The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1911-06-23


learn was the bedroom of the young
lady had seen at your store. He
found the bracelet between the mat
tresses Of her bed.
Feeling that have done even more
than my duty, leave the matter in
your hands. If you will get out war
rant and search the second story back
bedroom of 80 Warren street you
will find your bracelet. At any rate,
the detective saw 1t there less than an
hour ago"
While Judge Griffiths was sitting on
the bench-he had just pronounced
sentence on criminal-a hurry call
came over the telephone for him to
come home at once. He Immediately
adjourned the court and, calling a cab,
drove to his residence. Hastily enter
ing, he found his family In most dis
tressing situation. The house was in
the hands of officers of the law, who
had in their possession the identical
ruby eyed bracelet he had thought of
buying for his daughters birthday
present 1t had been found between
tue HlullTeSSeS Oh QeT Deu-
That some OF the constables recog-
nized a judge of the criminal court
did not absolve them from doing their
duty. Miss Grifiiths was taken by
them in carriage to court, her father
accompanying her, where a charge of
larceny was made against her. Her
father gave bail for her appearance
for trial, and she returned with him
to their home.
A mystery doomed up before Judge
Griffiths. Not for moment did he
suspect that his daughter was guilty
of theft What puzzled him was that
he had examined this very bracelet
with Il view to buying It He was
sure that he could not have taken 1t
from the store by mistake. And If he
had done so how could 1t have come
between the mattresses Of his daugh-
ter's bed? But the mystery was nothing
to the terror with which the incident
inspired the judge. Without an expla-
nation his daughter must be tried,
convicted and sentenced to the peni-
tertiary. On Just such evidence he
had sentenced hundreds of criminals
He went at once to Benkard's and
was closeted with the head of the
firm
ON hearing the judges errand.
Mr.. Bernhard told him of the anony-
nous letter he had received and show
ed him another that had Just come In
apparently from a different person, au-
thorizing him to say to Judge Grifiths
that 1t would be to his advantage to
recommend to the governor of the
state that a pardon be granted to Edith
Trowbridge, whom he had sentenced to
serve two years In state prison. This
was all the information received on
the subject, except that Bernhard had
recovered his lost property by acting
on the advice of his first correspond
ent.
For the first time the judge recalled
the Trowbridge case. 1t was plain
that some one interested in that case
had planned an ingenious method Of
placing his daughter in the same posi-
ton as that occupied by the girl he
had sentenced. Furthermore, he saw
at once that the scheme had been so
adroitly managed that there was little
hope of exposing the perpetrators.
Whether the scheme had been work
ed In the interest of an innocent or
guilty person the Judge did not know.
He had no evidence to prove that
scheme had been worked at all that
could be satisfactorily presented to a
court. He went at once to the gov
ernor of the state and laid the case
before him. The governor yielded to
his solicitations and issued a pardon
for Edith Trowbridge.
AS soon as Miss Trowbridge was
free Judge Griffiths received word
that the person who had worked up
the case against his daughter would
explain on a promise of immunity.
The judge. glad to remove the obloquy
that rested upon his child. acceded to
the terms and soon after received a
visit from George Whitcomb. who said
to him
You convicted an innocent girl on
circumstantial evidence. After the
TRIAL SuN AOu Wulh UP lnG bilttL anu
enter a jewelry store. | went in after
you. stood beside you at the counter,
saw you look at the bracelet and heard
all you said. When the clerks back
was turned and you were intent upon
another article | saw an opportunity
to steal the bracelet. To do so and
make a plan for laying the theft at
your door occurred to me. At the risk
VI you or some other criminal Judge
sending me where you sent Miss Trow-
bridge l slipped the bracelet into my
sleeve.
my object thus far was revenge
upon you for sending an innocent girl,
the girl loved, to state prison. Then
1t occurred to me that my case would
be stronger and my revenge greater
IL | could fix 1t on your daughter. A
third idea was to show you the fall
billy of circumstantial evidence, and,
lastly. saw an opportunity to compel
you to use your influence to secure the
release Of the girl you had wrongfully
sent to prison.
81 wrote the note TO Bernhard g. Co.
and employed detective to steal into
your house and place the bracelet be-
tween the mattresses of your daugh-
ter's led"
When the marriage between George
Whitcomb and Edith Trowbridge took
place a handsome wedding present
was received from Judge Grifiiths.