Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-02
A PRETTY PRISONER.
Ida Tucker, a Little Brunette Club
Swinger, Charged With the
MURDER OF A WEALTHY FARMER
For the Purpose Of Robbery, at Norwich,
n. Y, Two Years Ago.
SHE GOES TO JAIL INSTEAD OF A CIRCUS

Miss Ida Tucker or Mrs James Moran
as she styles herself, young and pretty
brunette, is in the Central station, charged
with the murder of PaTmer Rich, wealthy
farmer OF New South Berlin, Chenangc
county, n. Y.
On October 10, 1888, Rich left the farm Of
his widowed mother, with whom he lived,
and drove into the little town of Norwich,
to bank several thousand dollars in cash
which he had received in payment of a
mortgage he held. He stopped in front Of
the only hotel in the place, and throwing
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 a 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, it is said for cause. With
Mrs. Fox lived her husbands cousin, Ida
Tucker, very pretty, blackeyed, black
haired woman of % years.
LOOKING FOR THE LOST MAN.
When Rich failed to return for his horse
and buggy the next morning his mother
was communicated with. and search for
him was at once instituted. A Deputy
Sheriff went to the Fox house, and, showing
a photograph of the missing man, asked the
two women if they had lately seen the
original. They both declared they had not,
and rigid search OF the place failed to dis
close any trace of Rich. Suspicion still
pointed to the women, the rural police hold
ing the theory that Rich had been chlore-
formed and robbed, and his body cut to
pieces.
Ida Tucker bore the innuendoes Of the
townspeople for three weeks, but they
finally became irksome, and she went to
Utica. 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 vas found
to confirm the suspicion. Miss Tucker left
and the matter rested for two years.
Late Wednesday night Sheriff McCand-
less received the following telegram:
NORWICH, NY.
Arrest and hold Ida Tucker. 1 have warrant
from Governor Beaver for her arrest. Crime,
murder. She is with James Moran, teacher
of athletics, at some Casino Museum. Answer.
w. W. BROWN, Under Sheriff.
This was supplemented by telegram to
Inspector McAleese stating that Ida Tucker
lett Utica about the last of March.
WORKED UP THE CASE.
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 intimate
terms with her. Early yesterday morning 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 II
O'Clock train for Beaver and Grady was
taken along.
Miss Tucker, or Mrs. Moran, as she is
known at Beave', was found at a house on
Main street, preparing dinner for her hus-
band, who was employed as a striker in
blacksmith shop. She was not the least sur
prised at the announcement of the officers
errand. but calmly prepared to accompany
the detectives to Pittsburg. She said she
had been arrested for the crime before, but
no evidence had been produced to impli-
cate her. Her husband took the arrest
with the same unconcern, and was firm
in his belief in his wife's innocence.
STORY OF THE ACCUSED.
After Mrs. Moran was placed in the Gen.
trail station shs acknowledged to Inspector
McAleese that she lived with Mrs Fox, at
and said she saw Rich drive up to
the hotel the day he disappeared, but denied
that he entered 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
double club swinging act.
The Sheriff of Norwich was notified of the
arrest, and replied that officers armed with
papers would be here to-day to
take the woman back. He does not state
what additional evidence has been obtained
in the past two years which has led to Mrs.
Morran's rearrest
A reward of $500 is offered for the recov-
cry of the missing mans body, dead or alive,
and $500 for the arrest and conviction of his |
murderer.