The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1886-04-18
MRS. M1RsA 1LT4S MELIcK.
some Facts Regarding the Respectable
Witness for the Prosecution In the
Laverfy Trial.

co1fAo y oet5 Ac3Nrd1uS tAe Aekpectu Do
Witness for the Prosecution In the
Lavsrsy Trial.
TRENTON, April Ill Special Yes, it is
very true that Mrs Martha al. Marsh is
generally looked upon as the respect
able witness in the prosecution of State
Prison Keeper Laverty but take into con-
sideration the fact that all through the
trial she has been the boon companion Of
tie ssrumpet Minsie Sehaefer-and it is
avery trne saying that people sre known
by the company they keep ard she does
not show up ia very enviable light In
the FIRST place, she has an alag, for she has
been known to sign herself in one com
municasion as Mrs. Melick. In the second
place, she represented herself to Mr. Law
erty and was known up to q year ago, ut
the prison ut any rate, as q widow, not
withstandipg the fact that her husband
is living-even though he is bsreft of his
reason. At least she teld Mrs. LaveIty
about a year ago, that her husband
was an inmate Of the MoIristown Insane
Asylum. Before Governor Ludlow had
nominated Mr. LaveIty as Keeper Of the
Prison, this woman called on hlm repeat
edly, and urg her appointment rs one of
the Prison matrons, and she was duly con-
frmed as such at the first meeting of the
Prison Inspectors. after Mr.. Laverty's in
stalment in May, 1881 She held her pesl-
ton till the first of January last. when
she rendered her resignation. During her
service in the prison the record SHOWS that
she was absent nine full months, not nine
consecutive months, of course. but off and
on IN less than five years-a vacation en-
We'd by most hirelings in any State prison.
During all her absence she received full
pay. The Keeper has on several occasions
threatened to discharge her, but once she
begged off and at other times shs has man
aged to hold on at the personal interven-
ton Of Mrs. Layerty and right in here
comes her animus agaiHst the Keeper.
Some time ago she made application 10 the
Board of Inspectors for 4 little time of Cor
recreation. Keeper Layerty was consulted
AID opposed her application on the ground
that already she had taken more time off
than any other employee OF the prison.
It will be remembered that Annie Lenhardt
and Mary Bower are the women who stole
81 1000 worth of diamonds in YoDkers
Both havs been in the New jersey State
Prison under Keeper Lavertys manage
ment, and both have figured Ia the trial as
lis tCCQScL5. n tEN81Q VI 01,OOO Wdb
offered by the Yonkers authorities for the
recovery of the plumber. While both of
these thieves were in prison and the subject
of this article was a matron there, Mrs.
Marsh wrote to the Yonkers authorities
about the stolen property and signed her
self Mrs. Melick, Stockton street, Tren-
ten." The Okisf Of Peliee sent the con-
munication to Keeper Laverty for reference
as to who the woman was. The keeper
recognized the writing at once and went
strsight to Mrs. Marsh with it. She at first
stoutly deaisd having written the lsttsr.
The keeper as stously maintained that she
had, and when he asked her If anybody else
lived at 5 Stockton street she broke down
completely and acknowledged the whole
thing. This little scene between the keeper
aad matron occurred in the womeR's wing
Of the prison, both Annie Lenhardt and
Mary Bowers being present Annie merely
laughed, while Mary, who is supposed 10
know where the stolen booty Is secreted,
glarcd at Mrs. Marsh like tigTess as If.
could she bat have lain her hands on her,
she would have torn her to pieces.