The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1891-05-23
MRS. GRAY WAS CHARMING.

4hllNlSll, says d "lltSl III tli> W."
York SIN. The family consisted of
husband, wife and two children, the
latter being boy aged five and a
girl of seven. Mitchell was a private
banker known to be honest, reSpeC
table and worth a clear SIoo, 900. |
knew little or nothing about the
family until certain incidents occur
red. One day his wife was fatally
injured in a railroad collision at
point fifty miles from home. When
he reached her, in response to
telegram sent by a stranger, he
found she had been removed to a
hotel, and was being tenderly cared
for by a woman who gave her name
as Mrs. A. B. Gray, Of Philadelphia.
She was on the train, but suffered no
injury
Mrs. Gray, as might as we'll tell
you now, was petite, good looking,
a good talker, and in a general way
captivating. The fact Of her taking
charge of Mrs. Mitchell, as she had
done, proved her tender heart. She
told Mr.. Mitchell she had been a
widow eighteen months and was
practically alone in the world, and,
though he was burdened with grief
and anxiety, he did not forget to
thank her for her great kindness
and to take her address. He would
have offered her money for her ser
vices, but he saw she was a lady,
and would feel hurt by any such
action She resumed her Journey,
and he took his wife home to die
of her injuries. 1t was three weeks
after her death that | came into the
case. After everything was over,
the husband suddenly discovered
that his dead wife's jewelry was
missing. She had with her when
the accident took place about 81, 1000
worth of diamonds. hey had dis
appeared, and when he came to run
over events in his mind he could not
remember that they had come home
with her. Mrs. Gray had turned
over to him Mrs. Mitchell's purse,
few other things, but a pair of dia
mond ear drops, two rings and
pin were missing.
was employed to proceed to the
scene Of the late accident md seek
to trace the jewelry. The coils on
had occurred right at the depot in
small town. People about the depot
and the hotel assured me that
Mrs. Mitchell had the jewelry on
when taken to the hotel. The land,
lords wife was positive, and the
doctor who was called in was posi-
tive, and when | had worked the
case out | returned home to re
port to Mitchell that nobody but
Mrs. Gray could have taken the
jewelry. He was astonished ard
indignant, and not only vigorously
repudiated the implication, but dis
charged me from the case, with the
assertion that | was a rovice in the
profession. No other Diet, ctive,
working without bias, could have
come to any other conclusion than |
did. and, feeling sure of this fact, |
was not much put out over his
action. l have found in my long
experience that most people who
employ a detective on blind case
expect him to think as they do, and
to follow up theories formed in ad-
vance of his employment.
WIDOW GRAY INSTALLED
| went about other business, and
it was about four months before
saw Mitchell again. Then he sent
for me in an official capacity again.
No reference was made to my
previous work, but tresher and
| other troubles had come to him. A
month after the death OF his life he
had opened correspondence with
Mrs. Gray, and the result was that
she had come en- to take charge OF
his house. He was without relatives,
| or, at least, without those who could
aid him in his situation, and she
claimed to be free in her movements.
You will suspect, ust as did, that
she had captivated him, but he
fought shy Of any acknowledgment
of the so t. She was in his house
to care for his children and to man
age domestic matters and that was
no ones business but their own.
| haven't told you about the
bank. 1t was situated just about a
square from his house and exactly in
the rear of it. The house fronted on
| one street, and the bank on another,
and there was an alley between. In
deed, the yard of the house led right
up to the rear door of the bank, and
Mitchell used to come and 90
through the yard. In the rear of
banking rooms, divided off by the
usual railing, were the private
offices and the vault. A burglar
alarm was connected with the front
doors and windows, but none with
the back. A large and savage dog
guarded the rear, having a kennel
close to the door.
What the banker wanted to see
me about was this He had not only
missed money from his wallet at
night, but on two occasions consid-
cradle sums of money had been
taken from a small safe which stood
in his office outside the vault. One
of the mysteries was in the taking
of the money. He employed teller
and a book keeper, neither of whom