Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-11-18

stenographer did, certain explosives,
repetitions. divagations, which always
mar testimony. Let me just give the
document, as 1t was filed away in the
archives of the New York police de-
partment.
my name is Margarita Perez. I am
thirty-hve years old. and unmarried.
was born in the Island OF Trinidad,
where lived all my life. Juan Perez
is my half brother, ten years younger
than I. Our father was the same, but
my mother was an Englishwoman, my
brothers mother was Spanish. Ny IA
Their was q cacao grower. He was very
rich once. but he lost much Of his
money. When he died, four years ago.
he left my brother the plantations, ana
me very small income and the family
jewels-they were worth twenty thou
sand dollars Of your money. My
brother came into his property when
he was twenty-one. He managed poor
ly; and then he had bad luck. BY last
summer, he was 80 near failure that
there seemed to be only one way out
for me TO sell my jewels AID give him
the money. I wanted to do that, but
he wouldn't let me make the sacriace-
He saw one more chance to save us.
We had rich relatives In Caracas. on
the Venezuelan mainland. He went
there to see IL they would help. He
was gone three or four weeks He sent
me only one letter; and It was so dis
couraging that felt sure there was no
hope.
Just before that letter arrived, and
after Juan left for Caracas. Captain
John H. Hanska came to Port Of Spain
from Antwerp. Though my father was
Spanish, we lived in the English fash
ion; l was free to meet men. met
Captain Hanska and fell in love With
him.
(Here the police stenosrapher cut
corners. In this last phrase he con-
densed many divagations and evasions
on the part Of the witness; indeed. In
spector Martin MCGEE. expert inquisi-
tor that he was, spent five minutes
in bringing out that simple declaration
and the next)
"He said that he loved me. / be.
lieved him. It was all very quick.
Within week we were secretly en-
gagged. I supposed that he was an
American army officer on special duty.
And after we were betrothed, told
him about our troubles and my wish to
help Juan. My mind Yves made up by
that time-I would sell my jewels be-
fore my brother returned to prevent
me. I told this to Captain Hanska. He
offered to help. He said that he must
go to England the next week, and in
England he could sell them to much
better advantage than in Port of Spain.
I Agreed trusted him absolutely, you
see. Then he told me that he could
dispose Of them more easily, and for
more money, If he appeared to be the
owner. So made out and signed a
bill of sale, describing in detail every
piece to the last ring and pin, and
transferring them absolutely to him.
Now know what foolish thing I did.
For that made the jewels his property
in law, as surely as though he had
bought them from me.
1.-THE steamer on which he planned
to sail for England-he, told me-was
due to leave Port of Spain on Wednes-
day morning. On Monday night he
visited me and took away the Jewels.
He said that he wanted to register
them in advance with the purser. He
promised to come again on Tuesday
night. He did not appear. l learned
the next morning that he had left on
Tuesday for New York. started for
the pier from which the Southampton
steamer sails, in order to see If there
was any mistake. On the way, I met q
friend of the family who had been
waiting to warn me. He had found out
about Captain Hanska's career in Cara
cas-. He proved to me that the captain
was an adventurer and almost pro-
fesslonal gambler. Then understood.
! told no one about the Jewels until
Juan came back: but wrote q letter
to Captain Hanska In care Of the
steamship company. Somehow, It
reached him. He answered 1t with Q
cold letter. claiming the Jewels abso-
lutely and stating that he bought them
from me.
"That arrived Just after Juan came
back from Caracas. Juan had not
succeeded in raising money. The plan
tation went into bankruptcy. That 10
the matter with my eyes. They had
always been troublesome. But now I
gave them real disease b. Weapine.
(Here, - Miss NstriIla made hoF
statement. she spoke broken phrases
about another loos. The polace o1ao.