New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-15
A STRANGE DOUBLE LIFE.
BARRETT A BOSTON BURGLAR WHILE
HIS WIFE LIVED HERE IN LUXURY

HER ALLEGED IGNORANCE OF HIS CRIMINAL
PURsUITs-vALUABLE PLUMBER SECURED
BY THE MANS SUPPOSED AccoMPLICE
A romantic sequel to the conviction and sentence
10 life Imprisonment in 1894 Of William Barrett lo
the murder Of James Farrar in weston "a'',' -
renor,ed While Barrett led the life OF criminal
in Boston. his wife It is said was ignorant 'ha' ne
uas a burglar and supposing him TO be engased
in business there lived in this city with luxurious
surroundings. For nearly three years she "'eu -
the second story OF the apartment building a' w.
35s West Fifty-cighth-st. 1t was the most eNp
s,velv furnished fiat in the house and from the
80, 49,, witch Nrs Barrett lived IT was plain
that she had fear Of the source OF her i"'oN'e
falling al, bon,
Ms Rarrett was fine horsewoman' ana kept
,..o ,horoughbreds for riding purposes al Du'-
lands Riding Academy. Each day groom
brought one OF them TO the house IN fllt! -e's"'"'
:, and Mrs Barrett in perfect-httne r'a'i's eos-
tune was accustomed to cantS through tne fa'N arr.
.lo herselr her only son. who lived with net was
al,vavs dressed in the height OF fashon'
:, ,.as rarely that Barrett himself was SEEN ana
T., renlv 10 inquiries his wife is reputed 10 nave SAL
no, he was in business in Boston. Checks for the
ron, signed by the husband. were punctuaHy lot
varded to the landlord Of the apartment ana con-
o,,ar,iv M, the slightest whisper Of doubt as 10
tho integrity Of Barrett or his VIE was ever "eu'
T. a. asserted that Mrs Barrett mad not an ihh"is
NJ the real facts that her husband was one u '"c
most remarkable burglars at large ana one WHO
had succeeded in hoodwinklng the poIce LOT ny
ward Of twenty yeirs. II was not until AFTER bar
ra,,,e arrest for Mr. Farrars murder that ner eyes
oro onaned 70 the truth 4 man named James D
chaNev whom Barrett has accused OF peihg an ac-
compiice OF his. Is the reported meniu'" '''ous'
which her dream was shattered
Chafey. after an interview with Barrett IN wal
than Prison. came TO New-York. saw Mrs Bar
-.,, and cxnosed her husbands true character
parra.t for nearly twenty years had lived alone
in rooms at No % Eliot-st. Boston during these
wears il is alleged he stole about S9o"" worth Oh
va!uabes and goods. and always managed to con-
cea the dual nature Of his life from MS vic
knowledge
Visiting her husband in Waltham Jail, Mrs. Bar
ret heard his confession. and then wOman-ke. de-
iermined TO HELP him in his plight to the extent OF
her power She sold her horses furniture. and Jew
erv and applied the proceeds 10 Barretts defence
Meanwhile she accepted the hospitality OF Cnaiey
family and lived with them Tor time theil IL -
asserted Chaffey avaled himself Of the opportunity
propriat4 for himself the valuable punder when her
Nv means Of he com bination. which he learned
from Mrs Barrett. Chafey Is alleged TO nave Ioo,ea
hlding Mae in Boston. and then. by specous de-
vices obtained from the woman warehouse receipts
mis- way he is reported have obtained possession
Of Valuable collection q stolen property, stored
I'm the Lincoln safe deposit vaults. at no 81 Last
house at No 1913 East Forty -second-st ,
Mrs Barrett supposed that all these things na1
been stored in the regular routine OF her husoan
business The receipts were given 10 her 10 lake
care Of merely. and she says she was ignorant or
the value OF the goods. The value OF the property
t'haffsv thus acquired might never have become
known but for the reason that. while endeaVoriny
~ dsuose Of some rare stamps TO Mr. Trifet. al
No 80 Broomhed-st.. Boston. they were recognized
as stolen property. and he was then arrested. Chai
fev I'm reply to questionlng said they were given
TO him by Barrett. Afterward trunks were dis
covered in Chaneys possession filed with tewery
and other costly things TO the value OF about SOON
They were taken TO the police station. and In the
last few DAYS many prominent residents of Bos-
ton have Identified some OF the articles as having
been stolen from their houses
Chaffey was formally charged Monday last
with burglary ami receiving stolen property Bar
rett when seen in prison yesterday by a reporter,
accused Chaffey Of having stolen most of the things
found by the police. but added that Chaffey had
also used underhand methods TO obtain things
which belonged 10 him (I}arretU without having
given A penny 10 his wife for her support.
Mrs Barrett Is reported TO be In this city,
trying her living. and taking good care to
keep her identity hidden.