Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1898-01-22
) A FORENhN
5 OF THE JURY.
BY Charles 3. Lewis.
Copyright, 1879

dozen years ago, detective was wait
ing to see the conductor and make an
arrest ordered over the wire an hour be-
fore. A detective who has been in the
business for dozen years seldom meets
anything that surprises him, butas this
officer was asked to arrest handsome,
well-dressed woman on the charge of
robbery, he opened his eyes in amaze
ment. There were two handsome, we'll
dressed women, and one said to him:
"Officer this person has robbed me of
jewelry to the value of $4,000 and i
want her arrested at once!"
The other looked at him in cold,
naughty way and made q gesture of
contempt as she replied:
"Oflicer, this woman's charge is false,
and if you detain me it will be at your
peril!"
"My name," continued the first, ais
Mrs. John Wickham. of New York city
1 am on my way to Chicago to visit
relatives. This person boarded the
train at Buffalo, and we became quite
friendly. l had the jewelry in a small
satchel. Late last night or early this
morning she obtained possession of it.
Il wish to have her arrested and
searched"
eff you dare to do it will have you
sent to prison!" exclaimed the other.
Here was a straight charge and
firm denial, and the detective was non
plused. If the woman had stolen the
jewelry, she must have the plunder
about her person or in her baggage.
He asked her if she was willing to be
searched, and she promptly replied:
Not only willing, but demand it,
in order to clear myself. Afterwards
i will deal with this woman!"
The two ladies left the train and
were escorted to a hotel. Mrs. Wick
ham identified herself as the wife of
New York millionaire, and sent tele-
gram to her husband to come at once,
and a search of the other proved her
innocence. None of the missing jew
elry was found upon her. She gave her
name as Mrs. James Taylor, of Buff
falo, and she hinted that her husband
would demand the fullest satisfaction
for the insult forced upon her. By
the advice of the chief of police, Mrs.
Wiclham attempted to get out of the
affair as best she could, but Mrs. Tay-
lor stood on her dignity and wanted
$4,000 for her injured feelings. She
must either have $4,000 in cash or she
would sue for $4,000 damages. Per-
haps the two women might have
reached some sort of compromise but
for the advent of Mr. Wickham. He
heard his wife's story about the loss
of the jewelry, and realizing that he
was in box he tried bluff game on
Mrs, Taylor. He struck the weak spot
at once by demanding her husbands
address in Buffalo. She refused TO give
it, and her refusal aroused suspicion
that something was wrong. When
pressed to give her identity she posi-
lively refused, and the result was n
formal charge and her arrest in due
form.
When the alleged thief was arraigned
circumstances were so much against
her that she was held for trial in the
higher court. She continued to give
the same name and address as at first,
and added that she would see the case
through without any assistance from
her husband. Her policy was one of
naughty independence. She had fine
wardrobe, considerable jewelry, and
was also bound for Chicago. Her cash
in hand amounted to less than 500, but
no sooner had she secured a lawyer than
money was sent him to make desper-
ate fight for her acquittal. Wickham
was not only an aggressive raan, but he
had to convict the woman or pay dam
ages. He therefore aided the police in
every possible way.
Buffalo was turned upside down with
out finding James Taylor to fit the
case. Every effort was made to locate
the woman, but beyond the fact that
she had taken the train at Buffalo moth
ing could be learned. There were plen-
ty who said she was an adventures and
was guilty of the theft, but there were
many also who contended that she be-
longed to some honorable family and
was seeking to shield the name from
scandal by giving false one and with
holding information. She didn't seem
to worry at all during her commitment,
and when the case finally came to trial
she was in the best of spirits.
am quiet, steady man of family,
not in the habit of reading the news
papers much. If had not been drawn
on the jury for that term of court l
doubt if | should have ever heard of
the case. AS juror I had to listen to
and weigh all the evidence, and for
three days the accused woman sat with
in ten feet of me. The evidence was
purely circumstantial, but not particu-
larly strong as circumstantial evidence.
Mrs: Wickham had section No. 7, and
Mrs. Taylor had section No. s. Both
had handbags. Mrs. Wickham had
said nothing about her jewelry. but
the bag in which it was stored had dis
appeared. There were only four pas
sengers in the sleeper. The third was
an old lady-the fourth the president of
an eastern college, and therefore to be
considered above suspicion. If the car
porter had taken the bag he had passed
it to some one during the night, but the
defense did not even hint that he might