The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-10-02
TWO POINTED Boards.
They Played IA Part in Securing the
Release of a Prisoner.

NEW YORK, Oct. Pointed boards.
played an important part in the dis.
charge in the West side police court, Of
Samuel Rothmiller an agent Of the
Equitable Life Assurance society,
charged by Mrs. Mamie Hill with steal
ing a diamond ring valued at $500.
Mrs. Hill said that on the evening
of June 9 she received a note written
at the Hotel Empire, and signed j.
Hayes" stating that the writer had
letter of introduction to her from
friends in Philadelphia and desired to
call Later she received a visit from
the writer, who she was positive was
the prisoner. He remained, she said,
for about two hours, and during his
visit admired a ring which she had on
her finger. and asked to be permitted to
examine 1t. She handed it to him, and
had occasion to go into the next room,
and on her return a few minutes later
found that her visitor had departed,
taking the ring with him.
She reported her loss to Capt. Nc
Clusl1y at police headquarters, and De-
tective Curry was put on the case. The
police were unable to find the thief, but
Mrs. Hill kept sharp lookout for him
wherever she went. While going down
town on q Broadway car she saw q
man who she was sure was the thief,
who left the car near Pine street and
went into No. 100 Broadway, where she
followed him and had him arrested by
Detective Sergeant O'Brien, who was
on duty in Wall street.
Mrs. Hill told a straightforward story
ard was absolutely positive that the
prisoner was the man who took her
ring. She also declared that the man
recognized her in the car and attempt
ed to escape, but she followed him and
caused his arrest. George Lee. the
jaritor of the house. identified Roth
Miller as a man who had called at the
house on the evening of the robbery.
He was particular in describing the
man as wearing pointed beard, WHICH
agreed with the description given SSy
Mrs. Hill.
The next witness caIled I@as a clerk
in pawn shop, where Detective Ser
geant Collins had fcInd that a ring
answering to the description of the one
stolen had ben offered in pledge on
June 10. %he clerk said that he had
refused ITO make the advance asked for
on the ring, but remembered that the
man who offered it had a pointed
beard. He thought that he would be
able to identify him, and after he had
retired from the court room the prison
er was placed in line of half a dozen
men selected at random among persons
who happened to be in court.
AT the last moment Mr.. Foote, rep
resenting the prisoner, noticed that
Rothmiller was the only man in the
row wearing a pointed beard, and,
picking out a man who, happened to be
the only other person in court similarly
decorated, asked him to stand next to
the prisoner. Beyond the cut of the
beard there was no similarity between
the two, but when the clerk was ad-
mitted he unhesitatingIy picked out the
che who was not the prisoner as the
person who had offered the ring.
Several reputable witnesses testified
to Rothmiller's good character, and
Magistrate Cornell discharged him, re-
marking that perhaps it was a fortu-
nate thing that there happened to be
another man with a pointed beard in
court.