St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-18
TRAPPING A DETECTIVE.
Painful Results of Hunting Evidence IN
DicOrce Salt.


Painful Results of Hunting Evidence an u
Dicorce Salt.
kansas City Times.l
A sensational case of assault was brought
to light yesterday morning by the arrest of
Mrs. J. W. Rchey and Mrs. Leach on war
rants sworn out before Justice Ingram by j.
Richey, charging them with an assault with
attempt to kill, committed upon William M.
Douglass. 1923 Harrison street. Douglass,
who is engaged in the occupation OF pri-
vate detective, claims that he was employed
by j. W. Richey to obtain evidence which
could be used as the basis of a divorce suit
which he intended bringing against his wife,
Richey and his wife room in the Cecil block,
corner Fifth and Holmes streets, and MI
and Mrs. Leach have also rooms in the same
block. Douglass further claims that he in
formed Mrs. Leach that he wished to obtain
evidence against Mrs. Richey, and that she
told him that if he would come to the rooms
on Thursday night she would give him some
important information in regard to Mrs.
Richey's actions. Douglass accordingly
went to the rooms, as agreed, and Knocked
at the door, twas Immediately opened, and
he stepped into the room. No sooner had
he done so than he was savagely set upon
by two women and beaten in shocking
manner with club and also cut and stabbed
with dirk knife. He finally succeeded in
escaping and making his way to his room al
1923 Harrison street. The affair was kept
very quiet and only reached the ears OF the
police on Saturday. Yesterday warrants were
sworn out, and the arrest made by Detectives
BRYANT and Hunt. Before the defendants
were brought into court Justice lngraham
visited the wounded man and found MIN III
a shockingly battered condition, and in great
pain. The wounds, though dangerous, are
not considered necessarily fatal.
The defendants were charged with the Of
tense and pleaded not guilty. The case was
set for hearing tomorrow afternoon, bond
being fixed at 81, 900 in each case, which was
furnished.
Mr.. Leach the husband of one of defend
ants, was seen in reference to the case, and
though considerably excited at the arrest OF
his wife, stated that if Douglass had been as
saulted he had only got what he deserved, al
though he denied that his wife was concern
ed in it. He said that last December Richey
married woman named Mrs. Martin, who
had son 81 years of age. When he mar
ried her he was under the impression that
she was wealthy, and on finding that this
was not the case he commenced to take the
initiatory steps to procuring a divorce. Mr..
Leach said that for some time an unknown
man had been haunting the house and had
asked his wife to give him some Information
in regard to Mrs. Richey. The man had also
asked Mrs. Leach not to inform her husband
of his inquiries The mans visits became
annoying, but he always succeeded IN call
ing when Mr.. Leach was absent. Finally,
Mrs Richey and her son became aware OF
what was transpiring, and Mr. Leach says he
presumes that the man must have called
when Mrs. Richey and her son were at home
and got warmer reception than he antlcl-
pated. Mr.. Leach added that the man acted
in a sneaking manner throughout and never
showed any authority or stated that he was
detective, and richly deserved any punish
ment he received. Mrs. Leach denied that
she was present at the assault or that she was
aware any assault had been committed. 1t
is expected that Douglass will be able to ap-
pear as witness by tomorrow.
Mr.. Douglass was seen by Times reporter
last night in reference to the affair, and said:
81 was engaged by Mr.. Richey to find out
where Mrs. Richey's other husbands were, he
having learned that she had two alive, and
wishing to institute divorce proceedings.
Mrs. Leach, who lives in the same house,
told me that if went there about O'Clock
she would give me important information, as
if anybody could draw the facts from Mrs
Richey, she could. 1 called abont o'clock
on Thursday, and Richey waited for me
downstairs. l walked upstairs, and the
door was opened by young man. The mo-
ment entered they set on me. The man
had knife, and defended myself as well
as 1 could. The two other parties got behind
me. One was woman, and could not see
who the other was, was so busy fighting
the man with the knife. The persons be-
hind me kept striking me on the head with
club, or some instrument, and finally I sue
ceeded in escaping. had NO weapon, as
thought was merely going to have friend
ly talk, and had left my pistol at Missouri
City. Mrs. Leach specially asked me to call
before dark, as she said her husband would
be at home after supper, and would not like
me to be there. Mrs. Leach knew who
was and what business l was on. My eyes
were filled with blood, and when l succeeded
in getting downstairs, l made my way home
as bestI could, and am now under the care of
DR.. Bogie. Have been in the secret service
here sixteen years, and this is the first time
/ haveShad such misfortune.