Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-15
Then Bold Blackmailer and Then High
Roller in Europe
HER DARING ESCAPE FROM SING SING
WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH ]

hationai question: one was tnen living
Paris under the assumed name of D
Varney, and having plenty of money sh
lived in the best style, and no one suspecte
her real character. She once operated i
Pittsburg
When she was arrested her friends ap
pealed to the American Minister in he
behalf, and by that means obtained her re
lease, and she was able to get out of tn
country before her identity could be estab
lished. The remarkable history of thi.
woman is told for the first time in this story
a complete record of her crime and ad
ventures having been kept by Inspecto
Byrnes, of New York City, the whole max
ing one of the most interesting chapters o
his diary.
Too Pretty to Be Prosecuted.
In 1859 pretty girl 10 years old was ar
reited on the streets of New York for pick
| ing pockets. She was identified as Sophi,
Elkins, of Jersey City. She was caught il
the act of taking a purse from lady.
pocket, but on account of her beauty anG
tender years she was not prosecuted
Within a month after her release she wa.
arrested three times for the same offense
but each time the parties she had robbed re.
fused to prosecute because she was so young.
The police investigated her case and found
that she was working for Kate Gorham, q
notorious pickpocket Of that day. Still no
one would prosecute her and she was al
lowed to 60.
At the age of 16 the girl met Maury Har-
ris, famous pickpocket and thief, and
after brief courtship they were married.
Two weeks after the wedding the bride was
arrested for picking pockets, was tried, con-
victed and sent to States prison for two
years. She served the full term and after
her release turned shoplifter, at which she
was successful for time. She met and fell
in love with Henry Newman, alias Dutch
Heindrick, bank robber and sneak thief,
and the two lived together for awhile as
man ami wife. After few months they
quarreled and separated and the woman
then met and married Ned Lyons, an all
around thief This marriage was legal, the
woman's first husband, Harris, having died
some time before.
She Robbed Millionaire Stewart.
Soon after her second marriage the woman
began robbing the store of A. T. Stewart.
She was soon detected and one day was ar
rested with stolen cloak in her possession.
She was convicted and sentenced to Sing
Sing Prison for five years Ned Lyons was
much attached to his wife and as soon as the
prison doors closed on her he began making
prison short time, her conduct hav-
ing been good, she was allowed the
liberty Of the big prison yard
during the day. This was the opportunity
Lyons had been waiting for. He engaged a
fine carriage and employed John Killoran,
q noted thief, as driver. Taking we'll
dressed woman with him, Lyons drove to
the Sing Sing prison on a sightseeing tour.
They were admitted and Lyons told his car
riage driver, Killoran, to wait for them in
the prison yard. Sophia Lyons was in the
prison yard when the carriage entered and
recognized the driver. He managed to speak
to her and she got in the carriage without
being seen by the guards and hid under the
seat In this way she was carried out
safely. As soon as they were out of the
prison Lyons drove his wife to the railroad
station and put her on train with ticket
to Canada She got out of the country
safely, and in few months later Lyons
bought house in Detroit, where his wife
Joined him.
Bought a House With Stolen Money.
The house was paid for with money stolen
from bank at Waterford, N. Y, and few
months afterward Lyons was arrested for
the robbery, brought back and sent to Sing
Sing. Lyons LETT his wife in Detroit penni-
less, but she was well able to take care of
herself One day she sent note to promi-
nent and wealthy citizen of the town, a
man wellknown throughout the country at
that time, inviting him to call at her house.
He went and was invited into a private
room. AS soon as he entered the room she
induced him on some pretext to remove his
coat Then she took the coat and threw it
out of q window, and drawing a pistol COM
PEELED tine man to sign check for $40, 900,
payable to bearer. She got the check
cashed and her victim would not prosecute
her, preterring to lose the money rather
than have the matter become public. For
time Mrs. Lyons lived in good style, and
when her funds were low she would resort
to blackmail.
Finally, the Detroit police found out who
she was and she fled to avoid arrest. She
went to Boston and, taking rooms at fash
hotel, lived there for awhile in the
character of q wealthy widow from the
West She made many acquaintances, and
finally selected q wealthy merchant as q
victim for blackmail. She tried the same
plan with him that she had so successfully
worked in Detroit, only the check was fol.
$50, 900 this time. She got the check, but
her intended victim beat her to the bank
and stopped payment on it, and she did not
get the money.
Duel in New York City.
While in Boston Mrs Lyons made the |
of a gambler and man about |
town of the name of Brock. They came to |
New York together. When her husband |
was released from Sing Sing, he heard the |
story of his wife's new love, and as soon as |
he could obtain money enough he purchased |
, pistol and started out to kill Brock. He
walked into the latter's place of business
md began shooting at him without word
Brock drew a pistol and shot Lyons down,
Sounding him badly. AS soon as she
earned that her husband was shot Mrs.
Lyons hurried to his side and nursed him
pack to health. When he recovered they
Igreed to forget the past and lived together
gain.
They decided to leave New York and
started out to work country fairs, plying
heir old trade of picking pockets. LYONS
DON got into prison again. His wife. after
occurring a large sum of money, sailed for
europe where she assumed the name of
1rs. De Varney and the role of wealthy
American lady travelling for her health.
she went to Monte Carlo and played
leafiy, losins iaise BULLS oI money. linen
he visited various places of interest and
inally went to Paris to live. Mrs. LYONS
vas getting old at this time, 1883, but she
till retained much of her beauty, and, be-
ng woman Of considerable intelligence.
he was able to make good impression and
made friends easily.
Won an English NobIeman's Heart.
In Paris she met an English nobleman
Who became her devoted admirer. In the
french capital she lived in good style and