete kit of burglars tools was fonnd Chief
OF Police Martin was about to force the lid of q
trunk, when Mrs. Davis screamed and sraa ont
OF the back door. She was followed and car
tured. When asked why she fed she replied
with a laugh:
Well, there's tottle of dynamite in that
trunk. and although you are very pleasant
gSnIienaHn, I'D rather not 90 to paradise in
your company
MRS. DAVIS was then taken to prison in Wat
erbury, and yesterday she was taken to Bridge
port. She says that her husband and she were
at home on the night of the Derby burglary,
but admits that they were not on the night of
the Bristol burglary.
Mrs. Davis history is romantic one. Her
maiden name was Egan, and her parents are
highly respected people in Massachusetts,. Her
brother.in-law is said to be a prominent Dem
ocratic politician in Boston. Just after leaving
a convent school she met Davis at water
ing place He represented that he was a
wealthy young Southerner. In reality he had
only been out of Jail year, after having
served four-years' term for burglary. Miss
Egan fell in love with him and he BETRAYED
her, Her father gave him the choice of mar
rying her or receiving bullet in his head. He
married her and they went west, and for
time were in an Ohio town. Then they moved
to Chicago. 1t is alleged that they were en-
gagged in swindling by the confidence game.
They soon returned, however, to Waterbury,
and it is said that since that time Mrs. Davis
has assisted her husband in all of his burgla-
ries, often accompanying him dressed in
mems clothing, and doing her share of the
work with more skill and daring than was
shown by any of the other members of the
gang. In fact she was acknowledged to be
the brains of the combination. She conduct ed
herself in jail in dignified way, and passed
the time in reading Blackmore's Laura
DooDe." She will have hearing tomorrow,