The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-09-14
DOPED UuDHRqAKERS.
Mrs. Kate Pook Works Three
Tender Hearted obse-
quitors Caught
at Last.

Mrs Kate Pook. a modestly dressed
woman, about 46 years old, was accused
in Justice Potts court today of having
swindled at least three local undertakers.
The woman was arrested on Saturday,
and since that time has been confined
with her two children, in the woman S
prison at the Oakland avenue station.
Mrs. Pook's S plan of operation was to wait
on undertakers, tell them a pathetic story
of the sudden death of her husband, dis
play a life insurance policy calling for
$500 and borrow money ON IT.
Mrs. Pook appeared on the scene as a
swindler of undertakes on August II,
when she called on George Stevens, at
his Office, No. Cos Jersey avenue. She
told Mr.. Stevens that her husband had
died in Bridgeport, Conn, and She be-
ing a Jersey City woman was anxious TO
have his body brought here and inferred
She showed Mr.. Stevens the alleged in
surance policy and explaining that she
was in need of ready cash, secured from
Mr.. Stevens 81. Before leaving Mrs. Pook
gave No. 240 Sixth street as her address.
Shortly after she left Mr.. Stevens be-
came suspicious, and at once notified the
police of the transaction. Mrs. Pook con-
tinued her operations quite successfully,
Notwithstanding the fact that the police
were looking for her. Her second victim
was Undertaken Thomas r. Carey, of No.
1853 Grove street. She told Carey such a
sad story that she moved him to tears.
When she displayed the $500 policy Car
ey's heartfelt sympathy went out to her.
When she asked for an advance of $40 on
the policy Carey could not get the money
out of his pocket quick enough. The
next day when he looked for Mrs. Pook,
of No. 240 Sixth street, and was unable
to find her he began to repent his gem
erosity.
Edward Faherty, another big hearted
undertaken, doing business at No. 500
Grove street, was the womans next vic
tim. The other two undertakers had been
SO easy to victimize chat Mrs Pook
raised the ante on Faherty and managed
to weedle $40 out of him. Faherty learn
ed the next day that he had been sWind-
led and he promptly lodged a complaint
against the woman with the Seventh
street police. Friday morning Faherty
received telegram from Mrs. Pook, say
ing that she would call on him in the
afternoons. The police were notified and
were on hand to nab the sWindler in
skirts. With tears in her eyes she was
relating the story of her husbands death
to Fahertys clerk and was about to pro-
duce the $500 policy when Faf1erty handed
without complaint went TO the Seventh
Street Station.
Mrs. Pook did hive in Sixth street at
one time with her husband and two chill
able money by giving music lessons.
About eight months ago her husband d s.
appeared She explained that he had
found employment in New Haven. A
left Sixth street and had not been heard
OF until she swindled Undertaken Stew
ems Mrs. Pook says her maiden name
was Reilly and asserts that before her
marriage she taught school in Hoboken
When Mrs. Pook was brought into court
today she was allowed to take a seat in
Justice Potts private room Her two
children We're with her. Her husband.
very much alive and greatly worried over
the predicament his wife had gotten her
self into, occupied a seat near the Judges
desk The three victirnized ,,s5eytalsers
lodged complaints against the woman and
Justice Potts referred the case to the