The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1885-11-15
A FAIR YOUNG SWINDLER.
WHO DECEIVED Ans ROBBED THE
NUN OF KENMARE.


NUN OF KENMARE
Admitted to the Sisters Home in this Cit,
Nun, and Disappearing With the
Institutions Money-Sister Glare Re
Tents and Bids her Fiee-Her History
About four months ago Sister Mary
Francis Glare received letter from youne
woman in Baltimore, setting forth that she
desired to become Sister in the Nuns
Orange institution, and to join in the work Of
assisting young girls. The writer gave hel
name as Ada Stage, said she was of goot
family in Baltimore, who were opposed t.
her joining the Catholic Church, and en-
closed the names of several persons I
Baltimore and Washington, to whom she
referred. The Lady Superior wrote tt
several of the parties to whom Miss Stays
referred, and received replies from each
that she was most estimable person, ano
in every way worthy of respect. Always
DESTROYS of obtaining assistants in hel
work she wrote the young woman kindly
letter. inviting her to go to Orange.
Miss Stagg arrived few days later, and
was received with open arms. There was
an air of refinement about her, and her
attire and wardrobe gave every indication
that she was what she claimed to be- She
was of medium height, had very interest
ing though not handsome face, intelligent
eyes, and her education apparently was
good.
In snort time Miss Stage had won the
affection of every member of the house
hold. She was assiduous in her religious
a. krx arI he
ing Sister. She assisted the housekeeper
in her tuties, attended to all kinds of
work. and was so much of favorite that
the keys of the house were assigned to her
care. She was confirmed, had taken the
first step toward being Sister, and was
given the name of Mary.
The reverend mother entrusted her with
missions to the home under the Sister
charge in this city, and also sent her with
money to deposit in one of the banks in
this city.
1t was found that money was missing
from the institution here, and the Nun of
Kenmare also discovered that her bank ac-
count was $50 short, that two of the de-
posts made were each $40 less than she
had supposed them to be. She sent for
Sergeant Conr, y, of the Orange police,
whom she knew well. She told HIM all
that had transpired, and he at once sus-
pected that Miss Stagg was the guilty one.
1t was finally decided that the mother
should charge Miss Stagg with the theft in
the detectives presence. This done,
bat so well did Miss Stage play her part
that Conroy was thrown of the track and
declared that he thought her innocent. She
became very indignant at the charge, and
at once left the institution. Conroy then
wrote to Detective McDayitt at Washington,
stating the circumstances and asking him
TO look into the matter. Among the claims
that Miss Stagg made was that she had been
employed in the Treasury Department at
Washington, for three years. she had pa
pers to show that person by that name
had been 80 employed. The next day Con-
COY received information from McDayitt
that the self-styled Miss Stagg was very
at Baltimore by Smith, West d Lyons, a
detective bureau, whom McDayitt said he
had notified. Before Conroy received Nc
Dayitt's reply, Miss Stagg had taken away
her trunk She went to st. Michaels
Hospital, Newark, where she remained for
q few days, and then went to New York.
While Conroy was carrying on correspond
ence with the detectives at Baltimore, the
30 called Miss Stsgg went to the House of
the Good Shepherd in New York, lad pre-
senting letters from promInents heople,
asked to lie admitted as Sister. She was
told to call again.
The Baltimore detectives informed Con-
roy that the young woman's name was
Mary Cronin, and that she also had several
aliases. She had boarded in house in
Washington. where Miss Ada Stagg also
boarded Miss Stagg was an estimable
young woman, who had been an employee
in the Treasury Department, and was now
ir the Land Office. Mary Cronin had
stolen papers from Miss Stage, and taking
the name of the latter, had obtained
a situation as servant in the house
of Charles Bodine, wealthy banker
residing at No. 313 Charles street,
Baltimore. She suddenly left one day,
taking with her large quantity Of
costly wearing apparel, $500 sealskin
sacque, and some valuables. Arrangements
were made by which Inspector Byrnes. of
New York, was ito send to arrest the
soman. Conroy had learned that her adj
dress was 429 West Fifty-sixth street, New
York. and so informed Inspector Hyrnes.
The Nun of Kenmare had appeared an4-
ious to have the girl brought to justice I'M
til Conroy informed her that arrangements
were about completed for her arrest. Con
roy then perceived signs of relenting. That
day be telegraphed to the Baltimore detec-
tiyes to hurry up matters, and in the after
noon saw the Reverend Mother at st. Mi
chael's Hospital, Newark. He requested
her to keep the matter quiet. She in
formed him that he was too late, that she
had sent messenger to the girl, warning
her that the police we're after her. In the
meantime the Baltimore detectives tele-
graphod Inspector Byrnes to make the ar
rest. The latter sent Detective Hanley to
West Fifty-sixth street, bnt he found that
fshe messenger from the Mother Superior
had preceded him about fifteen minutes,
and the bird Lad flown.
The fair swiadler is still at liberty. Ser
geant Conroy believes that she is now In
Newark 1t has been thoaght she was the
girl who has been swindling Newark store
keepers of late.