New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-20
APPARENTLY IN DOUBT.
pryNoLDs SAYS HE is NOT LOOKING
FOR MRS. PECK
TUE CHIEF OF THE BROOKLYN DETECTIVES AND
THE POLICE COMMISSIONER DODGE THE
DIGESTION OF The IDENTITY OF MRS
HANSEN. THE swINDLER--PUB-
LICITY HAS GIVEN HER

WARMING
CAPTAIN James Reynolds. who commands the
erooklyn detective force. either does not now
believe that Mary Hansen. who is indicted for
swindling Dr. Christopher Lott. is Ellen Peck,
or he is endeavoring to get the press to throw
her off her guard. He said yesterday afternoon
that he did not think Mrs. Hanson was Mrs.
Peck and added that the woman he was look
ing for was a Mrs. Keck which might account
for the mistake. He would not say who Mrs
Keck was nor did he explain why he did not
believe Mrs Peck and Mrs Hansen were one
Later in the evening, when Tribune reporter
visited him. he said. and repeated several times
I'VE are not looking for Mrs, Peck"
rs not Mrs. Hansen Mrs. Peck?" inquired
the reporter.
Il have nothing to say as to that. We are not
looking for Mrs. Peck. I have not stated that
Mrs Hansen Mrs. Peck simply told
DIR. Nelson that there were circumstances that
led me to believe that they were the same
woman"
Police Commissioner Welies said earlier in the
DAY on this same point:
Mind You. We don't say that she is Ellen
Peck Nor do we know that she Is All that
we say is that Captain Reynolds. of the de-
tectve service. thinks she may be Mrs. Peck
and has shown Mrs. Peck's picture to some Of
the interested parties. who say that they think
that Mrs Hansen is really Mrs. Peck. and then
the methods of the woman would indicate that
she is one and the same person. But. mind,
there is no certainty about this. We don't
know"
On Saturday night Assistant District-Attorney
Miles stated positively and without equivoca-
ton that Mrs. Hansen the notorious con-
fdenoe woman Ellen Peck.
tot Az OoI1 ,hoo
Quoted the case before the Grand Jury. said yes
terday:
Il had hard work to believe that any sensible
person would have been swindled in such a bare
faced way. We had no idea at first that the
swndler was Mrs. Ellen Peck. 1t was not until
long after the indictments were found that Mr..
REYNOLDS said that he believed that Mrs. Han
sen was Ellen Peck He produced her picture.
and some of the witnesses seemed to identity
her 1t seemed incredible TO me that DR.. Lott
could have been victimized in this way. The
simplest investigation would have Informed Dr.
Lott that the United States never acts as de-
pository for private fortunes"
This case has developed into lively contro-
yersy in which the police District-Attorney' 8
Office and Dr. s. Giffard Nelson. who first made
the fact public. and his friends are all engaged
Mr.. Caldwell said yesterday, regarding the
abatement made by Mr.. Nelson that while ne
had charge Of the he sat In the District
ATTORNEYS room with his feet on table. and
reod A newspaper chat IL was an exaggeration
Mr. Baker was conducting the examination OF
Witnesses and although he was to look AFTER II
before the Grand Jury he knew that ne couio
read their typewriter statements. He did not
mt his feet on table, for there were ladies pres
emit but he probably did read the newspaper. LOT
he was not much interested at the tliIe III what
was going on Mr.. Nelson criticised tne . !aCt
that the Simpsons were admitted 10 pan III SOW
Mr. Caldwell said that he had asked Judge AS
pinall 10 fix their bail at $1,OOU but ne hao re,
fused as the crime for which they were indlcteo
is a misdemeanor. -
In the hope Of catching Mrs. Hansen the po-
lice sent Mrs Peck's picture broadcast since
DR. Nelson made the facts known, they thlhk IL
IA doubtful whether she will be caught.
II think that the publication Of this story mas
ruined the chances of our getting the WOMAN
said Commissioner Welles.
District Attorney Backus expressed unsnaken
confidence IN Mr.. Caldwell and intirnated that
as DR. Nelson was formerly a newspaper man
he had sold this story to Brooklyn paper. Dr
Nelson denies that he paid anything Tor
the story. 1.,u.
The police say that Mrs. Peck was William
SIMPSONS mother In law, and. as the Wllllam
Simpson who figures in this case ca sss,o MI To-
Hansen his mother-in-aw. II would seem ~
bear out the original identification OF the
woman as Mrs. Peck
II ia understood that there Is addltionai anu
strong evidence against MIR. ana MIS-. oihpoo .,
who are under indictment for conspiracy WI" WI.
Mrs Hansen. This may result IN other hui''-
ynents.