Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-03-14
A STARTLING STORY.
"A Gang of Hotel Thieves UH
earthcd i'm Chicago.

earthed i'm Chicago.
CHICAGO, March l3.-Two days ago
the North Avenue Police Station was
notified that detective was wanted
at 72 Rosebud Street, and two Off
GERS responded to the call. The house
was one of long row of brick tene-
ments, which was filed with fami-
lies living in all degrees OF poverty.
In bare room on the second floor
the officers found woman seated in
ia broken rocker with a babe
in her arms and a poorly-clad
boy of about four years old by her
side. The woman was good looking
and apparently refined. In a few
words she explained that there ex-
listed in Chicago an organized band of
male and female thieves, which con-
fined it's operations to the large hotels.
Her husband she discovered months
before was member of such gang,
and she had determined finally to
notify the police. The officer listened
in astonishment whilst she told the
story. She then uncovered q pile Of
goods in a corner of the
room. There were five camel
hair blankets, costly linen shirts,
empty purses, sealskin cap, heavy
overcoats, etc. On Monday night the
officer arrested Frank Emmett, .
trusted watchman at the EN-
met House, together with two
other persons. Several others of
the help, male and female,
are implicated in the organ
lied scheme of systematic robbery.
Others of the hotels that have been
victimized in the same manner for
months past by their employees, and
the police have recovered several
wagon loads Of stolen goods. The
woman who gave the information to
the police was asked why she gave her
name as Mrs. James Murray, and told
the following
STORY OF HER LIFE,
Which there is every reason to be-
lieve is true: "My maiden name was
Lizzie Josephine Kerns. My father
was John Kerns, who, many years be-
fore my birth. was Lord Mayor of
Dublin. / was born in Dublin, and
lived there until 1 was sent
away to 60 on with my education.
My father was wealthy and we were
happy family. There were Elk sisters
of us and l was beauty and was
spoiled. In the Ursuline Convent Of
Thurles l received my instruction
in the higher branches in
music and painting. Then l was sent
to Boulogne, France, where finished
my education. Shortly after I re-
turned to Dublin, where went out
in society a great deal until my
father died. While we were all
still in mourning my mother
fell heir to another fortune ny the
death of relative in Birmingham.
Part of the property was a villa and
ground at Aston Park, Birmingham.
We moved there next year, it was q
delightful place and my mother still
lives there with my sister Beatrice.
In that villa / was induced
to James Murray, who was then q
wealthy shoe manufacturer in Linn
erick. We were married in 1869, but
we were not very happy together.
Two years after our marriage we
moved to Philadelphia. He
is still in that city a member
of the shoe manufacturing firm
Of Hayes, Murray & Co., located
at the corner of Ninth and Market
lstreets. We quarreled q great deal
about trivial matters. Finally he
sent back to Ireland for some Of his
poor relatives, and they came to live
with him. They made my life
miserable and my husband up
held them in every thing. Finally
left and went to New York. He did
not forgive me but commenced di-
vorce proceedings on the ground Of
desertion and was granted q bill. In
New York was forced to go to q
cheap hotel. Frank Emmett was porter
in the hotel and was taken sick
and laid ill for many months. He
befriended me in many ways. When
/ recovered went to live with him
That was four years ago. Until we
moved to Chicago / believed him
strictly honest. We would have been
married, but that, as Catholic, l am
still the wife of James Murray, in
spite of civil divorce"
The officers who investigated the
case found many corroborative circum-
stances which convince them Of the
truth of Mrs. Murray's story.
New POstoffices.
WASHINGTON, March 13.-Postofices
have been established at Cole Grove
and Riviera, Los Angeles county. with