The Savannah morning news., 1901-07-23
BETRAYED BY A KISS.
Murderer Who Masqueraded ms wo-
man Detected by IA Child.

man Detected by IL Child.
From the New York World
Memphis, Tenn, July pa kiss is
has broken the seal of a seven years
secret, brought a murderer to justice,
and revealed the man in woman's
clothing who had for seasons deceived
an entire community. Jennie" Sears
of Huntsville, Ark, whose sensational
ed for a crime committed in Western
Texas created the widest excitement
was convicted by a kiss.
The ethics of the kiss masculine and
the kiss feminine do not so much en-
ter into the evidence as the simple
physical fact that Miss Jennie" had
too long neglected the barber There
fore when a little girl. carried away
by the excess of her affection for the
sweet, young school teacher, threw her
arms about her neck and planted her
rosy lips full on miss" Sears mouth
she became conscious of a curious
pricking sensation. Being a child of
an inquiring turn OF mind, she medi-
tated on the phenomenon till she eVolv-
ed a theory. And 1t was her exposition
of this unique discovery that led to the
detection of one Of the cleverest des-
peradoes that ever eluded the sheriff
AS has been told, Jennie" Sears had
for seven years played the woman to
an admiring audience in the little ru-
raj settlement of Arkansas. Her ap-
pearance was the immediate sequence
of a singularly cold-blooded murder in
the Lone Star State. The victim, an
innocent young country girl. had been
done to her death by Jealous lover
one Albert Sears-of whom all trace
had been lost.
When q petite blonde with shy blue
eyes and curly hair, armed with a good
education and musical accomplish
ments supposedly the outcome of a
course at the Cincinnati Conservatory
sought pupils in Huntsville she was
accepted much as gift from a be-
nignant Providence. Charmingly con-
fiding young women, with vast posi-
bilities in the social line, are not an
everyday occurrence in that region.
and Madison county presently rang
with her praises.
When a petition was circulated asking
that she have charge of the county
school the susceptible trustees yielded
without a dissenting voice. miss
Jennie" entered on her duties in an
atmosphere of worship from the gal
lants round about. Her manner OF
handling what might have proved an
embarrassment of beaux to any less
astute damsel, however, only won her
fresh encomiums. She bestowed her
favors with such unerring discretion
that each thought himself the favored
one.
The school prospered. The pretty
young schoolma am was eminently 1T
ted for her task. She ruled her pupils
by love, and for several years her life
flowed on like peaceful tide.
The disturbing element which sud
denly roughened the current was a too
ardent wooer, who. In the person OF a
local politician, pressed his suit in and
out OF season. The hesitation Of
Miss Sears was met with a hint that
her suitor's influence might be brought
TO bear against her in her school APP
pointment. This forced her hand. She
promptly resigned.
The little drama, which had OF
course been witnessed by the entire
county. only raised Miss" Sears high
er in public estimation. and the private
school she presently opened was wide
~ patronlzed. The youthful princi-
pal made her home with her teachers
and was a figure at all social gather
ings. Two years passed and her reign
was undisputed. Then came the kiss
and the denouement.
II was during recess one day that
little Mary Hancock, the 12-year-old
daughter OF farmer bestowed upon
Miss" Sears the fatefll caress and
received In return the pricking sensa %
ton already alluded to- Mary made
no comment at the time. but when that
evening she climbed upon her father =
knee TO give him a good might kiss and
experienced the same singing OF her
tender skin from hts unshayen visaeg
the conincidence moved her 10 speak
Her story. az first discredited as
childish imaRing and finally believed
brought 90 mind other inexplicable hap
penings. and link by link the chain
Of evidence WAS welded against toe
school teacher.
50 carefully was the matter kept
from Miss" Sears that when Detec-
tive Irving Of Baird. Tex. arrived with
his warrant. he rounded az bis prison
ar without q moments delay. Sternly
hs accused ths dainty Hchoolma'am n
being man. and when rhe would have
denied n and brnYed IL out the unfeel.
inc detective forced her 90 strip m
The Wnlnf, TerrHAng che masculine