Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-02-03
The Foreman
of the Jury.
BIT CHARLES b. LEWIS.

AS the Lake Shore train from the
east rolled into Toledo one morning a
dozen years ago, n detective was wait
ing to see the conductor and make an
arrest ordered over the wire an hour
before. A detective who has been in
the business for dozen years seldom
meets anything that surprises him, but
as this officer was asked to arrest a
handsome, we'll dressed woman on the
charge of robbery, he opened his eyes
in amazement. There were two hand
some, well-dressed women, and one
said to him:
'sOfficer, this person has robbed
me of jewelry to the value of $4,000
and want her arrested at once!"
The other looked at him in a cold,
naughty way and made a gesture of
contempt as she replied:
''Officer, this woman's charge is
false, and if you detain me it will be
at your peril!'
ssMy name," continued the first,
sis 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. 1 had the iewelry in
a small satchel. Late last night or
early this morning she obtained pos
session of it. 1 wish to have her ar
rested and searched"
eff you dare to do it I will have
you sent to prisonp' exclaimed the
other
Here was straight charge and a
firm denial, and the detective was non
plussed. 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 l demand it
in order to clear myself. Afterwards
/ will deal with this woman!'
The two ladies left the train and
were escorted to 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 search of the other proved her
innocence. None of the missing
iewelry was found upon her. She
gave her name as Mrs. Taylor, of
Buffalo, and she limited that her hus-
band would demand the fullest salts
faction 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. TAYLOR stood on her dignity and
wanted $40, 900 for her injured feel
ings. She must either have $40, 900
IN cash or she would sue for $50, 900
damages. Perhaps the two women
might have reached some sort of
compromise but for the advent of Mr..
Wickham. H heard his wife's story
about the loss of her iewelry, and
realizing that he was in a box he
tried bluff game on Mrs. Taylor. He
struck the weak spot at once by de-
manding her husbands address in
Buffalo. Sb~ refused 10 give it, and
her refusal aroused suspicion that
something was wrong. When pressed
10 give her identity she positively re-
fused, and the res-lt was formal
charge and her arrest in due form.
When the alleged thief was az
saigned circumstances were so much
against her that she was held for trial
in the higher court. She continued to
give the same 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
$1,000. but no sooner had she secured
a LAWYER than money was sent him to
make desperate fight for her acquit-
tai. Wickham was not only an aggres-
siye man, but he had to convict the
woman OF pay damages. He therefore
aided the police in every possible
way.
Buffalo was turned upside down
without finding James Taylor to fit
the case. Every effort was made to
aocate the woman, but beyond the fact
that she had taken the train at Buffalo
nothing could be learned. There were
plenty who said she was an adventu-
ress and was guilty of theft, but there
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.
I am quiet, steady man of family,
not in the habit of reading the news
papers much. If 1 had not been
drawn on the jury for that term of
court doubt if I should have ever
heard of the case. AS juror 1 had
to listen to and weigh all the evidence,
and for three days the accused woman
sat within ten feet of me. The evil
dence was purely circumstantial, but
not particularly strong as circumstan-
tial evidence. Mrs. Wickham had
section No. Land Mrs. Taylor had Sec
tion No. 5. Both had handbags. Mrs.
Wickham had said nothing about the
S>-olrv 1,ut tho I,oor ~ ,rhich II rvoo