Montgomery County sentinel., 1891-07-24
"On her left hand I had noticed

"On her left hand had noticed a
curious ring, and the day on which
came 10 Clifton saw its exact counter
part on the hand of lady at this hotel.
Confident that two such rings DO not
exist, | made inquiries Of this lady rela-
tive to the one | had seen on her hand.
| could only learn that it belonged to
friend, who did not wish her name men,
toned in connection with it.
"The person with whom this lady is
more intimate than any one else in
Clifton is Mrs. Mary Ashleigh. whom
suspect to be the owner of the ring,
which | have not seen since the time
specified.
"'You do not suspect that Mrs. Ash
leigh was connected with the burglary.
do you ? the detective asked, in tone
of surprise mingled with horror.
"And it is not strange that he was
astonished and Mortified at the idea of
her guilt, as Mrs. Ashleigh seemed to
be one of the wealthiest as she was one
Of the handsomest aud most attractive
women in Clifton.
i suspect only what | have told
you, | replied and If you base your
future investigation upon what I have
said, | do not wish to publicly figure in
the affair"
"'You shall not. And I will prose-
cute my Investigations in such a way
that Mrs. Ashleigh, if innocent, shall
not know that the faintest suspicion
ever attached to her.
"To make the story as short as posi-
BILE /: In the cottage occupied by Mrs.
Ashleigh were found nearly all the spois
of the pocket-picking, the larceny and
the burglary, besides burglars tools and
innumerablc articles for effecting dis
guise Confronted with these evidences
of her guilt. she calmly said
The daughter of poor but estima-
Bile parents, more than fifteen years ago
| left my home in disgrace, to get my
living by my wits.
Eventually, attached myself to
gang of miscreants, and met with won-
derful success as pickpocket and con-
fdence woman.
My face and manners easily won
me the attention of gentlemen who i'm
plicitly trusted me, and whom 10 vari-
Gus ways victimized without arousing
their suspicious.
For instance, the impressible teller
of the bank in this place was fascinated
by my charms, smiling as the words
left her lips, and more than once has
explained to me all that an inexperi-
enced cracksman need know in order to
appropriate the contents of the vault
without leaving any clew to his identity.
"'I have wonderful faculty of re-
membering the names and faces of those
whom have victimized. and wherever
| 90 am on tho lookout for them.
Learning that you, addressing me,
were in Clifton, | felt certain that you,
seeing it, would recognize the ring which
| carelessly exposed to your view on the
occasion when relieved you of your
valuables. at once obtained 1t from
her to whom had lent il, but you had
seen it, and have no doubt that it was
the immediate cause Of u revelation Of
my misdeeds.
"She was arrested, tried, found guilty
on various counts, and sentenced to i'm
prisonment for fifteen years, persistently
refusing to divulge her real name.
"IIer two servants were found to be
her accomplices, and each was imprs-
oned for five years,
"The impressible teller Of the Cliff
ton national bank was discharged from
his position.
"The ring in your hand MRS. Ash
leigh gave me 'as partial compensa-
ton for tho loss you sustained at my
hands two years and more ago."