Year: 1859

From The Ciereidnd Herald, JsHe7


One day last week passable- looking young woman
rather sunfrecked and having hair Of "a rich, warm
yellow tint took passage from Chicsgo 10 Detroit on
the Michigan Central Railroad. Her baggage was
checked and the young woman took berth in the
sleeping car. Another young woman, of course q
perfect stranger 10 the "aubum" haired damsel,
who, forget TO say calls herself Elizabeth Drake
shared the berth. On arriving at Detroit Elizabeth
found her sleeping companion bad absqustuatsd TAX
ing with her the check for the baggage, and some
other sundries contained in Lizzys pocket


On Saturday morning the fair Eliza" found herself
AT the New England Hotel, on Water street, having
Just of the Detroit steamer. She remained at
that house. and told the landlord Mr.. Charles Coates
the story Of her osses stating that she had been rob
bed Of be trunks containing valuables and also had oil
her money solen She farther said that she had set


tied with the railroad company for the loss, and that
G. H. Heard President Of the company had given her


for sjOO payable in fifteen days. This note che
had placed in sealed envelope and gave into she
custody Of the landlord for safe keeping. Both Mr..
Coates and his wife were imposed on by the appear
and plausible story Of Elizabeth and the former
advanced her ceuan sums on the note-to wit: lone
bank note Of the value Of 81 two bank notes Of the
value Of 81 each and five silver coins Of the value Of
25 cents EACH"


With this money the damse went up TO Freeman h
Keloggs dry goods store and purchased dress piece,
making herself very intimate with one Of the clerks,
representing that father had sold farm in Medina
county for $50 900, and DtimaDg that she was going
to launch out" in the way Of dress or course her
acquaintance was cultivated. and she retired with the
prospect Of running up big bill at the expense Of the
nnm. .n.


So far everything had gone well, but she had made
herself 60 very familiar with the boariers at the hotel
that Mrs Coates began TO be suspicious On Tuesday
afternoon Marshal Craw and Officer Mckinstry hap
pened into the house and were introduced under
feigred names TO the young lady. She soon became
very familiar with them and matters progressing
swimmnely when Mr. Coates announced that his
bureau-in which the draft deposited-had been
robbed. The suggestion that officer be sent for
rejected by Craw who recommended that the Of
the persons suspected be searched Some money that
had been stolen together with the envelope iuclosing
the draft, was found hid under q bed-where they
had been placed for the purpose. by tbis time Officer
Frazee was on the ground. Miss Drake attempted 10
get possession Of the envelope but prevented BY
the officer who wished 10 that all was right The
envelope wts opened and found TO contain--wssts
paper.


In the course Of conversation with Marshal Craw,
Elizabeth had got the impression that she was talking
with fellow sharper, and told him that her story OF
the draft was all fiction that she had been "robbed
by an accomp lice according 10 Agreement and that her
trunks had been placed by that accOmplice in the
hands Of Elzsbeths fancy man." at Kalamazoo.
The surprise Of the young woman al learning the real
character Of her confdaut may be imagined.


The game evidently was to swinde Coates ont Of all
che could the strength o the supposed drsft, and
then slope" 10 run up bill AZ Best q Freemsn
on the strength Of the 900 fortune and then ~
come on the Michigan Central Railroad Company for
damages for the loss Of her trunk


The.e schemes have failed, and she Is DOW in the
hand. Of the police.