New-York tribune., 1921-03-24
Maid Accuses
Mrs. McF adden
Of Jewel Iheft
"a .As.l.s. -
IEx- Governess, Arrested on
Larceny Charge, Says Phil
adelphian and Mother
Stole Their Own Gems
Freed ON Habeas Corpus
Pearls and Other Stones
Worth $5OO,OOO Disap-
peared Last October
Spsc'al Dispatc1 to The Tribune

Special Dispatch to The Tribune
PHILADELPHIA, March 23.-Mme.
Jeanne Auberlet, arrested last Thurs
day ON charge Of larceny and con-
spiracy resulting from the disappear
ance last October of $500, 900 worth Of
jewels from the Villanova home Of
George H. McFadden jr., was released
from custody this afternoon, Nine.
Auberlet was formerly governess in
the McFadden household.
The woman's release was ordered by
Judge Isaac johnson at the close Of
hearing on writ Of habeas corpus
begun in Media yesterday. Blanche
M9guit, formerly maid in the McFad
den household, is out on bail under
charges similar to those preferred
against the governess.
Sensational testimony was intro
duced into the proceedings when Mr..
McFadden and John c. Bell, attorney
for the McFaddens, testified that Nine.
Auberlet told them that the jewel theft
was the result Of plot between Mrs.
McFadden and her mother, Mrs. Ben
jamin Franklin Clyde, of Bryn Mawr;
to dispose. Of the jewels and 20 to
France and live ON the, proceeds. For
telling Of the plan, McFadden and Bell
said, she demanded $4,000.
Charges Extortion
George Wharton Pepper, counsel for
Mrs. Clyde, said after the hearing, that
it was the desire of his client and
the McFaddens to show on court rec
ords how unjust was such an accusa-
ton.
Sharp verbal clashes between J. Bor-
ton Weeks, of Chester, counsel for
Nine. Auberlet, and Mr.. Bell featured
the hearing. Judge Johnson found it
necessary to exert his authority on
several occasions.
Mr.. McFadden testified that Nine.
Auberlet tried to extort $4,000 from
him as compensation for Saving the
honor of the family" by revealing, the
alleged plot af Mrs. McFadden and her
mother to steal their own jewels.
Il had series of interviews with
Nine. Auberlet over period of six
weeks" said Mr.. McFadden.
"At the first interview she said that
she knew. how the jewels were taken.
She would not discuss it, as she stated
that she had to talk first with4a Mr..
Kimball from New York.
"At second interview, at which a
M
asked what guaranty / would give her
that she wouldn't be put in Jail. told
her that If she was innocent she needed
no guaranty. Mme- Auberlet repeated
the question about the guaranty sew.
eral times. She said had promised
her $4,000 if she produced the jewels,
or the culprit, or the plan, saying that
had made this promise in my house
in October. What l had told her at
the time referred to was that.1 thought
The insurance company would increase"
the reward to $50,D00.
Witness Causes Laughter
Later she st-ted that.the plan was
created by my wife and my mother-in-
law. According to Nine. Auberlet, my
wife got up late in the night, put the
stuff in q black leather bag and put
the bag under some bushes. My mother
in-law, who arrived next day, went to
the bushes and put the bag under the
cloak she wore. She gave as the rea-
son for all of This that my wife and
and live independently.
II asked Nine. Auberlet for facts. But
she said that she could not give them
to me. She told me that she wa Every
fond Of my children and that as she
wanted to preserve the family honor,
she would keep quiet and go to France,
intimating in the presence of Mr.. Bell
that for $4,000 she would remain
silent and save Mrs. McFaddcn this
scandal.
II told her to go right to- it, that
our family has nothing to conceal"
The testimony given by Mr., McFad-
when he went on the witness stand. He
created more than ripple of amuse-
ment when he testified that Nine
Auberlet had told him that: "Mrs.
Clyde wanted the jewels so she and
her daughter could go t. Paris to
decorate and make a grand splu-.e
with the nobility.
II asked her what she meant by
decorate" continued Mr. Bell.
"She. said Mrs. Clyde would sell the
jewels and give Mrs. McFadden a
chance to make a display with the pro-
ceeds."
Mrs. Clyde was visibly agitated when
she took the stand. She testified that
the large rope of pearls, insured at
about $150,00O. which had disappeared
over night from the dressing table,
where her+daughterlhad left them, was
her own property and merely "held in
trust for lifevby Mrs. McFadden.
"If she died before me,' continued
Mrs. Clyde, "the pearls were to come
back to me. In any event the pearl
necklace was to have become eventually
the property of my granddaughter.
Caroline" Caroline McFadden Is the
ourteen-year-old daughter of Mr.. and
Mrs. McFadden.)
Says Governess Lies
When asked to give her opinion Of
Nine Auberlet's account Of the plot
as outlined by Mr.. Bell, Mrs. Clyde
said:
Il will put it as strong as possible.
! know she is lying There's no uues-
tion one way or another. know she
is lying"
Details of the disappearance Of the
Jewels were given by Mrs. McFadden.
She said the last she saw of the large
rope OF pearls was when she removed
e after dinner party and placed
II upon dressing table in her bath
room. The shutters were open and the
shades were up. The jewels were missed
ct o'clock the next morning, and for
that reason she could not say positively
tnat the jewels were stolen during the