Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1890-05-09
A Strange Case.

Miss Ida Tucker or M.s. James Moran.
as she calls herself, was arrested in Beaver
Falls last Thursday, for the murder or
suspected murder of Palmer Rich, a
wealthy farmer of CheBaHgo Co. :. y, "a
year and bali ago.
On October 10, lsss, Rich left the farm
of his widowed mother, with whom he liv-
ed, and drove into the little town If Nor
wich 10 bank several thousand dollars ia
cash which he had received in payment Of
a mortgage he held He stopped in front
of the only hotel in the place, aud throw
ing the reins to the hostler. told him not
to stable the horse, as he would be back IN
a few minutes. Rich then started down
street, and was seen to enter little two
roomed frame house, about block away.
He was never seen again.
The house Rich entered was rented by
Mrs. Fox, young woman whose husband
had left her, ii Is said for cause. With
Mrs: Fox lived her husbands cousin, Ida
Tucker, very pretty, black-eyed, black
haired woman of 23 years.
When Rich failed to return for his horse
and buggy the next morning his mother
was communicated with, and search for
him at once instituted A Deputy Sheriff
went 10 the Fox house house, and, show
ing photograph OF the missing man, ask
ed the women ii they had lately seen the
original They both declared they had
not, and rigid search of the place failed
to discover any trace of Rich. Suspicion
still pointed to the women, the rural po-
lice holding the theory that Rich had been
chloroformed aud robbed, ana Lis body
cut to pieces
Ida Tucker bore the inuuendoes of the
townspeople for three weeks, but they fl
nally became irksome, and she went to
L tica. When she took her trunk to the
depot the authorities searched it again. the
rumor having spread that it contained the
body of the victim, but nothing was found
to confirm the suspicion. Miss Tucker
left and the matter rested for two years.
Last Wednesday night Sheriff McCand-
less of Allegheny Co., received the follow
ing telegram:
NORWICH, y. Y.
Arrest and hold Ida Tucker. | have
warrant from Governor Beaver for her ar
rest. Crime, murder. She is with James
Moran, teacher of athletics, at some Cas-
ino Museum. Answer.
W. W. BROWN, Under Sheriff.
This was supplemented by telegram to
Inspector McAleeSe stating that Ida Tuck
er left Utica about the last of March.
Superintendent O'Mara and Detectives
Shore and Robinson at once started in on
the case. They found that Miss Tucker
had appeared at the Casino about three
weeks ago, and that James Grady, who is
now performing there, had been ON init
mate terms with her Mr.. Grady was
aroused from his slumber in his room over
Miller's restaurant, and he stated that Miss
Tucker had gone to Beaver with James
Moran. The officers took the IL o'clock
train for Beaver and Grady yas taken
along
Miss Tucker or Mrs. Moran, as she is
known at Beaver, was found at a house on
Main street, preparing dinner for her hus
hand who was employed as striker in
blacksmith shop. She was not the least
surprised at the announcement of the Off
GERS enand, but calmly prepared to ac-
company the detectives TO Pittsburg. She
said she had been arrested for the crime
before but no evidence had been produc
ed To implicate her. Her husband took the
same unconcern, and was firm in his be-
lief in his wife's innocence.
After Mrs. Moran was arrested she ac-
knowled to Inspector McAleese that she
lived with Mrs. Fox, at Norwich, and said
she saw Rich drive up to the hotel the
day he disappeared, but denied that he en-
tered the Fox house, or that she ever saw
him again. She stated further that on
two weeks from next Monday she and her
husband were engaged to open the season
with a small circus in Virginia in IA double
club swinging act.
The Sheriff of Norwich was notified of
the arrest, and replied that officers armed
with extradition papers would take the
woman back. He does not state what ad-
ditional evidence has been obtained in the
past two years which has led to Mrs. Nor
rams rc-arTest
\ reward Of 1900 is offered for the re
covery of the missing mans body, dead or
alive, and $500 for the arrest and convict
ion of his murderer