St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1898-03-05
a FOREMAN
OF THE JURY.
BY Charles =. Lewis.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Copyright, 1879

Il -
arrest ordered over the wire an hour be
fore. A detective who has been in thu
business for dozen years seldom meets
lanything that surprises him. but as thi
officer was asked to arrest a handsome
weli-dressed woman on the charge o
robbery, he opened his eyes in amaze
Iment. There were two handsome, well
dressed women. and one said to him:
Officer, this person has robbed me o
jeveelry to the value of $4,000 and
want her arrested at once!"
The other looked at him in q cold
naughty way and made a gesture o.
cor tempt as she replied:
"Officer. this woman's charge is false
and if you detain me it will be at your
peril!"
My name," continued the first. ii.
Mrs. John Wickham. Of New York city
an, on my way to Chicago to WISH
relatives. This person boarded the
train at Buffalo. and we became quite
friendly. had the jewelry in a small
satchel. Late last night or early thi.
morning she obtained possession of 1t
wish to have her arrested ant
searched"
IF you dare to do it I will have yol
sent to priscn!" exclaimed the other.
Here was straight charge and q
firm denial. and the detective was non
plused. If the woman had stolen the
jewelry, she must have the plumber
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
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 q
New York millionaire. and sent a 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 limited that her husband
would demand the fullest satisfaction
for the insult forced upon her. BY
the advice of the chief of police. Mrs
Wickham attempted to get out of the
affair as best she could, but Mrs. Tay
lor stood on her dignity and wanted
10000 for her injured feelings. Sh,
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 a 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 or
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 q
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 lawyer than
money was sent him to make desper-
ate fight for her acquittal. Wickham
was not only an aggressive man. 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
che was in the best of spirits.
I am a 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 I should have ever heard Of
the case. AS juror 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-
larry strong as circumstantial evidence.
Mrs. Wickham had section No. z, and
Mrs. Taylor had section No. S. Both
had handbags. Mrs. Wickham had
said nothing about her jewelry, but
the bag in which 1t was stored had dis
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
above suspicion. II 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
have stolen it.
1t was a singular and yet q strong
defense. If the prisoner preferred to
fight the case out without revealing
her identity that was to her credit and
could not be used against her. As she
lid not know the contents Of the miss
ing bag why should she be tempted?
If she had taken it what had she done
with it? She was perfectly willing to
be searched. and nothing had been
found. The old lady might have taken
it by mistake-even the college presi-
dent might have been tempted. There
was the train conductor. the car con-
ductor and the porter. As the bag
had not been opened by its owner be-
tween New York and Toledo. how could
she swear that the jewelry was in it
1t Buffalo and beyond? Mrs. Wickham
could only say that no one else but
Mrs. Taylor could have taken the bag,
and in all but one thing the prosecu-
ton made out very poor case.
The accused had persistently refused