The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-08-17
MISS RELYEA'S SANITY.
Her Friends Have No Doubt She Il
Subject TO AberratiOn-DOes
Not Deny the Theft.

Ada Relyra Of 2s9 ECommunipaw ave
nue. was arrested on Saturday morning
by Detective Doyle Of Police Head
quarters. She is accused of breaking
into the apartments of Mrs. Cornelius
Duncan and stealing so from bureau
drawer.
Ada Relyea is about nineteen years
old and is an only child. Her father is
an employe OF the Central Railroad Com
pany and bears an excellent reputation.
Miss Relyea kept house for her father
and always proved herself loving and
devoted daughter. She wan prominent
worker in the Lafayette Methodist
Episcopal Church. and was loved and ad-
mired by her friends. She was regular fu
attendance at church with her father, be-
side being devoted to the interests OF the
Sunday school. She was pretty. affable
and facetious. She was sunusuallytpopu-
lar and had large circle of friends. who
moved IN the best society IN Lafayette.
About six months ago her mother, OF
whom she loved devotedly, died.
Friends of the unfortunate girl say that
since that time she has acted peculiarly.
Her brightness faded and her face devel-
oped sweet but sad expression.
Her friends noticed it and did all in
their power. 10 restore the bright, pleas
ant smilos, but their efforts were without
avail. Her actions became more
and more peculiar and caused
considerable comment. She did
not care to do anything or go anywhere.
but frequently she was found In the room
where her mother died, her face buried
in her hands, crying as If her heart would
break
A short time after Mrs Relyea's death,
Cornelius Duncan, a friend OF the Rel
yeas, moved into the same fat and on the
same floor with them. Mrs. Duncan had
known Miss Rely ca all her life. They were
intimate friends and worked hand in
and at church fairs and like entertain
ments.
HOPELESS MELANCHOLY.
For a short time Miss Relyea seemed
to be her old self again, but slowly and
surely she drifted into her old melancholy
manner fr.wda Which Pa Psined neT fAIns5 a.g
out of Mrs Duncan's apartments at viii.
Last Thursday afternoon Mrs. Duncan
called Ada and informed her that she
was going shopping. She lock the doors
leading to her apartments and
took the key with her. She left
in bureau drawer SO in money. When
she returned she found the doors locked
and everything apparently as she had
left it, but the SO was gohe. Be
fore making any alarm she searcned
in every nook and corner for the money
but was unable TO find it.. Mrs Duncan
LOlQ AQd OIL lut sAAduBc 0isdppcdAduSc VI
the money and to her surprise the girl
remarked in a cool manner that heI
rooms had been ransacked also but that
nothing had been stolen
The police authorities were notified OF
the theft. and Detective Doyle began an
investigation. He searched the house
high and low, assisted by the Duncans
and Miss Relegea- The girls sugges-
tious and actions caused Detective
Doyle to suspect her. On Saturday
Doyle, informed Ada that she must ac-
company him to Police Headquarters.
The. girl was at first very indignant, ont
finally consented to go she was
searched, and SIS and a handsome
gold watch found in her possession,
She pleaded innocence, but did not tell
satisfactory story as to how and when she
had come in possession Of the money and
watch.
JewelIer Rochat was called, and he
identified the watch as one he had sold
Miss Relyea on Friday, the day after the
money was stolen.
His statement unnerved her and she
broke into tears and then Acknowledged
that she had stolen Mrs. Duncan 8
money. Mr. Duncan refused to prose-
cute aud informed Chief NJ Murphy that
he would rather lose the money than do
So A complaint was finally lodged
against the girl by the police, and she
was bailed for hearing this morning
She walked home with Mr.. Duncan IN
silence. When she reached home she
confessed to her father. Her friends aod
neighboFs believe she is insane. The
members of the church VIII undoubtedly
appeal in her behalf.
The unfortunate girl was arraigned in
the Second Police Court this morning be-
fore Justice Kimmerly. Mr.. Duncan re-
fused to press the charge against her and
Justice Kimmerly laid the matter over
until tomorrow, when Miss Relyea
will probably be discharged. The girp.
uncle is said TO have been of unsound
mind, ana intimats friends state that the
entire family were similarly afflicted at
rirneS