The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1888-04-19
Two Clever Girls Caught.

The arrest at Birmingham, England, OF
the notorious Woodhall sisters, whose
strange influence over the late John Gill OF
New York was the means OF procuring for
them the sreater part OF his fortune, is an
nounced in Il cable dispatch received from
London. The story is that Alice, the
younger OF the sisters, resisted arrest and
endea vored to throw lighted lamp at the
officer.
The Woodhall sisters were OF humble
parentage, and came from England about
1870. Harriet was the elder, and the first
to arrive. She obtained employment as
cook in the household OF John Gill, Il
wealthy manufacturer OF piano hardware.
She was soon in high favor with her EN-.
ployer, and obtained permission to send
for her sister. Alice came and was Install
ed as chamberinaid. In 1871 Mrs. Gill
died. The Woodhall girls were neither
prepossessing of countenance nor youth.
full, but n fair education had been added
to their natural cleverness, and they made
the most of their opportunities.
Mrs. Gill had not long been dead beforethe
influence OF the two English girls over Mr..
Gill became very apparent. He gave them
presents OF money, furniture and fine
clothes, and lavished upon them appar-
emily more affection than he bestowed up.
on his children. Indeed the latter were
oiUCu ChCluucu lIOHi liS DTtStuCc dU tlt
will OF his two favored servants, and it is
said that one OF the daughters, no longer
able to endure the arrogance and insults
of her fathers favorites, was forced to
leave the house.
1t is estimated that these clever adven-
turers had obtained from Mr.. Gill not less
than 500, 600 when they attempted the
final stroke which made flight necessary
and eliminated in their arrest. That was
the famous bond transfer, effected as is
alleged, partly by cajolery and partly by
forgery Mr.. Gill had $50, 500 in per cent
registered United States bonds. They
were cent to the treasury department at
Washington with letter signed as
it appeared, by Mr.. Gill; requesting that
they be cancelled and reissued to
Harriet and Alice Woodhall. The
transfer blank on the back oi each bond
was properly filed out and signed. The
letter accompanying the bonds asked that
the new bonds be sent to Mr.. GilTs ad.
dress. The request was complied with. the
two servant girls secured the reissued
firm OF Fisk & Hatch. This was In May,
1888.
About this time the courts, at the in.
stance ofmembers OF Mr.. GilPs family, de.
clared him incapable OF managing his estate.
The contact OF the Woodhall sisters was
investigated. and things began tolook very
squally for them. Contest was made
against the validity OF {; deed transferring
to Harriet Woodhall one OF Mr.. Gi rs
houses in East Twenty sixth street. The
deed was declared void, but a mortgage
given by Harriet to an uptown bank to
secure a loan was held to be lien upon
the property.
Then old Mr.. Gill died and civil suit was
instituted to recover from the Woodhnls
$3.50, 600, alleged to have been fraudulent
ly obtained from Mr.. Gill. A judgment for
$S1, ,3O3.12 was rendered against them.
Threatened arrest on n criminal charge. the
With them. and suddenly fed to England
Several THOUSAND dollars we're left behind on
deposit Id various banks. This money was
siezed to satisfy In part the judgment sc,