The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-07-30


valuable silverware which was stolen
from DR.. Hunter St. Johns residence
last March.
About week ago Jordan Taylor and
his wife, Martha, both servants at
Judge Robertsons residence, were ar
rested and placed in Jail, charged With
the theft. This was done on informa-
tion secured by DR.. st. John, but he
had not received or located any of tho
silveware.
Officer Schancks was detailed to work
up the case. Tuesday he went to Dr.
Christians residence and saw an old
colorcd woman named Many, who is
employed there as u cook. The officer
told her that Taylor and his wife had
gotten her into trouble on account Of
the stealing, and he had come to take
her to Jail. Aunt Mandy trembled like
an aspen leaf, and tho tongue which
had heretofore been doggedly silent
was loosened and the whole story of the
theft was revealed to the officer
Sho said that some time last February
Martha Page, as She was then not mar
ried to Taylor, sent the silvcrwarc to
her to be stored 1t was placed in her
room, where il remained for {, few DAYS.
She suspected that it had been stolen,
and fearing that She would get into
trouble herself she told Martha she
would have to move it. But Martha
thought there was no occasion for alarm,
saying that DR.. st. John was SO rich he
would never miss it. Martha was too
c it,rt yfrrr : .e.;1
Mandy called the colored boy Mack, who
carried it to Marthas room. Martha
had given her castor for storing the
goods, and she promised the officer to
write to Lexington and get it, whittier
she had sent it to some of her people
The officer then found that Jordan
TaYlor's parents lived near Fincastle.
on the Catawba. He had a pretty good
idea that the silver had been shipped
there, and in company with DR.. ST.
John he drove there Tuesday. Stopping
at Fincastle they got search warrant
for G. E. Taylor's house, and Mr..
Schancks was deputized as special con
stable to mako the search.
They found the house in lonely
hollow about four miles northwest Of
fincastle. The occupants made no resist
ance and after short search portion of
the long lost silver was found packed in
large dry goods box. 1t had been
shipped from Roanoke some time be.
tween February 25 and March 5.
They also found fine carpet, which
was stolen from some family in this
city, and several other pieces of ware
was discovered which had been written
some time last March from Jordan
Taylor to his mother, asking il the box
had arrived. He was very anxious
about it, and warned his mother to saw
nothing about 1t.
The box was shipped back to Roanoke
yesterday morning and Officer Schancks
and DR.. st. John returned Tuesday
night much worn by n long drive, but
with proof positive that the guilty
parties were in jail, and being doubly
rewarded by finding the silver, several
pieces of which were hcirlooms, having
been in the family of Mrs. ST. John for
moro than hundred years.
Martha Taylor is locked I'D in cell
at police headquarters, and her husband
in the city Jail. Officer Schancks gave
instruction to the jailor to intercept any
letter that might pass from one to the
other. Tuesday evening a long lotter
came over from tho Jail directed to
Martha, and Policeman Eanes who was
in charge cut it Off. 1t was handed to
Officer Schancks on his return and
proved to be dead give away.
Jordan tells his wife to bear up
bravelY that he v i'll stand by her. She
Is suspected of stealing the ware while
he is thought to DO innocent. lie
promises to get her out of the trouble
and warns her not to speak to any one
about it, He admonishes her if the
things are found to plead not guilty,
and say that Mandy gave them to her.
The closing phrase of The letter says the
goods are worth $500 and will make
them rich, they can got out all right.
The case has been we'll worked up.
Some of the ware is yet missing, but
1T is likely that Schancks will nd it
before he is through. The preliminary
examination is set for hearing Friday
Yesterday evening Officer Schancks
took Jordan from the Jail and placed
him in front of Dr. st. John and the
stolen articles in d room at police head
quarters. He denied taking any of the
things, and said that Martha had gotten
them somewhere-ske told him from
Mrs. Christian. After making several
crooked assertions his wife was brought
in She at first refused 70 talk, but
Schancks let her know that Jordan had
told good deal. She then said that
che and Mandy took the articles. Those
Chat were missing had boon sent to
Lexington by her, as they had divided
up. Thus the guilt was laid on Aunt
MANDY also. warrant was issued for
her arrest and was executed last night
by Schancks.
The popularity of the case is tina. DR..
ST dohn did not miss the articles until
within less than two weeks ago. On tho
spur of the moment he had suspicion
and both parties were arrested Now
the evidence is complete and may send
three or four to the penitentiarv.