The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-12-01
HE'SAPAL OF S9ODDARD
But Chief Murphy Thinks
Him an Innocent
Victim.
HOW THOMAS ]. DAVIS GOT IN 1T
Clever Detective Work That May
Serve as an Example to the
y Entire Police Force.
HOW THOMAS ]. DAVIS GOT IN IT


tanned by clever and hard work to fasten
upon Stoddard attempts to get money
from Southern people by means Of
forged letters. For the past three weeks
Chief Murphy has worked industriously.
Yesterday his efforts were crowned with
success and To-Day he stands as an exam
pie of enterprise and perseverance to
The work he undertook was diff
cult. Stoddard's schemes were almost
without a flaw and the mystery
surrounding his proceedings was beyond
the comprehension of any of Chief MUIR
phys associates. But the Chief worked
like beaver, and now alone is ready to
the forged letters which have attracted
so much attention.
ENTITLED TO CREDIT.
Chief MurpDy cannot be commended
too highly for his work, and to the con-
gratulations OF his friends he merely
bows in Acknowledgement IN the gentle
manly manner which has made him the
most popular man in the department..
Stoddard was first arrested for endeavor-
ing to obtain $50 from the Pittstield Ma
tional Bank by means of forged teie-
gram. His next scheme was an unsuc-
cessful attempt to obtain from Mrs. Belle
Duncan of BrookHeld, Mass. $500 by
Charles. Stoddard was then in the
County Jail under close watch and the
officers were unable to ascertain how he
was able to send out his letters. His
next fruitless attempt to swindle people
was in the name of Miss Winnie Davis,
daughter of the Confederacy, asking
General Beauregard and others. Stod-
dard's next scheme was an exceedingly
clever one, but it was exposed by Chief
Murphy, as were all the others.
October H. Policeman Reinard, of the
Third Precinct arrested Thomas jackson
Davis. railway engineer, of Gordons-
vile, Va, on a charge of drunkenness.
DAVIS was arraigned before Justice Davis
and committed to the County Jail for
thirty days. Stoddard made the acquaint-
ance of Davis who, he learned, was a
wayward fellow, but had relatives who
were Swell-to-do Southerners, and who
wouldNgladly assist him in establishing
himself in business.
THE BROCK LETTERS.
He learned tnat Davis had a sister
uamed Mrs Brock an brother named
Robert &. Davis, living in Gordonsville.
This was enough to attempt swindling
scheme and he at once set to work TO ac-
complish his purpose. About the same
time Davis was a prisoner in the County
Odlt, OhS " AAOib "hoSo NchEaeSty
Mrs. Andrews, resides at No.
215 st. Paul's avenue, was await
ing trial GU charge Of larceny.
Stoddard became intimate with him, and
when Mrs. Andrews callel to see her
fat her, Stoddard was introduced to her.
He told her pitiful tale of mis- persecu-
tion bv the police authorities. and hually
asked her if she would object to his hav-
ing his letters sent to her house and If
she would deliver them to him in the
Jail.
Mrs Andrews did not consent but still
did not refuse. so Stoddard secured ma
terials. and in a handwriting identical
with that of the letters pnrportng to
have been sent by Winnie DAVIS. penned
the following letter to Mrs. Brock, Davis
sister, signing it Mrs. Ellen NJ. Hunt
who is supposed to be mytn:-
JERSEY CITY, N. j., Oct. 81. 1891.
"DEAR MADAME write you in behalf of
your brother Thomas. who is just recov-
ering from a severe attack of tremens,
the result of protracted spree. He is IN
a frlghtful condition. He tried to commit
suicide by jamming his head against the
wall and as result his head is in mass
of bruises and he is black
and blue clear down to his
shoulders. both eyes are black and he is
in hardly rational state yet, though he
Is improving rapidly and will soon be
out. though he cannot work or go abroad
as his damaged appearance will not per.
nit. He was 80 bad at one time that l
secured help and had him bound hand
and foot to save his life. He is without
money and at his request I ask Won to
send him $25 or $50 at your earliest con-
do not send in registered letters as this
will necessitate his going to the Post
Office and he cannot go abroad for the
present. Send it either as a BANK draft
or as money in envelope. 1t will reacn
him safely if you direct to him as l state
at the end of this letter.
A TEN PERANCE PREACHER.
"When you write him speak encourag-
ingly and do beg him o eschew the use
of the damnable stuff that has killed so
many noble men and which will surely
end his days if he continues. Another
spree may do it
81 pity him from the bottom of my
heart. He is gentlemanIy. pleasant
spoken and might be useful man and
good Christian. l nave interested my
self in him and do hope ne can be pre-
vailed upon to give up drinking, as this
is his only failing, but it is an awful one.
He would write himself, but is 10 no
condition. l thought at one time that
erysipelas might set in and destroy him.
l WAS anxious to know where his people
lived. He has been so insane that he
could not tell his own name, age or any
thing reliable concerning himself and it
is only within day or two that he has
been able to tell much of anything
hope you will send the money 10 him at
once. Yours very truly,
MRS ELLEN NJ. HUNT"
Direct your letter to rnomas jackson
Davis, No 2l5 st. Paul's avenue, Jersey
City, N. j., in care of Mrs. Andrews.
ANOTHER SCHEME.
This letter mad no effect aud Stoddard
at once hit upon another plan more dar-
ing than his previous schemes. In
Brooklyn he had a friend who is an in.
flueniial business man and whose name
is withheld, and he wrote asking him e.
call at the County Jail aud see him. He
Informed the Brooklynite that Thomas
jackson Davis was friend of his and
that Davis intended obtsining money
from his brother and sister for his (Stod-
dard's) use. ALI he wanted his
friend to do was to receive all
letters sent to his house, no matter to
whom directed aud at once bring them tC
him His Brooklyn friend refused to en-
ter into the scheme, but Notwithstanding
this fact, Stodda d secured OiCS of wrapp-
ing paper and tea paper and upon the
pieces wrote directions TO his Brooklyn
friend what to do.
This scheme was TO obtain from Mrs.
Brock and Robert Davis 81, 200 each for the
purpose of starting Davis lu the nurse ry
| business with a friend of the supposed
| Mrs. Hunt. Stoddard communicated with
| Mis- Brock and Mr.. Robert Davis. aud each
time signed the name OF Mrs. Hunt, who