Evening star., 1886-11-18
A Vermont Sensation.
A YOUNG LADY's REMARKABLE PLEA TO A
CHARGE OF FORGERY.

CHARGE OF FORGERY
A special from Burlington, VT. to the New
York Herald says: A wedding which was to
have taken place here Tuesday night was inter-
rupted in a surprising manner this afternoon
by the arrest of Miss Jennie Saxton, sister OF
the bride, on the charge OF forging two orders ON
the savings bank of Burlington. One order was
for $500 and the other for $500.
the parlors OF the Van Ness House. making
preparations for the evening, and when the oc-
casiOn OF his visit was made known the BRIDE
elect came near fainting. But the prisoner was
thoroughly selfpOssesseo and assured her sister
that she would be back all right in a few min
utes. Saying this she put on her wraps and ac-
companied the preseryer Of the peace to the
office of Justice d. j. Foster. Here she was con-
1ronted by her accuser, c. l.. Ward, the cashier
of the bank. The accused, who is a fine looking
young woman Of about eighteen, answered the
questions put to her In a straightforward man.
ner, saying that her name was Jennie Saxton
and her home Richmond, VT.
The story told by the cashier was a remark
able one. He said that on September last
just before the hour for closing the bank, Miss
SaXton presented al order purporting TO be
signed by John L. Mason. requesting the cashier
to pay TO the bearer $500. The money was
paid without hesitation, as MIR. Mason is one OF
order was taken into better light Mr.. Ward be-
came convinced that IL was a forgery. He
rushed to the door, but the lady had disap-
peared. He then determined not to say any
thing about the matter, with the idea that the
fair stranger might again visit him on a similar
errand and SO be apprehended.
Yesterday afternoon his patience was re-
warded. A bell boy from the Van Ness house
entered the bank and handed him an envelope
addressed in the handwriting which had 30
impressed him. 1t enclosed an order for $500
signed by John l.. Mason, OF Richmond, and also
a note stating that the writer was i'll and asking
that the money be sent to her at the hotel. An
officer was summoned and the young lady
When charged with forging the two orders
TOD y>a<1
drafts, bat said that Mr.. Mason owed her the
money, and had told her to write the orders and
sign his name TO them. She also asserted that
he would make the matter straight, and she as
tonisbed the court by writing q telegram TO Mr.
Mason, announcing that she was under arrest,
and asking him to come at once to Burlington.
This put a new aspect on the matter. and the
court decided before proceeding further 70
await the arrival of Mr.. Mason, adjourning the
At this point G. NJ. Delany, who lis married TO
an elder s(etefOf the accused, put in an appear
ance, and dis xpianation was still more sen-
the accused large sums OF money at various
times, had sent her to a convent, and had
looked generally after her interests. At one
time he sent her an apple with $50 concealed
inside. Delany also claimed that letters i'm the
girls possession would show that she had
right to the money.
Mr.. Mason is one of the directors of the Gen.
tral Vermont railroad and OF the savings bank
and is highly connected. He is living with his
second wife, and has a daughter married He
can clear Miss Saxton by declaring that he
gave her permission to draw money from the
bank, but there is much curiosity expressed
as TO how his family would regard this eXpia-
nation. On the whole, the affair is the sensa-
tion OF the season, and the trial is impatiently
awaited
LATER DEVELOPMENTS.
A telegram from Burlington, VT, last night
says: The trial of Miss Jennie Saxton, who was
arrested for forging orders on the Burlington
Savings bank in the pame of Millionaire John
l.. Mason. was postponed to allow her counsel
time To prepare his case. In default OF $500 bail
Miss SaXton was committed TO Jail. Mr.. Mason
and the prisoner had an interview to-day, in
which she asked him TO stand by her, but he
refused 10 do so. Miss SaxtOn now charges that
she was betrayed by Mason when she was only
13 years of age. and that she has continued TO
meet him by appointment up TO the present
time. She stated that as their homes were but
a short distance apart q code of signals was
arranged by him to let her know when to meet
him; and she further asserts that she has letters
from him making appointments and showing
their relations 70 each other. Mason insists
that IL is q case Of bIackmail