The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-04-04

COunterfeiter Methvin's Flight
From Carthage, Tex.
HE DESERTED HIS OWN FAMILY.
Detectives Had Been Watching Him For
the Husband-Bound Over and
Remanded to Jail.

Remanded to Jail.
The latest Developments In the case OF d.. J.
b. Nsthvin, the counterfeiter, indicate that al
though he came, according TO his own state
ment, from . pious family, that fact did not
stand in the way Of his elopement from Garth
age last December with the wife OF PINK Ritter.
Several weeks ago T. A. Gardner, manager OF
the Washington Detective Agency, rec eived
letter from Carthage, Tex. and wriitea By Pink
Ritter. asking for information of Dr.. }. b.
Methvin, who he had reason to believe. was
living at South Park, nea. Seattle, with his (Rit-
ter's) wife and three children.
1t appears that Dr. Methvin, after practicing
medicine in Carthage ior a year, became iafatu-
ated with Rit:er's wife, unknown to Ritter and
Mrs. Meshviu. DR.. Methvin suddenly left his
wife and children on December 6, 1892, ostensi-
bly, to come north.
1t was only short time before this that Mrs.
Ritter came to the conclusion that she would
make visit to her people In Kentucky. All ar
rangements were completed, and she left on De-
cember 8, 1892, with her eldest daughter, Annie
Whitaker, aged years; Frank. aged 5. and
baby Ritter, who was one year old yesterday.
Since that time Ritter has never heard word
from his wife, although he soon had evidence
that she never went to any OF her relatives in
Kentucky,
The fact that Methvin had left his wife and
the two had taken their departure SO close to-
gether. led to an investigation, and it was as
certained that the couple met at Longview.
where Methvin was born. and started north.
Ritter wrote . letter to Methvin at Seattle and
received . reply. the contents of which are not
known, stating that he was in this section. but
bis postofliee address was Tacoma Unfortu-
nately for him, Methvin was careless enough to
write on letterhead where the words "south
Park" showed up clearly.
This information was Immediately sent to
Mr.. Gardner and detectives were dispatched to
south Park to ind Methvin and see if he had q
woman living with him. The woman who now
poses as Methvin's wife answered the descrip-
ton given by Ritter very closely. Sac was
5 feet inches tall, had blue eyes and rather
dark hair. The Identification was made more
complete by the fact that she admitted having
been divorced from l.. Whitaker a, Paualo Tex,
in 1891. Afidavits OF all these things were OBJ
tanned and held for use, but Ritter wrote back
that he had no use for the woman. He only
wanted TO know where she was and what she
was doing.
When the nterieiting case came up rumors
began to 60 around that Methviu's wife was
someone else's wife. The clues also indicated
to a PosT-INTELLIGzNCER reporter that someone
had been investigating and when run down led
to the Washington Detective Agency, where Mr..
Gardner was found.
Mrs. Methvin, as she is now known, came into
the city yesterday to attend the hearing OF the
doctor on the charge OF counterfeiting. She
went to the United states court room, where
Justice Emery had convened court. by permits
sion. accompanied by Attorney Frank Hartley
Jones. When the court was called to order she
took u seat near Deputy United States Marshal
NUGGET while Dr.. Methvin occupied a chair at
the elbow OF his attorney. Throughout the en-
tire hearing he was cool and collected. now and
then suggesting question. aud frequently con-
suitng with his attorney, Frank Hartley Jones.
Even the presence of his electrop!atiug outfit
and other evidence piled up on q table in front
of the judicial bar did not have an appreciaole
effect Oh Methvin. 1t could notbe said that be
smiled as George Murphy. who gave him over
to the officers OIL the law. was called to the stand
and repeated his story substantially az given In
yesterdays POsT-INTELLiGENcER. While MUIR
ply was talking there was y very dramatic
scene going on over In that part OF the room
where Mrs Methvin and Deputy Mudgett sat
1.-THE cOctOr took me out behind the she'd"
said Murphy, and here Mira Methvin got mad.
she leaned over to Mudgett and whispered:
"Oh. what liar that man Is. feel like get
ting right up and talking myself"
keep quiet said Mudgstt, 'or you will b
fined for contempt"
and proposed that go into partnership
with him in the counterfeiting business" con-
tiEued Murphy.
This was too much for Mrs Methvin and she
grabbed Mudgett by the arm. IL must talk or
will so wild she whispered II can't stand
this any longer"
Mudgett persuaded her to leave the court
room aud stay in the marshals Office until her
pent-up feelings had su bsided.
After Murphy had finished his story Deputy
United States Marshal Mudgett gave an account
OF what passed At the house the night OF the
fV,rA rhA,,<
to Methvin's telling him that he was the man
who escaped. The case closed and Commits
sioner Emery informed the prisoner that he
was bound over to the grand jury and remsnded
In default OF 5000 bonds. Tomorrow he will
be taken to MeNeil's island by United States
Deputy Marshal Harry Bgeiow.
The woman who passes at Methvin's wife and
her three children are without means of sup
port, and thus IL becomes the duty of the
county commissioners to look after them Con.
stable Nike Kelley had . consultation with
County Commissioner Fred Gasch yesterday aud
the probaoi lities are that the woman and chill
dren will be sent back to Texas 1t is under
stood che has expressed desire to go there.
Now that the case has come to a temporary
conclusion Murphy Will be looking for re-
ward.
He told Constable Kelley that he expected to
get $500 for what he had done, ami minated
that he had the reward in view when he gave
up his information The following letter writ
ten by ii. q. Bauer, of the secret service
division. Uai,ed States treasury department., to
United States Deputy Marshal T. W. Mudgett at
the time oil the countsrle,ting case against Pat
kennefck will throw some light on the pros.
poets OF Mr.. Murphy:
To state general principles governing the &C.
ton OF this division III pressntn; gratuties of
money expression OF thanks To person. " no
perform ;neritorious services in bri ging coun.
TAFT m inst
inquiry on the subject:
Oincers ana trading classes are excluded from
benefits under TINS provision.
All persons not ot the foregoing classes who
arrest ana procure the conviction of a counter
ielter, or whose eyideuce Is regarded BY the
prosecuting attorney rs having Desu more ma
ierisl la the case tnan that of any othe. Wit
hess, upon application In writing TO the Office
oi tie chic al WASH agton, ID. G. (accomp med
by certificate from the prosecuting officer
whlcn certificate should set forth the docke,
record OF the case. aud state that the applicant
Il tie merliorlous person through whose agency
II CONVICTION OF the counterfeit r was procuredl,
viii receive gratuity. the minimum of wulen
l. 800 An advance upon tina amount is gfa led
by various cou.lderaiions-sueh as the ability
ioT mischief AID the auGecedeut, OF the person
%! imprIsou ulent tor which lie 10 sentenced: ths
quantity anu character OF counterfeit money
ana CONTRIBUTING material captured
Great Northern Tunnel at Everett
EvERErr April awork on the tunnel for
tbs Great Northern in this city was begun ON
saturday. IL will be 2,4l0 feet In length ana
Viii probably take six months or more in IL.
RIM rfs I'm nm