The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-01-03
OWNS A SCANDAL.
So Mrs. Sheridan-Ricketts,
Thief, Expects to Avert
Punishment.

NEW YORK, Jan. 5, 1S92.-The .mysteri-
Gus prisoner whom InspectorfM M cLaughlin
has had at Police Headquarters since last
Saturday was araigned in the Tombs
Court again this morning.
The case was not disposed of, however,
as Justice Grady did not consider that
he had Jurisdiction, and therefore sent
Detective Wade, who had the woman in
charge, to the District.Attorney for adj
vice as to the proper course to pursue.
The name given by the prisoner was
Mrs. Kate Sheridan-Ricketts and the
charge against her was grand larceny.
She is @ petite woman. apparently twenty
three and remarkably pretty. She ap-
pears to be very much distressed over her
predlcament. but at times shakes on the
feeling ana assumes nonchalant air, as
much as TO say:-
81 am the culprit. but /. too, have a
story 70 tell when the time comes"
PRINCESS RUSPOLI'S COMPANION.
Mrs. Ricketts was companion to the
wife of Prince Maria Ruspoli, an at
tache of the Italian Legation at Washing
ton up to December 10 last. On that day.
it is alleged. Mrs. Ricketts, disappeared
with jewelry. gowns and keepsakes be-
longing to her mistress, to the value OF
$1,000.
A warrant for her arrest was sworn out
in Washington, and the New York police
were notified to arrest her should she ap-
pear here.
A few days prior to her disappearance
Mrs. Ricketts, had told the Princess Rus
poll that she intended to quit her service.
and left instructions to forward her
trunks to New Rochelle.
This information was furnished IN
spector Mclaughlin and detectives were
stationed at New Rochelle and the Grand
Central station in New York.
Meantime two trunks had arrived at
the Grand Central, but 1t was not until
Saturday that the claimant put in an ap-
pearance. She was promptly arrested
and taken to Police Headquarters, where,
it Is said, she broke down under the
ordeal or the third degree" and made a
confession.
The time between the date of the
alleged robbery and the arrest was spent
in and about New York.
FANCY PHOTOS.
She had photographs Of herself taken
by SaronY. attired in the jewels and
gowns of her mistress, copies of which
she sent with letter in French to sup
posed lover named Robbins in Key West,
Fla.
Other pictures, it is said, were sent to
acquaintances In other parts OF the coun-
try, the accompanying letters being 1n-
dited in Spanish, Italian and English, In
all of which languages she is proficient.
1t was whispered about in Court this
morning that 1.-THE charge against Mrs.
Ricketts, would not be pursued.
This declaration was explained by the
statement that Mrs. Ricketts, held the
key to closet in which the proverbial
family skeleton was kept, and that she
had threatened to make public the secrets
she possessed If immunity for the offense
with which she is now charged was not
obtained.
The story said to be in the possession of
the prisoner is highly sensational, and
deals with scandals in the nobility Of the
continent and a representative family in
the upper tendon of social life in
America.
Detective Wade would not deny that
Mrs. Ricketts, had a most surprising
story. but he would NOT speak OF it him
self or allow anyone to address his pris-
oner. referring all inquisitors to Inspector
Byrnes, who, ne said. "Knows it ALL"