Evening star., 1896-07-18
A SERIOUS CHAR GE
An Elderly Woman Held for Passing Ooun-
terfait Money.
Her Queer Actions When Arrested
ana Her Conduct When ON Trial.
Claimed the Coin Was Good.

raiGned before United States Commissioner
Samuel O. Mills this afternoon for an al
legged violation Of section 546s Of the Re
vlsed Statutes relating to counterfeit mon
ey. Mrs. Ryan 10 more than fifty years
old. and says she lives near 7th and II
streets southwest. This morning she went
to the Center Market and when she made
purchase of five cents worth Of vege.
tables from q colored countryman, she
rendered In payment an alleged counter
felt half-dollar. The countryman disoov-
refused to accept 1t.
Not only did he tell her it was worthless.
but he also warned her that she might get
in trouble If she attempted to pass 1t on
any one else. Despite this warning. the
old lady went to another colored man from
the country, and bought five cents worth
of beans. The second man proved an easy
victim. and not only accepted the worthless
The first colored man then warned him,
and he managed to catch the old woman.
Just then Detective Sutton came along and
arrested Mrs. Bryan.
When taken to the station. she was pu.
in witness room, and soon afterward her
screams attracted the officers to her cell.
She imagined that some man had followed
her here from Baltimore and was going to
Kill her. The police were not certain wheth-
er her mind was affected or whether she
was only feigning insanity.
Many COunterfelts Passed.
After Mrs Ryan had been locked up the
detective went out to follow up the case.
He learned that a number Of counterfeit
half dollars had been passed on dealers In
the market, but none Of them knew who
had passed the money on them. Several
derly woman answering Mrs. Ryan's de-
scription had been about the market, and
she usually bought small amounts of pro-
duce or other articles of food.
When Mrs. Ryan appeared in the office
of Commissioner Mills she carried small
basket Of cabbage and an umbrella. She
was extremely anxious to talk about some
thing. out her utteriags were unintelli-
gible. She mentioned Baltimore number
of times.
Are you ready for trial?" she was asked
Ready for what?" she asked.
Ready for hearing" was explained,
"on charge Of passing counterfeit
money
lis good money" she said. II want
me % cents
She said she got the money at a grocery
store. Then she went on to tell how she
vas being followed, and was proceadine to
tell her family history. when she was
checked by the commissioner. who tried in
vain to keep her quiet pending the hearing.
I've been here from Baltimore for twelve
years" was what she said, interrupting the
N.
She'll be hone at ) O'Clock and | want to
so home and have the house ready for her"
Commissioner Mills asked Prosecuting At
torney Jefords what he thought of the wo-
mans mental condition, but the attorney
was not able to say.
The witnesses were then examined. They
told OF her conduct about the market this
morning aIl none of them thought she
acted like crazy woman.
Held for the Grand Jury
Detective Sutton told of the arrest Mrs
Ryan refused to go with him and sat on
the pavement. 1t became necessary to pick
her up bodily and carry her to the station.
When he first spoke to her she denied that
she mad the counterfeit coin in her pocket
Witness had been told that the woman had
been in Alexandria and down in MARYLAND
In the latter place he had been informed
some counterfeit half-dollars had been
passed.
Detective George o. Barker of the secret
service or the Treasury Department testi-
fled that he went TO Tth and II streets
southwest, but was unable to fini out any,
thing about her.
Commissioner Mills told the woman that
he was willing to give her every oppo--
tunity to defend herself. hut tuat unless
she could give bond she would have to go
to jail. The case was held for the grand
jury. and the woman sent to jail IN
default of bail
She said to Prosecuting Attorney JEFF
fords that she was seventy years old, and
that she lived In the house wnece Italians
lived. Her daughter. 81. says. lives with a
policeman named Daley. Before being sent
down she again asked for the return of
her money. and said she had been robbed
Where do you live" she was asked by
Commissioner Mills.
Never mind about that" she answered.
Il don't live anywhere very long. because
people are always rQabin;, me-
The case will De further Investigated by
the secret service officers