The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-10-15

society.
CONVICTED By Oracle GILBERT.
swindler Wells ound Guilty Of Fors-
ery-Story OF a Famous Crime.
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. II. - James T..
Wells. who has been on trial for some
time past on charge of forgery, was con-
vlcted this evening. The charge was con-
nected with a sensational case which
occurred q number of months ago, in
which several persons, by means Of false
impersonation by Mrs. Gilbert. alias Ollie
Hutchins, secured loan on some real
estate belonging to a Miss Dick. Mrs.
Gilbert was arrested at South Bend, Wash
In 1890 a woman calling herself Miss
Emma Dick, and accompanied by
Wells and man named Pitcher, went be-
fore notary here, and the woman swore
she was the owner of certain property
here which she desired to sell. The no.
tary at,ested her signature and the
property was sold for $1,000 Some
time after j. was discovered that
the sale was fraudulent, as the woman
was not Miss Dick, the real owner OF
property. For two years not trace of the
forgers could be found, but finally a woman
rested in the state of Washington and
confessed the crime, duplicating Wells
and Pitcher The two men were arrested
but Pitcher, when arrested, took poison
and dropped dead.
tfhe woman above referred to, who was
known as Ollie Hutchins and late. As Mrs
Grace Gilbert when first placed on trial in San
Francisco on July last, testified that she had
received 81 $50 "a her share of the booty in the
swindie In which she persoDated Miss Dick. In
cross-examinatiop she said that she was
% years Old and a native of Illinois. She went
to San Francisco in 1854 and tried hard to get
work. She failed and went from bad to worse.
IN 1857 she was convicted OF misdemeanor, for
having lewd photographs of young girls taken,
and served twenty months and a half imp ris-
onrnent in the house of correction. After her
release she went to Oakland, and there led a
dissolute life. She was taken sick and went to
the county hospital for treatment. 1t was after
leaving there that she met Pitcher and the for
gerry was committed.
At o'clock in the afternoon, on tho third
day after the money had been secured, Oracle
GILBERT, OF Ollie Hutchins, quietly slid out of
the city. She went 10 Sacramento, stayed there q
day, then boarded train for Portland She was
in Portland when the local detectives, ten days
after the money was secured, began their
search for her. She did no. stay in Portland,
sister, Mrs. J. A. Howe, whose husband con-
ducts a grocery. Even the quiet little capital
city OF the state OF Washington was not safe
retreat, she argued, and her conclusions
were we'll founded. She left Olympia none TOO
soon. In January, 1891, the police located her at
Olympia. Detective Charles Cody, who was an
official at the house of correction when she was
former prisoner in the Institution under the
name OF Ollie Hutchns, was detailed to 20 to
olympia and identity her and to bring
her back IL the information proved
correct. When Mr.. Cody arr we'd there
the bird had flown. lie found
the sister, Mrs. Howe, however. aud passed the
night at her house. There il WAS that the police
first secured photograph of the woman
Detective Cody was compelled to return
alone. The next venture of the girl was q
most daring one. Directly across from Olympia
on the opposite side of the long, narrow
arm OF Puget sound, rise the rugged,
grand and majestic Olympic mountains.
The country beyond the mountains is
seldom penetrated even by hunters or
projectors. In this country Oracle Gilbert
thought she could escape the men whom she
knew To be hunting her. But from Olympia the
mountains are never crossed, and tedious
roundabout journeg was necessary for
her 10 reach the country she imagined
would afford her shelter. Accordingly
she went by Puget sound steamers down the
There was fatiguing journey on a pony down
the coast OF the straits 10 Pysht, n little
settlement Just above Cape Elsttery From
fyshs she penetrated thu wilderness. going IN
land nearly forty miles over bride trail that
runs down into the Qniilayute valley IN to the
Hob. II was III this country, undoubtedly the
widest on the Pacific SLOPE, where bear and
mountain lions are common and elk roam nm .
DISTURBED that Gfac.e Gilbert sought a home
There had been rumors that the govern
nent would soon survey the land, throw.
ing IL open 10 p-e-emptIon, ana she hopcd
10 acquire o farm, though as vet no
wagon Aad ever rolled within twenty miles If
the claim that he selected. In this adventure
however. the giTi was not alone. She was sun
ported ia her endeavors by Charley Gilbert.
man who had bCeu q convict with her
IN tha san Francisco house oi correction and
who Lad Joined her in the far North They
had resolved II lead better life, TO gain a home
AMI 10 live cspeCtei ii their old aga
Bat the goTernlaent survey never came,
aII after five months Of lie in tba
decay wilderness they resolved t. seek home
where they could meet friends. but still isolated
from the wo~id They abandoned the claim,
that they We're holding aud left ma
country. Asa:u they were none too 500,
Through letters written by the woman To har
sister IL Olympia the detectives located tho
fugitive IN tia QuslIayu;o country. Thor
Claims had been deserted bat lew rnoaths
when be'e.t.Fs Cody mGue the sarlc trim
down Puget sound, down the straits. over tie
lone bride t?a.! and into the liltle valley tht
they had deserted. Th4a all trace o. the woman
ga, again lost Tie GI5erts found 8 opie,
aoWa- they we're united - marriage In 4
Page. sound city, ami thca tooA IN their rssi.
aea-- st eoutA Bend, r4c lie county, IN thts
s:a,c. Here they bought a home ard lval
quietly, nnu, the appearance of Detective Cody
wao tfoA Oracle back Tor tris. to san Fran.
g.sS2i
suicide 90 a Brave Policeman.
NV N,s6. oct lt-policeman George
Jones, - years old. OF last Twentv-secord
Street station. shot ana MORALLY wounded
himself IT. the abdomen last evening wbjle