The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-07-20
MRS. HANSEN CAUGHT
The Alleged SWindIer Sur
renders Herself to.
Chief Murphy.
GIVEN TO BROOKLYN POLICE
Says She Gave DR.. Lott Her Notes
for his Money-Her Career
in This City.
GIVEN TO BROOKLYN POLICE

Mrs. Mary Hansen, ahas Gibson,
Clark, King, Westhaii- and almost every
name one can think of, who mas been
ccnfounded with Mrs. Ellen Peck in the
swindling or DR.. Christopher Lott, OF
Brooklyn, out of $4,000. this morning
~urrendere herself TO Chief OF Police
Murphy of this city. The police of New
York and Brooklyn have for mere than
a week been looking for Mrs. Hunsen-
They believed her to- be the famous Q n
fdence woman, Mrs. Etfrn Peck VINO
startled the police OF tine large cities a
few years ago by swindtfng the Baobitr
family. out of $4,000. AT about that time
Mrs. Mary Hansen appeared on the
scene and she proved quite as clever as
Mrs. Peck. She was equally clever and
did Just as profitable a business. Away
pack in 1876 Mrs. Hansen appeared in
this city. Among her victims were Flor
ace Farrier and other prominent resi-
dents. Mrs. Hansen's game at that time
was to borrow money n anticipation OF
the collection of 100000, which had been
left her by a priest IN Germany. Her
story was swallowed Without salt, prob.
ably because Cardinaf EIcCloskey was
supposed to be. getting the money TOR
her The mention of the Cardinals name
brought her anywhere from sl,WW. 10
81. 500 each trip. Mrs. Hansen finally dis
appeared. A lot OF Jersey City gold
went with her. Chief Murphy traced her
to Philadelphia and arrested her: 'imme-
diatei, after her arrestrirr was FOUND
that verai wealthy Phila delphians. had
been sindled by her.
She vas removed 20 this city for trial,
Counsellor Charles winfield. now Prose-
eutor defended her. His defense was that
it was impossible for a woman to swindle'
such shrewd men as he was accused OF
doing. She was acquitted. Mr.. Hansen
was then IS years old. Chief Murphy
heard of her frequently after that. She
was at her old tricks and was doing a
fHourishing business. When the DR.. Lott
case came to the surface the Chief
recognized the handwriting of his old
friend Mrs. Hansen. Yesterday when the
police were getting pretty close to Mrs.
Hansen she sent word to Chief Murphy
that she would meet him at the Annex
ferry on this side of the river at nine
O'Clock, surrender and allow him to take
her to Brooklyn. The Chief communi-
Gated with the Brooklyn authorities at
once and directed them to have a detective
on a certain boat, further announcing
that if his Instructions were carried out
he woud deliver to them the alleged
swindler of DR.. Lott.
The caused surprise in
Brooklyn police circles. AT the appointed
hour Mrs. Hansen put in an appearance
looking, Chief Murphy avs, younger tnan
she did twenty years ago when ne ar
rested her.
Il am not afraid of police" she said
'sonly / wanted you to take me to the
Brooklyn people. I wanted to show them
that I am not afraid to face this absurd
charge. I admit having obtained: $4,000
from DR.. Lott, but he has my notes for
Ii and I am sure if the Doctor were alive
he would not think of prosecuting this
case The none / obtained as q lean.
1T is strange" she finally said: that
whenever I get in trouble I have to come
to you, Chief"
When the woman was delivered 90 the
Brooklyn police about seventy-hve Tepor-a
tiers made a big howl because Chief Muir
ply had apparently impaired to a certain
paper the information that Mrs. Hansen
would surrender herself to him this morn
ing. In the presence of the reporters Mrs.
Hansen admitted that she had disposed of
that information to an advantage to the
paper in question. On three occasiensl Mrs.
Hansen procured $500, 10000 and ST., 900
respectively. The woman has relatives in,
this pity 7 "a