Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-10-01
CAUGHT AT LAST.
Mrs. Peek In . Legal Moose or the TIshsess
Kind.
New York Times.I

Mrs. Peck I'm Legal Moose or the Tishtesi
Kind.
New York Times.I
Mrs. Ellen Peck, the notorious swindler,
early last March, under the name Of Mrs.
Knight, was introduced 10 Mr.. John Bough,
a diamond broker, at No. 80 Liberty street,
by another broker. She repi resented her
sell TO be rich Spectator In Jewels, who
would be likely 10 call upon Mr.. Bough m
obtaining precious stones that her customers
might require. About q month later she
called on him and told him that one OF
ner friends wanted to buy diamond ring.
After going through bis whole stock OF
lewelry. Mr. Dough finally produced ring
set with diamonds with which Mrs. Knight
was delighted. II was worth SI5, and the
woman put 1t carefully In her reiicule and
went away. The following day she came
back and paid for her purchase, steadfastly
declining to accept the commission which
the broker thought she ought TO have. thus
paving the way for heavier haul.
On April 2Sth LAST, srs. knight made
another visit to her Ieweller friend and told
him that on that night rich friend OF hers,
the wife Of the president OF large con-
Germ in Brooklyn, was gong to dine with
her, and that she (Mrs. Knight wanted
some jewels to wear and to show,
with the ultimlte view OF selling
thtm. \ pair Of diamond earrings
aud two diamond rings, worth IN
all something over 300, were shown
her, and she liked them immensely. She
said that she would take them, and even II
she could not dispose Of them satisfactorily
she In all probability would buy them her
self. With the promise that she would
come in next day with the necessary money
she departed, and Mr.. Bough has since
been awaiting her return. He sent to the
address she had gwen him two or three
times, and ut last reported the whole occur
renee 10 Inspector Byrnes. The latter i'm
mediaiely recognized in Bough's deScrip-
ton OF Mrs, knight the woman who has
both aided and bailled him under the cor
rect name OF Ellen Peck.
The detectives found that the articles
stolen had been pawned for $3.50 with one
OF the Simpsons in Chatham street some
time in July. The jewels had been taken
there by some unknown person. who oh.
tanned the money, but on August lst WIZ
man who the Inspector knew was Mrs Peck
from The description given went to Simp-
sons and requested an immediate and pTi-
waite audience with the head OF the estab-
Iisbment. Her wish was granted. and into
Mr.. simpsons unsympatbetic ears the w0-
man poured forth a narrowing tale. She
said that she was rich, very rich-n fact
enormously rich-and that a short time
before some rascal had so far forgotten
himself as TO tear away from their snug
resting-place in her mahogany bureau. in
the superb room OF her magnificent man
sion, some jewels which she described
These were those which came from Mr..
Bougb. She said the thief had sent her the
pawn tickets. and she demanded the re-
turn Of the iewelry. Mr.. simpson refused
to do this. and Mr.. Peek, after INDUCING
in storm Of threats. took her departure.
She then sought out Mr. Champion Blssell,
an sttorney AZ No. % east Fourteenth street,
and engaged him to recover "hcr" pro-
perry. He obtained writ OF rcplevin for
the property, and simpson countered with
another writ OF repleyin.
\ civil suit was arranged. and was set
down by Civl,-Ju>tce Cl1ncy TO be tried
before him OF September II. Before that
date Detective-Sergeant Timothy Golden
had discovered the whereabouts OF the
stolen irwelry, had heard this story, and
had land his plans accordingly. Mr.. Bough.
accompanied by the gentleman from whom
he had originally purchased the welry in
dispute. identified it at simpsons by pri-
vate marks ~ that lie lad given TO Mrs.
knight. or Peek. Nothing was done until
September II. when Detectives Golden,
Mangin. and Murray went to the trial be.
fore Judge Clancy and heard Mr.. Peck
swear that she had bought the diamonds
in October last from man she called
George Il. Thomas. and that she had paid
500 for them. Thomas thereupon zorro.
borated her statements under oath. and
ate, the trial. which was adjourned. the
! detectives shadOwed HIM.
Inspector Byrnes got copy OF both Mrs
| Peck's and Thomas'S testimony, and, ac-
companied by BOugh, secured warrants fol
| their arrest. on the charges Of perjury and
grand larceny. from Poicc-Ju,tice White.
1t the Tombs Police Court. The woman
was arrested on sunday at her home, NO.
! 301 Putnam avenue, Brooklyn. and yester
duv morning Thomas was intercepted
while going down Liberty street, and was
! taken before Inspector Byrne, ut police
| Headquarters. He was very much fright
ened. and under very little pressure mad
full confession Of ,ue wboIa transaclou
| tie iaid that he bad known Mrs. Peck fol
long time. and had frequently borrowed
money from her. Just before her sui
| for the recovery Of the jewels pledged witt
Simpson he bad asked her to loan him $50
| She then took him into her confidence and
told him that il he would swear Is sh,
wanted him to, and as she would Instruct
him, she would give him the $50 and 81
more. He was hard up and in great need
OF the money, and accepted the offer with
out DELAY. The following day, he SAYS, hi
Ia. 4 "a OH, 4 fi.s.
the whole programme was laid out. HI
was assured that he ran no danger in doiha
a, she told him, and he Greatly had no feat
Of heing found out" He swears he hasn't
seen Mrs. Peck since the adjournment OF
her suit. He was locked Up at headquar
tiers, and, with Mrs. Peek, will be arraigned
to-day. The latter absolutely refuses ia
make any ststement OF any kind.
MR.. P,ck's first known adventure OF any
note was in 1878. when she was arrested by
Detective Golden for Swinding Il. 7. Bah.
Bit. the sOap-manufacturer, out Of $1,000
Since then she has been arrested several
tines, but - cleverlv has she covered W
her tracks that she has always managed to
get off. She in part made up for her for
mer usnsgreSsions last April when sle
aided Inspector Byrnes in hunting down
COlumbini, the noted Italian fOrger. who
stole $4,000 worth Of bonds from the Ne
Sorey mansion. OH Staten Island. II was
owing principally to Mrs. Pcck's testimony
that this criminal was convicted and sent
to Sing Sing for twelve years. She is re
gardcd by ;he police as 4 dangerous and
accomplished thief, but they are cOnhden,
that this time they will be able TO convict
her.