Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1898-01-23
, A FOREMAN
 z OF THE JURY. , By Charles 3. Lewis. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
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Copyright. 1Sa7.l

l "A iCSt oIueIeu over the wire an hour be- fore. A detective who has been in the business for a dozen years seldom meets anything that surprises him, but as this officer was asked te 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 $G,0o0 and I want her arrested at once!''
 The other looked at him in & cold. naughty way and made a gesture of contempt as she replied:
 "0fficer this woman's charge is false, and if you detain me it will be at your peril!"
 Ny name" continued the first, 'is Mrs. John Wickham. of New York city. 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 small satchel. Late last night or early this morning she obtained possession of it. wish to have her arrested and searched"
 If you dare to do it will have you sent to prison" exclaimed the other
 Here was a straight charge and a 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 wiling, but I demand it, in order to clear myself. Afterwards l will deal with this womanl"
 The two ladies left the train and were escorted to a hotel Mrs. Wick ham identified herself as the wife of a New York millionaire, and sent q 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. Wickham attempted to get out of the affair as best she could, but Mrs. Fay Tor stood on her dignity and wanted S10,000 for her injured feelings. She must either have $10.000 in cash or she would sue for $50,0 900 damages. Per haps the two women might have reached some sort of a compromise but for the advent of Mir. Wickham. He heard his wife's story about the loss of the jewelry. and realizing that he was in a box he tried a 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 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 $100, but no sooner had she secured a lawyer than money was sent him to make desper- ate fight for her aequittal. Wiellham 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 noth- 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 q 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 I loubt if ! should have ever heard of the case. As a juror had to listen to and weigh all the evidence, and for three days the accused woman sat with in ten feet of Tae. The evidence was purely circumstantial, but not particu- arly strong as eireumstantial evidence. Mrs. Wickham had section No. T, and Mrs. Taylor had section No. 5. Both aad handbags. Mrs. Wicl1ham 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 ear porter had taken the bag he had passed t to some one during the night. but the defense did not even hint that he might nave stolen it.
 It was a singular and yet strong