Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-01-04
MRS. RICKETTS, STORY.
In Revenge She Tells a Tale
of the Tallyrands.
THEIR FAMILY SKELETON REVEALED.

Mrs. Rickert Was Employed as Nurse in
italian Legation at Washingt on-She
Stole 81, 900 Worth of Jewels and Was
Arrested in New York.
NEW YORK, Jan. 4-The mystery which
surrounds the handsome young woman
brought to the Tombs Police Court three
times during the past week by Detectives
Wade and Hanley has been thoroughly
cleared up. Her name proves to be Kate
Sheridan Rickert. She was born in Ire
land % years ago. Soon after her arrival
in this country she married a man named
Rickert.
He does not appear in the story as re-
lated in the police court, but the incidents
brought out by the investigation prove
the little woman to be remarkable per-
sonage.
Her story involves the name of the
present Marquis de Talleyrand and his
son-in-law, Prince Ruspoli, who is at
tached to the Italian Legation at Wash
ington. Mrs. Rickert has been employed
in the family of Prince Ruspoli as nurse
in this city, in Washinton and at Lenox,
| Mass, during the past summer ana Fall.
She is an extremely pretty and engag-
| ing young woman, and can speak four
| languages and play a Chopin nocturne
| with the skill of a Paderewski. Conse-
Quently when she disappeared from
| Washington two months ago consterna-
| ton was caused in the Ruspoi household.
By curious coincidence $4,000 worth of
Jewels and line clothing were missing
| when Mrs. Rickert so abruptly disap-
| peared.
| The case was reported to the Washing
| ton police and to Supt. Byrnes. Detect
l ives Wade and Hanlep were placed upon
| the case.
| They located her at New Rochelle She
was caught on Saturday last at Fifth av-
enue and 42d street, just after she left
the depot, where she had given orders re-
| garding the disposition Of her trunks.
| Upon her person were found pawn tick
cts for articles belonging to the Marchese
| Ruspoli, and even the clothing she wore
| at the time of the arrest was the property
| of her former employer.
She was escorted to Police headquar-
tiers, where she broke down and admitted
| her guilt.
As Il measure of retaliation, she told of
an alleged scandal in the family of the
Marquis de Tallyrand. Her statement
ran to the effect that a Mrs Frede ric /
Stevens, an American, became infatuated
| with the gallant Marquis of the historical
name Her affection for the nobleman
was displeasing to his wife.
The Marchese, according to Mrs Rick
ert, objected so strongly to Mrs. Stevens
that she finally agreed to pay the Mar
cheese an annuity if she would agree not tc
interfere
According to Mrs. RICKETTS, story, the
Marquis has plenty of titles, but nc
money, and so the annuity was heartily
| welcomed, even at the expense of French
honor.
The Marquis De Tallyrand, and his son
in law, Prince Ruspoli, are said to be in
terested in New Jersey real estate in the
| vicinity of Lakewood.
The young Irish girl was given certain
liberties in the Ruspoli household not usu
ally granted to nurses. Evidences of this
| familiarity can be seen at Police Head
| quarters, where pictures are in the pos
session of Inspector Mclaughlin shoWini
Mrs. Rickert in various attitudes dressed
in the gowns of the Princess Ruspoll
with the jewels of the Princess gleamin:
upon her neck and bosom.
In court yesterday the young woman
either acted most consumate part, o
else she was genuinely affected by he
embarrassing position. When brought
before Justice Grady she was on the poin
= of breaking down.
The history of the young woman ha
not yet been fully investigated. Nothin;
, is known about her husband. 1t is known
4 however, that she has been Il professional
nurse for some years and that she ha
3 been employed by the wealthiest families
! She holds recommendations from some 0
the best physicians of the city. Sh
speaks French, German and English flu
emily. She was for several months
professional nurse at the Insane Pavilio
| on BlackwelIs Island.
). Justice Grady, having no jurisdiction i
;. the case, Mrs. Rickert was placed in tn
J custody of J. w. Mattingly of the WASH
+; ton police. He took her before Unite
. States Commissioner Shields in the Post
9 office building. The Commissioner aske
her if she wished to return to Washing
ton, and she replied that she did not kno
what to do. She finally consented to &
- with Detective Mattingly.