The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-03-23
So She Was Soliciting Money
to Give the Pr T Woman
a Dec aneral
Y 80 BARRE PEOPLE
SSWERE FLIMFLAMMED
Mrs. Mary Murphy Goes to
the County Jail for Her
Smooth Deception

One OF the bodest panhandling schemes
to come under the notice OF the police in
several years was uncovered this fore
noon when Mrs. Mary Murphy was ar
raigned before Magistrate II. w. Scott on
a charge of fraud to which she entered a
plea of guilty. The subtleties alleged to
have been practiced by the woman in
volvc an imaginary Mrs. Doyle, whose
sudden demise on Farwell street last
week, made imperative the garnering of
sundry sums of money for her burial.
When the spurious funeral preparations
were over, the ingenious Mrs. Murphy Is
said to have solicited funds for a high
mass of requiem to be said over the re-
mains of the supposed Mrs. Doyle. Good
people, moved to pity by the persuasive
tongue of the respondent, subscribed will
ingly to the fund.
1t is alleged that Mrs. Murphy worked
her game successfully in Montpelier last
week, although it remained for her to
arouse the bump Of official curiosity
in Barre before her elaborate plans for
the interment of Mrs. Doyle came to
such a swift termination. Mrs. Murphy
and her husband, Walter j. Murphy who
saws he is a canyasser, but who has al
lowed his wife to do most of the can
vassing in Barre, according 10 the police,
came into Washington county from Rich
mond A few days sojourn in the cap
ital was abruptly ended when the wom-
an learned that the Montpelier oyerseer
of the poor had become suspicious of her
operations. To all accounts Barre seemed
the next best field and hither came the
Murphy woman and her husband last
Thursday.
Folks in the neighborhood of upper
Washington street as well as in the north
end were the first to feel sad over the
death OF Mrs Doyle. Her eulogist paint
ed the Farwell street woman as one who
died in penury. Plans for the funeral
OF the fictitious Mrs. Doyle were reaiistl-
cally outlined by Mrs. Murphy as she
trekked from house to house. Sometime
Saturday night the moving story OF how
de. this hand had laid hold on Mrs. Doyle
was related at the home of w. +. Shep-
ard on Washington street.
From that moment Mrs. Murphy, as
the advance agent of the mock obsequies
began 10 be a suspicious character. Mr..
Shepard contributed TO the fund and then
with all of the local un-
dertakers, only TO learn that none OF
them had been called in connection with
Mrs. Doyle's demise. Police headqusf-
ters was advised OF the woman's move
ments and over the week end sharp
lookout was kept. Not until last night
did the officers get new clue to Mrs.
Murphy and her field of operation. Some
one telephoned the station from Eastern
avenue that a woman was begging mon
ev. Chief Sinclair went up the avenue
and intercepted the respondent in the
midst Of touching recital Of her narra-
tive. She was taken 10 police headquar-
tiers. where a charge OF fraud was pre-
ferred against her by States Attorney
+. r. Gleason. Afterward she was re-
moved 20 the county jail.
A very penitent woman, dressed In the
height Of fashion and ready 20 tell good
deal more about the faneiful Mrs. Doyle
than the authorities had been able 10
learn. came before Magistrate Scott this
forenoon. Mrs Murphy was accompanied
bv her husband. who intimatcd 20 The
officers that he was aware Of what his
wife had been doing. The woman wore
he same sable-hue veil that bad been
used 20 conceal her grief over the death
of Mrs. novle. According 20 her repre-
sentation 10 tho court. she had adopted
the Dovle death with Farwcn street a.
! setting because she needed money nee
essary 20 get her husband back 70 Rich
mond with her. She denied having
worked the game In other sections and
told Of receiving her discharge from a
hospital a short time ago. Mrs. Mur-
nhv didn't mention the uame Of the hoe
nital but the court ~ wen as the officers
sid they had strong suspicions az 10
whore the hospital is located.
judge scott sentenced tho respondent
"a servo a minimum seutence 81 tvo
n the county jail With maxi
mum II s. days Tie suggested that the
woman he Transferred - Waterbury.
: here she NAV receive the beuett -
frcst-erf ~ tho state hospital While
= tbe rits Mrs Murphy and her husband
~ = room on Freurh street.
When ths sentencing of The woman n
narre came a. the attention oi TIE po-
.ae ~ Moutuslier thev reoalied THAT
.lrilar came vas worked BY a woman
$ that rffr. There the solicitor ~ funds
Iar the aeoaut hurial of poor woulhn
.stH tha aapa wnmian's hnuie VS. -
.cs-.tt AL sfreft : seftinn somewhat re-
uafe froa fi.s liasiness Tart ~ the r'iT-
.nsf a. Farusr strert y far ffum the
eutar 81 mrrrp Thf sHliritnr 60 out
"A tnun before ~ poIagt couid hT
.srr1a - her,