Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-17

because would have watched her."
"Why?"
"To see what she would do"
Are you a public ofiicer?"
"No. sir
And yet you would have watched her?'
"Yes. SIR"
Didn't you watch her?"
''No, sir.'
Didn't you get behind show case to observe
her?''
well. then, you did watch her?'
"Ies, sir.
Detailing the conversation he had with Mrs
kagland in Richmond the witness said neither
there nor elsewhere did she deny taking the
ring.
QUESTIONED BY THE JUDGE.
Judge Bradley-Did Won not say a moment
ago that Mrs. Ragland denied to you in Rich
mona that she did not take the ring?
The witness-I mean
Judge Bradley-Answer nv question.
The witness-Yes, sir; she did.
MI. Hamilton, to the witness-I think that is
all want from YOU sir.
on redirect examination, the witness ex-
planned that while he had been indicted here
thlrty-two times, all the indictments related to
the same ALLEGED offense. and that he had been
acquitted. The cases of suspected shoplifters
reported to the firm were those in which he
mad detected the persons in the act of thiey-
ing. Search had never been made in such
cases.
Mr.. Hamilton objectilg to the further ex-
ANIMATION Of the witness in that direction, Mr..
the plaintiff rested on the Assumption
that the witness was acting with the full
approval OF his employers, and he wished to
show just what things in connection with such
occurrences the firm were cognizsnt Of and ap-
proved.
The court stated that the witness had e1-
pialned that he was left to act he thought
proper and he would sustain the objection, to
which ruling Mr.. Davis noted an exception.
Continuing, the witness said that sometimes
he said to suspected parties, Come into this
room, and sometimes he invited them.
Mr. Davis-Did you ever make such matters
public?
Mr.. Hamilton-We object.
The Court-Objection sustained The mat
ter is immaterial and no defense if true
Mr.. Davis noted an exception and turned the
witness over to Mr.. Hamilton. To Mr.. Hamil-
ton he stated that he was indicted jointly with
McElfresh and McDevitt
John II. Olcott was recalled, and stated that
MI. Flinders visit to Richmond was in con-
nection with the firms business He saw the
meeting there between him and Mrs. Ragland,
and 1t seemed a pleasant one.
IN CHARGE OF THE SILVER COUNTER
Mrs. Lydia W. Hobson Of Richmond said
that on January 80, 1891, she was employed in
the Boston House. Between 1 and that
afternoon she was in charge of the
silver counter. At that time Mrs Ragland
and her sister came up to the counter and
looked at napkin rings. The rings were of
two shapes, round and square Some we're
Kept In boxes and others In cases. No
other purchasers were at the counter except
Mrs. Ragland and Miss OHare They pur-
chased two rings. Witness made out the
checks and started to send the money TO
the cashier by the cable. The cable was
broken. and, after trying 10 get boy, witness
took the money over TO the gentlemens fur
mshlng countei. where she handed the money,
a S2 bill, to clerk &c be sent up. She then
stepped across to the opposite counter to
gise the package to boy there TO be
wrapped up. She was gone about five minutes,
and on returning she saw the two ladies pnss
into the small room with Mr.. Film
ders. About eight or ten minutes later
MIR. Flinders came TO the counter Witness was
asked. but not allowed TO state what Mr.. Flinders
told her, but she stated that IN conse-
quence Of what he told her she made
a search for missing napkin ring. but could
not find it. She no one but Mrs. Ragland
and her sister at the counter, and she thought
that she left the case open. The missing
ring was In box and was more costly than the
loose ones From the time she left the silver
counter and returned witness had her back to
the two ladies.
To Mr.. Hamilton the witness stated that she
relieved the regular silver counter clerk. The
two ladies purchased two of the napkin rings con-
tanned In boxes. She was sure that she gave the
boy two boxes in which to wrap the rings In
showing the rings witness took the rings from
the boxes. She was positive that none of the
boxes were empty when she left the counter.
The boxes we're kept open to show their
contents. but sometimes the tops would fall
down. She saw nothing suspicious in the con-
duct Of the two ladies. The rings were left on
the case for thirteen or fifteen minutes Witness
did not at first notice that one Of the boxes
was empty. She did not look on the floor to
to see whether or not the ring had dropped on
the floor.
AT the conclusion of Mrs Hobson's exam
ination the court, at 1920, took a recess until
O'Clock.
MANAGER HENDRICKS on THE STAND.
Mr.. George +. Hendricks, the general
manager Of the Boston House and
one Of the defendants, said he had
been in the employment Of the firm for seven
years. In January. 1891, he was the firms
superintendent. He had known Mr.. Flinders
for about five years He employed him
principally detective. The num-
Der of thefts among the employees
and visitors made necessary such an officer
The need of some one to look up references and
the protection of the firms Gus
toners also led to the engagement
of such an officer. Mr.. Flinders
was permanently employed in January. 1890
year later his principal duties were the charge
of the Waterman and the detection of thefts
He was instructed to secure the return of
stolen goods. Nothing was said TO him as to
making arrests. In many cases where stolen
merchandise had been recovered Mr. Flinders
reported the matter to him. In these
reports Flinders explained his mode of recover
ing the goods. but the witness was not allowed
to state whether or not Mr.. Flinders had re-
ported that he had detained or searched sus-
pected parties, Mr.. Davis excepting.
Referring to the 30th of January, 1891, Mr.
Hendricks stated that on that day he in COM
ing in the rear of the store. noticed Mrs Rag
land and her sister at the silver counter Becom-
ing suspicious of them. he went in search of Mr.
Flinders. Not finding him at once, he turned
back and saw him leading the two ladies
away from the silver counter. He had noticed
one of the ladies resting her arm on the
counter and tine other standing beside her
He also noticed that they were glanc-
ing quickly about them. He went
after Flinders to request him to watch the
ladies. While the ladies were in the room
witness went to the silver counter and the clerk
there made a search.
SALE OF THE CHAMBERLlN HOTEL,
The Big Uncompleted Structure 1t Fort
Monroe to Be Sold ut Auction.