The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-13
SEARCHED MRS. WINGFIELD
bridgeport ToMIH's SUIT FOR
Personal IyDIGNIT1ES.

Mrs. w,arneid was accused or stealing a Ring
In Neil oIsen's Threatened With AR
rs.t. she Wa. subjected to suck n search
Tss, she Demands $4,000 Damages.
BRtpaEPoRr, Conn. Oct. 12.-Mrs. Jane Wing
field, the wife OF a bridgeport contractor. has
brought suit for SIS, 900 damages against Neil
Olsen, proprietor OF a small store here, for defa-
nation of character and injury to her feel-
inos and health. On last wednesday en-
pioyees Of Olsen took Mrs. Wingheld into a
back room OF the store, and made her take OF
almost all her clothing In the search for a gold
ring which was said to DO missing from a box
OF rings Mrs. Wingheld had been examining.
Mr.. winghold is In delicate health.
The story of tho store proprietor and his
clerks differs very little from that Of Mrs.
wingheld, who has bought articles at the store
in tho last year. Her largest purchase was q
gold watch, which she bought almost Q year
ago. When she went into the store on last
Wednesday abe found Frank McQuillan, q
clerk to whom she was not known, behind the
jewelry counter. She dresses well, and is alto
gether a good.lookng woman of something
less than middle age. Her carriage Is erect
and rather stately, and she has an attractive
smile.
She asked McQuillan to show her n tray Of
cheap gilt rings In the window. She explained
that she had lost her wedding ring, that her
husband had refused to 20 about in public
with her any more unless she wore one, and she
intended to get q cheap ring temporarily. She
said that McQuillan was much less attentive
to her after she mad asked for the cheap rings.
At any rate, they did not suit her and she be-
gan asking to see better qualities of rings until
NJ cOuillan brought down q tray Of solid gold
rings.
As is usual, the rings were In q plush-lined
- IL .t- -ra-N, fz,. aNr,n ~t tna ant.
and every compartment is supposed to contain
q ring when 1t is put into the showcase or taken
out. McQuillan says that all the compartments
OF the box he took out were filled. Louise
wiesner, a young saleswonan, who was on the
other side Of the store watching the two, also
says that the box had twenty-four rings In 1t
when placed on the counter. Mrs. Wingfield
says that she did not notice whether there was
q vacant place in tho box or not. None of the
rings was to her taste. and she said SO to No
Quillan, who had turned away for q minute.
As he reached out for the box he pointed to o
vacant space in the corner.
There is q ring missing" he said.
What do you meant do you mean to accuse
me Of stealing itf' asked Mrs. Wingheld.
at isn't here, and it was when | took the case
Mrs. Wingdeld threw her pocketbook on the
counter. Search that" she said. She tore of
book. And search that, too"
Mrs. Olsen had been attracted into the store
f fFoI sh IN e the si fUSn by a. to oac eis sRe WENT v to- fhs
Thought she locked It Mrs. Olsen says she
Il shall not let you search me any MORE said
Mrs. Wingheld. unless the police force me to-.
quick resources, ran out the back way and tcle-
Phoned for the police. MEANWHILE Mrs. Wing;
b t5srs sI'et ths@. b psesaff9 VA" hTno ohI eI when ah Re
came and heard the story. said that if Mrs. Oh
sen and Mc9uillan were ready 70 swear to the
The store people said that II Mrs. Wingheld. by
permitting herself to be searched, would satisfy
them of her innocence. they would not insist on
.. Il would al rather n.s v E thS%se .1,h.I times m be
through the streets like a criminal"
Louise Wiesner and Mrs. Olsen took her into
the back room and took on almost all her
the store helped them. when they reached her
shoes, which were high and closely laced. Mrs.
IL you uniace those shoes" she said. you
may lace them up again. for won't that's GER
Whereupon. Misc wiesner eontented herself
with rolling down the stockings and feeling Of
the outside Of the shoes for any pnTotuberance
When Mrs. Winsteld had begun to clothe her
suited with Detective Arnold. She came back
and asked Mrs. Wingfield to take Off her cor
Mrs. '&insdeid was not required Hd't to let down
her hair, but the women ran their hands
through IL In every QlreCtlOn. An examination
OF the pocketbook showed that it contained
$l.53. Mrs. Wingfield explained this by say
ing that she was only shopping. not buying"
that afternoon
Now. please" said Louise finally. open your
mouth, wide"
Il wasn't really and'truly' angry" said Mrs
Wingtield, until that girl did that. But after
all they had done-things 30 much worse-is
seemed just u little too exasperating. Still. l
knew that II l didn't obey every word Of the
creature there was the detective waiting out
side. So l opened my mouth
I0niSn naarai In and nattnI her rhenka
but without result, Mrs. wingield says
that even after this Mrs. Olsen wanted
her taken to tho police station to DO
searched moro thoroughly. Mrs. Olsen says
che made no such suggestion. Detective Ar
mold said that he did not feel warranted in
doing more than taking Mrs. Wingfeld's name
and address. Olsen himself. who Is a good
natured, PLEASANT faced man Of mature years,
came in at this point, recognized Mrs. Wing
field, and ordered the whole thing stopped.
Mrs. WinRaeld went home and told her hus.
band of the adventure. He went at once to SEQ
McQuillan, who avoided the interview, getting
out Of Mr.. Wingf1eld's way with some loss OF
self possession. Now Toomey d Lynch, Coun.
sci for Mrs. Wingfeld, have brought suit
against Olsen for $4,000 damages and have at
tached the store property for that amount.
The ring has not been found.