Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-04-17
Mrs. Grav, of PHILADELPHIA.

family whom will call Mitchell. 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, re-
spectacle, and worth clear 800, 900.
knew little or nothing about the
family until certain incidents occurred.
One day mis- wife was fatally injured in
railroad collision at point fifty miles
from home. When he reached her, in
response to telegram sent by stranger,
he found she had been removed to a
hotel, and was being teuderly cared for
by 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 gool
talker, and, in a genial 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 services, but he saw that
she was lady and would feel hurt by
env 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
iewelry was missing. She had with her,
when the accident took place, about a
thousand dollars worth of diamonds.
They had disappeared, 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 and few
other things, but pair of diamond ear
drops, two rings, and pin werc miss
ing.
was employed to proceed to the scene
of the late accident and seek to trace the
iewelrv. The collision had occurred
right at the depot in small town.
People about the depot aud at the hotel
assured me that Mrs. Mitchell had her
iewelry on when taken to the hotel.
The landlords wife was positive, and
the doctor who was called in was posi-
tive. and when | had worked the case
out l returned home to report'to Mitchell
that nobody but Mrs. Gray could have
taken the jewelry. He was astonished
and indignant, and not only vigorously
repudiated the implication, but dis
charged me from the case with the asser-
ton that was a novice in the professor.
No other detective, working without bias,
could have come to any other conclusion
than did, and, feeling sure of this fact,
l was not so much put out over his
action. have found in my long ex-
perience that most people who employ a
detective on blind case expect him to
think as they do, and to follow UP
theories formed in advance of his EN-.
ployment.
l went about other business, and il
was about four months before I saw
Mitchell again. Theu he sent for me in
an official capacity again. No reference
was made to my previous work, but
frcsher and other troubles had como to
him. A month after the death Of his
wife he had opened correspondence with
Mrs. Gray, and the result was that she
had come to take charge of his house.
He was without relatives, OF, at least,
without those who could aid him in his
situation, and she claimed to be free in
her movements. You will suspect, just
as did, that she had captivated him,
but he fought shy of any acknowledge
ment of the sort. She was in bis house
TO care for his children and to manage
domestic matters, and that was no ones
business but their own.
haven't told you about the bank. In
was situated justa square from bis house,
and exactly in rear of it. The house
fronted on one street and the bank on
another, and there was no alley between.
Indeed, the rear yard of the house led
right up TO the near door Of the bank,
and Mitchell used to come and go
through the yard In rear Of the bank
ing rooms, divided off by the usual rail
ing, were the private offices and 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 kennel close
to the door.
What the banker wanted to sec me
about was this lie had not only misse
money from his wallet at night, but ca
two occasions considerable sums Of
mone7 had been taken from small safe
which stood in his osicc outside the