Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1898-01-22


had not been opened by its owner be-
tween New York and Toledo, how could
she swear that the jewelry was in 1t
at 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-
tion made out a very poor case.
| had been made foreman of the jury,
and when we retired l found myself
hating between two opinions. No legal
proof had been advanced that Mrs. Tay-
lor stole the bag, but if there wa moth
ing wrong about her why should she
conceal her identity? I was almost of
the belief that she was an adventures,
but yet had sworn to be guided by the
evidence. On our first ballot we stood
seven for conviction and five for acquit-
tai. On that ballot l voted for convic-
tion, but five minutes later 1 was using
arguments against such verdict. Deep
| down in my heart believed Mrs. Tay-
lor to be the thief, but if we were to be
guided by law and evidence she must
be acquitted. The second ballot showed
eight for acquittal and four for
conviction. The four men were pig
headed and obstinate, and we had been
out seven hours before one of them de-
cided to come over to the majority.
| The other three vowed they would hang
out till doomsday, and we put in long
night in the jury room. After break
fast the next morning went to work at
them in earnest. l am neither an ora
| hut
over all the evidence and presented it,
pro and con, in such n manner that aft
er we had been out about 30 hours n bal
lot showed that we were all for acquit-
tai. This was the verdict announced in
court, and Mrs. Taylor was at once dis
| charged from custody. Within two
hours Mr.. Wickham had compromised
with her for So 900 in cash.
AS the days went by that verdict
bothered me. Mrs. Taylor had gone
| to hotel as soon as discharged, and
| Mr.. Wickham had hired a detective to
watch her. 1t was determined to dis
cover her identity, if nothing more,
The woman probably suspected that
she would be watched After few
days she went to Chicago, visited a
lawyers office. bank and two cr
three other places, and then bought
her ticket for Buffalo. The detective
had dogged her every movement, and
she had made no sign that she was
aware of his espionage. He saw her
leave the hotel in a carriage for the
depot, and as there was plenty of time
he took street car instead. When
he went through the train she was not
to be found. The man worked on
the case for a week without striking
her trail and was then hauled off.
When this instance came to my ears
was conscience-stricken over our ver-
dict. The woman must surely be a
sharper, and we ought to have strained
a point and given her over to justice.
Two months had gone by. ard ore
evening was waiting in the Uuion
depot at Cleveland for a train. l sat
reading a newspaper when a woman
dropped into the seat beside me and
smilingly asked if ske was mistaken
iu thinking l was Mr.. So and So of
Toledo. I replied that there was no
mistake, and then recognized her as
Mrs. Taylor.
II am so much indebted to you!"
she said as she held out her hand and
let her smile broaden.
"About your case at Toledo?"
"Of course. The prosecution had a
poor case against me. but my lawyer
was fearful of verdict of guilty, be-
cause l refused to reveal my iden thy.
| 1t of course looked as if [ had some
thing to conceal"
But you didn't have?"
"Didn't ~" she exclaimed as she
laughed heartily.
did you live in Buffalo, as you
claimed?" l asked.
"Of course not"
"And isn't your name Taylor?"
mot at all"
"Then may ask who You are?"
"You may because you proved your
self good friend in my hour of need.
| heard how you brought those four
obstinate fellows over TO your way of
thinking, and l am glad of this op-
portunity to show my appreciation in
a substantial manner. AS TO my name,
| have half a dozen. AS to who I ain
make my living by my wits. If
were man I'd be called sharper"
"Then you-you are an adventuress!'
l gasped.
THAT is probably correct term
she laughed.
"And you-?"
81 took the bag of jewelry. of course
You had no doubt of it in your own
mind, and yet you stood my friend,
Yes, ] stole the bag while her berth
was being made up at night and passed
it on to a good friend of mine in the
next car. The haul divided $4,000 be,
tween us, and for what you did fol-
me I am going to present you with
$500"
sat and stared at her with mouth
wide open. wondering if was awake
or dreaming, and she took a penci
and card from her reticule and said:
"Give me your home address ant
I will send the money by express to
morrow"