New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-17
Father of Boy RaHleS
BLQnleS lnfatuatiOn

were pulled down, giving the aspect Of
n deserted tenement.
No one answered the door bell.
Shades were raised on the second floor
10 yentilate the room where Mrs. Ruth
Taylor Conlin is confined TO her bed.
The shock of having her name connect
ed with wholesale burglaries and the
nOtoriety that has attended her CON
icssion made jointly with her young
admirer have made her quite i'll, her
friends say.
One of the most interesting side
lights on the case is the testimony OF
Mrs. Alice Watson, the actress, who
entered the complaint which led to the
arrest of young Chaplain and Mrs. Con-
lin on a charge Of petit larceny. She
told the grand jury that, on the day
/ following the discovery that her sum-
mer home had been robbed, she went
to Clapham's father, who had charge
of the property, and urged him 70 be-
gin an investigation. II she had known
his son was connected with the theft
she would never have given the affair
publicity, she said.
That's right" exclaimed Donald's
father when asked about Mrs. Wat
sons testimony. This case would
never have been brought into the courts
if the persons had known my son was
involved in IT," On the other hand, how
ever several residents of Sea Cliff say
the burglary insurance companies with
which the elder Chaplain is associated
would have insisted on bringing the
case to trial.
After signing a waiver Of immunity
young Chaplain went before the grand
jury at noon to tell all about his con-
nection with the thefts. District At
torney Lewis j. Smith warned him that
turning states evidence would not eff
feet the possibilities Of an indictment.
According to his father, Donald told a
simple, straightforward story, omit
ting no details which might injure his
chances of having the complaint dis
missed.
II was Just before he entered tile
courthouse that Donald is alleged to
have said: Ruth did all the stealing
She took the lead always. | did not
take a thing from the places we went
to. had the keys which let us in"
Emil j. Winterroth, a piano manu-
facturer from Manhattan; James +.
Pearcc, Mrs. May Wood and Mrs. Wat
son were called TO identify their stolen
property, which was placed on exhibit
ton before the grand jury. None Of
these four appeared to be anxious to
prosecute the young couple. All are
good friends Of the Claphams.
Village Belle in Case.
Mr.. Winterroth said he was sorry
for the young man, that he would do
anything he could TO help him, and
was so convinced of his honesty that
he would be willing 10 offer him en-
poyment to start him again on the
right path.
John Conlin, who was married TO
Ruth Taylor three years ago when she
was eighteen and separated from her
after one month, told the grand jury
of having followed Chapman and the
girl TO Brooklyn, where he found them
dsposing of stolen goods at pawn
shop. Constable Charles Wurtenburg,
who also worked on the investigation,
was another witness.
The Winterroth house and Mrs. Wat
sons home, both near the Sea Cliff
Yacht Club, overlooking the water, have
been rented for the season and the
tenants have taken possession. James
+. Pearce refused to make any COM
ment on the arrest of Chapman and his
girl accomplish.
Every one in the village is ready to
talk about Ruth Taylor's beauty. No
one blames Donald for his infatuation.
On the ice she was the best skater in
Sea Cliff, and at the yacht club she
made other girls envious Of her dane
ing. Young Chapman has been her IA
vorite skating and dancing partner for
the last year. Ruth Taylor's ability as
q swimmer is also known along the
North Shore, and her one-piece bathing
suit Of last season was common topic
Of conversation at beach parties.