Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-05-18
Latter Is Alleged to Weld
Mystic Influence Over
the Others.
MISS WARDLAW AND MRS.
SNEAD IN DETENTION HOUSE
Change Made After Conference
Between Chief Justice
and Sheriff.

Following a conference between CHIEF
Justice Gummere and Sheriff Harrigan,
in which it was stated by the sheriff
that Mrs. Caroline p Martin, indicted
for the murder of Mrs. Ocey W. M.
Snead, the East Orange bathtub victim,
exerted some subtle and powerful in
1uence over her sisters. Mrs. Mary w.
Snead and Miss Virginia o. Wardlaw,
the two last-named sisters have been
taken from the county Jail and placed
in the House of Detention.
This unusual procedure. it is held by
the sheriff, was made necessary by one
of the most unusual conditions that has
ever presented itself in the county Jail.
1t is declared that Mrs. Martin, with
her baleful eye, has not only dom
mated the minds of her two sisters,
but that other prisoners at the jail
have felt the peculiar mystic influence
when in her presence.
So quietly We're the sisters separated
that Prosecutor Mott did not hear Of
it until today. The transfer was made
on Monday. Neither did counsel for
the accused women know of the sisters
separation. Now the prosecutor and
the lawyers are looking up the law to
see what warrant, if any. the sheriff
had in taking the action he did. That
the circumstances were extraordinary
is believed from the fact that it Is
9
sanctioned it.
Occupied Adjoining Cells.
Since their arrest In the now cele-
brated bathtub mystery the three sis
ters have occupied adjoining cells in
the county Jail. There were many
things noted by the jail attendants
which made them believe that the other
sisters were in mortal dread of Mrs.
Martin.
For some days Miss Wardlaw has
been i'll. 1t was noticed that when
Mrs. Martins name was mentioned she
trembled. She said that her head both
cred her. Jail physicians who visited
her said that she was all right physi-
cally, but that she seemed to be labor
ins under some great mental strain.
They declared that it could have been
caused by powerful dominating influ-
ence of another person.
When Sheriff Harrigan heard of the
womans illness he advised that she
lie asked to exercise with her sisters.
Mrs Martin refused to leave her cell.
For two days Mrs. Snead and Miss
Wardlaw walked up and down the
corridor of the Jail. Whenever they
passed Mrs. Martins cell they shrank.
There was a most noticeable effect on
Miss Wardlaw
Finally on the third day the two sis
ters declared that they didn't care to
exercise any more. Close questioning
by the Jail attendants developed that
Mrs. Martin had expressed a WI IN that
they refrain from taking the exercise
They admitted that they dreaded to
incur her displeasure.
Doctors Urged Change.
AS Miss Wardlaw grew weaker Sheriff
Harrigan became deeply interested in
the case. 1t is said that he was told
by physicians that the only way to cure
Miss Wardlaw was to get her away
from Mrs. Martin. 1t was then, it is
declared, that he held a conference
with Chief Justice Gummere, and the
separation was decided on Inc trans
fer took place Monday.
Miss Wardlaw, it is said, has already
showed some improvement. She Is III
the dormitory on the second floor OF
the House of Detention. Mrs. Snead
is with her. They are taking exercise
and are under the care of a man and
his wife, trained nurses
Prosecutor Mott didn't hear of what
happened until today. Then he didn
hesitate to express his displeasure. He
said that the sheriff hadn't any war
rant to make the transfer without con-
sulting him and that he will make an
investigation. Samuel Kalisch, coun-
sci for Mrs. Snead, said that he knew
nothing of the transfer.
Chandler w. RiSer, counsel for Mrs.
Martin, said that he knew of the trans
fer.
Miss Wardlaw had been i'll and
needed more room to exercise" he ex-
planned
"Did you hear that she was removed
because the dominating influence Of
Mrs Martin made her ill?" he was
asked.
IT did not"
"Why was Mrs. Snead also re-
moved?" was asked.
IT didn't know that she was he re-
piled.