The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-07-14
ACCUSED OF
ROBBING
MOTHER
Abbott Arrested at Boston on
Charge Of Stealing $4,000
Worth Of LaceS.

New York, July l4--Accused of robbing
his mother OF laces valued at more than
5000. Oscar H. Abbott. son OF Mrs. s. A.
Flanders. of 26S West Thirty-ninth street.
was brought from Boston, where he had
been arrested. and placed in the Tombs TO
await his trial today
For six weeks the police have been
searching for Abbott, but not until a few
days ago did they get any trace OF him.
Captain Titus learned tha; he was work
ing In Boston. and Detective Flsy was
sent on TO make the arrest and bring
Abbott to New York.
Abbott produced an affidavit that he
was al work I'm Boston on the day the
robbery occurred. but IL did not avail TO
free him from arrest, as he had previous
ly been indicted by a New York grand
jury
Mrs. Flanders is an expert lace maker
and for several years has been teaching
women OF the fashionable world Among
her pupils have been Mrs. Timothy L..
Woodruff. Mrs Cyrus w. Field, Mrs. Seth
Low. Mrs. Il. c. Bridgman. Mrs. w.
Affair Shortt and others
Miss Helen Gould knew OF Mrs. Elan
ders work. so that the latter was not
surprised 10 receive by messenger boy a
telegram. ostensibly from Miss Gould,
asking her to call az her house as soon
as possible. That was on the morning
OF May %.
Mrs. Flanders had been told by the mes
seneer boy that Miss Gould had per-
sonally given him the note TO deliver at
Fifth avenue and Forty-seventh street.
but at Miss Goulds house Mrs. Flanders
was told that nothing was known OF any
such request on Miss Gould's part.
Completely mystified, Mrs. Flanders re-
turned home 10 find that her magic
trunk" as she calls II. and as II has been
known among her pupils. was missing.
She reported the loss 10 the police. and
the messenger boy was placed under ar
rest, but later proved his entire inno-
cence
II was by comparing the handwriting
OF the note signed with Miss Gould s
name with the known writing of Abbott
and by the fact that the messenger boy,
when shown a photograph OF Abbott. de-
clared that there was strong likeness,
that suspicion was aroused against Mrs
Flanders own son. She could not believe
II at first. and still hopes that he will
be able 10 prove his innocence. but the
evidence was so strong that an indictment
was found.
When Abbott was brought here he was
picked out by the messenger boy and a
companion as the man who had asked
that the note be delivered 10 Mrs. Flan-
ders.
Until he came to New York. n few
years ago Oscar had been good son,
said Mrs. Flanders. II sincerely hope that
he did not take the lace, for he knew
that IL was the result of IL years work
and that without II l would be almost
helpless There were more than 100 sep
arate pieces, and were the samples OF
what I had been able TO do before 1 met
with an accident two years ago
II have not been able TO do any work
since the accident, but with these samples
was able TO prove that ! knew how
TO make all kinds Of lace and TO teach
others how TO make II. Now l hardly
know what I shall do. and IL does not
seem possible that any son, knowing these
things. would rob an old woman or her
means Of earning a living
Mrs. Flanders is well known in Chicago.
where she lived for many years. She
was at one time engaged In the real
estate business In that city.