The Washington times., 1915-06-16
Mystery Of Seaside Cottage
Robberies Ended in Startling
! Way by Confessions.
SHE PAWNED THE ARTICLES
Hearing Of Intimacy, Her Hus-
band Discovered Unsuspect- t.
ed Truth in Another Line.

NEW YORK, June ia surprising
solution Of mystery which had been
puzzling Sea Cliff. L. l., for weeks has
been given to the people Of that town.
They learned that the burglars who
had broken into and robbed five sum-
mer cottages in the absence Of the ten
ants were two Of the best-known young
persons of the settlement-Donald Clap
ham, twenty years, who is the son OF
Alfred N. Clapham. the most prominent
real estate man Of the place. and Mrs
Ruth Taylor Conlin. of the same age,
wife of John Conlin and daughter Of
Mrs. Lucinda B. Taylor. a matron hold.
Ing high place in the social world or
the village.
fessed their guilt and were held in
$1,000 bail for action by the Nassau
county grand jury. They pawned
what they stole. in order to get money
to go to dances and entertainments at
the Sea Clifr Yacht Club and similar
places.
As one robbery after another was re-
excited. But the little local police force
found no traces Of the burglars ard
the townspeople were about giving the
problem up as unsolvable when they
learned Yesterday that late e,., Monday 10 1,ry
had been arrested, had confessed, and
had been held in bail at secret hear
ing held by Justice Of the Peace Henry
l.. Schaeffer.
Ruth, who is a dancer and swimmer,
is sort of village pet. Three years
ago she astounded the town by elop-
ing with John Conlin. of Sea Cliff, then
and now chauffeur for Frank ]. Ruhl-
man, Brooklyn. When. three months
later, she left Conlin and returned to
her mothers handsome home on Elm
place, Sea Cliff, every one received her
with open arms.
I'm Ruth Taylor again. she an
nounced though no legal separation
had taken place., 80 please don't call
me Mrs. .Conlin. I've come home to
stay"
At the beginning of this winter it
spending much time together. They
were companions at all the dances of
: the Sea Cliff Yacht Club. and at many
other festivities In Long Island towns.
Husband Saw Light.
John Conlin. the husband. seldom ap-
peared about Sea Cliff. But he learned
Of the close friendship of his wife and
to look into the situation. He went to
Sea Cliff and saw the two take train
bound for Brooklyn. Clapham carried
suit case.
a trip, and followed He trailed them
when they left the train at Brooklyn.
He saws he saw them enter a pawn
shop on Flatbush avenue, not far from
the station. and emerge a little later
with the bag obviously lighter. He re-
called at once the burglaries at Sea
Cliff
The girl, who is twenty-one years old.
one year older than her companion, has
long been regarded as the village beauty.
and was considered the belle of the Sea
Cliff Yacht Club. where her bathing
costume, for summing on the beach or
yachting. attracted as much attention
as her thick bronze hair. regular fea-
lures, and pink and white skin.
Had Burglary Insurance.
The boy, too. has been regarded as
one Of the most promising youngsters
Of the village. He is the son of AL
fred H. Clapham. who has a prosperous
of the kinks Of the situation Is that
most of the houses which were robbed
We're owned by friends of clients of
the boys father, who had handled the
burglary insurance for them.
Last summer the girl. it was noticed
In the village, began to spend much
time with young Clapham and when
went to town together, saying they
were going to the theater. Clapham
had abandoned his position shortly be-
fore 1t was noticed how friendly he was
with the girl. and some persons here
wondered where he got the money to
take her around so frequently. But the
girl. upon coming to age. had received
her grandfather, also a resident of here
and other goSSips explained the lavish