San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-03-31
BIG BERTHA.
How a Great SWindler and Her
Companion We're Cap
tured Here

How a Great Swindler and Her
Companion We're Cap
tured Here.
When the Southern Pacific train from
California, arrived hero yesterday, Capt.
Shardein and Detective Hughes and Van
Alstyne boarded the train and walked
through it to the Pullman palace car.
There they found q remarkably fine
woman Of dark complexion, handsomely
dressed, and who wore beautiful suite
Of diamonds. At her side was blonde
young man who was we'll attired and
had the manners and appearance of q
gentleman. These were evidently the
persons they were seeking, and the cap
tain approached them, saying: 81 am
the city marshal, and 1 am sorry to say
1t Ia my duty to arrest you under In
struotiOns received"
"And where pray" asked the woman,
"dO these Instructions come from"
Capt. Shardein then read the follow
ing letter:
"Arrest Bertha Heyman, alias big
Bertha" the confidence queen; aged
about 40; born in Germany; very stout
build; weight, $50; height, five feet four
and a half inches; hair brown: German
face, has four moles on right cheek; an
excellent talker; and a man, said to be
her son. who accompanies her; age %;
height five feet eight; light complexion
and hair and small light moustaohe.
Have large amount of baggage with
their trunks aud valises. Charge, OBJ
tanning money under false pretenses, an
lndictable misdemeanor. Left Los An
geies evening Of 9th for New Orleans on
first-class tickets, train 10. The woman
is the most noted confidence woman in
the United States. Secure all property
and valuables. l hold warrants.
CROWLEY,
"Chief of Police"
The woman saw at once that her game
was up and answered, IAN right, but
please don't make any noise about 1t. as
don't want people to ogle me-" The
valises and packages, and the party
moved out Of the car. OF course most
people guessed that an arrest had been
made, and as the prisoners bore some re-
semblance to TasoOtt, the Chicago muir
derer, and the woman who Is supposed
to be travelling with him, there was an
idea that the murderer. for whom a re-
ward of $4,000 is offered, had at last
been corralled. This added much to the
excitement. The officers secured also
three large saratoga trunks and then
drove their prisoners to the county jail,
where they will be detained until the
California officers arrive.
Bertha Heyman, the female prisoner,
was searched at the Jail and
five gold diamond studded watches
and quantity of diamonds we're found
upon her. On the male prisoner, who
gave his name as w. H. Stanley, was
found $l35 in currency and handsome
gold watch. All the property has been
taken charge of by the police.
Bertha Heyman has q most peculiar
and romantic history. Her maiden name
Is Sohlessinger and she Ia the daughter
of forger who has served five years In
In this country in 1873. and soon after
married Fritz Karko. They went to
Milwaukee and there she married Hey
man, although her first husband was
alive. In 1880 she first attracted public
attention by swindling 4. T. Perrin, q
palace car conductor, out OF $l035 and
escaped with impunity. Next year In
June 1881, she was tried at Richmond on
q charge OF swindling q Mrs. Pauline
Schlarbaum of $3.50 and jewelry and was
acquitted, but as she left the
court room she was arrested
and taken to New York on the charges
Of swindling Chas. Brandt of $3.50 and
Theodore w. Morris $500. In the
Morris case only she was convicted and
sentenced to two years In the states
penitentiary. She went to Blsokwall's
island where she was employed as
WardeD's servant and even there she
succeeded in victimizing German
named Korpe out OF 5000. Korpe, it is
said, was SO msddened by his folly that
he sought refuge in death and filled a
suicides grave.
Anon Bertha was discharged and
went to the famous Hoffman, House,
New York, hired fine suite OF rooms
and lived in high style and made the
acquaintance of both members Of the
firm OF Saunders & Hoffman,,
the we'll known New York brok-
ers, She worked upon them go
well that from Saunders she
obtained 1886 and dia m ond pin and
$500 for Mr.. Hoffman. She claimed to
be worth $s,000,000, and put mp bogus
security. 10: August. 1888, she wa;
sentenced to five years Imprisonment
for these swindles, and was only released
on March Both, 1887. Strange to say beI
arrest here was effected on the same day
one year after.
Bertha is remarkable woman, good
looking, Of fine physique, and most
objectionable and plausible disposition
and above all q perfect tatioisn. She ID
dangerous to masculinity, and much il
charged to her that is not made public
The prisoners were reticent and did
not seem much depressed. They said
nothing, but acted, and Major Teel was
soon retained. 1t is supposed that he
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