Year: 1876

detection. He was arrested, indicted,
and, being ashamed to tell the whole
truth, even to his counsel, obstinately
adhered to the plea that he had drank
some wine. fallen asleep, and knew moth
ing that happened thereafter. In his
morbid social pride be could not endure
to confess that woman had so egregious-
ly fooled him, and as neither court nor
public credited the incoherent defense
really offered, the trial ended in his con-
victiOn of larceny and arson and condem-
nation to the Allegheny penitentiary
for life.


The venerable father of the wretched
convict farmer from the vicinity Of
Bufalo-never believed that his son
was guilty, nor that he had told the true
story of his misfortune. By importun-
ity with the governor of the State he at
last gained permission for an interview
with his unhappy boy in prison, and per-
suaded from him a full confession.
After the fire at the bank Mary Kinnaird
had never been seen in Erie, nor could
any one tell whether she had disappear
ed. Only by her capture could the ex-
cashiers miserable situation be changed,
and forthwith the father devoted his
every hour and dollar to the task Of
finding her. Detectives, supplied with
minute descriptions, secured several
States in the pursuit, and ultimately
took into custody woman of Pittsburgh
known as Kate Fallon, the wife of
celebrated forger aud eounterteiter.
Upon being charged with Erie robbery
this person Indignantly denied all knowl-
edge of either the City Bank or its former
cashier, but upon being suddenly address
ed as MARY Kinnaird'' by the elder War
ren, her r-changing countenance was tes-
timony against her, and the subsequent
discovery that her Pittsburgh house and
furniture had been purchased with some
of the bills from the robbed bank sealed
her fate. Tried at Erie, identified by
her victim and by the landlord of her
former cottage, and seeing no chance of
escape, she finally confessed her guilt.


Throwing herself upon the clemency
of the court, she told how her young
brother had gone to prison for attempt
ing to pass counterfeit money for her
husband, and how she had planned and
executed the ruin of the vain young bank
officer by whose instrumentality the boy
was brought to justice. But the court
did not deem her case proper one fol-
mercy and she was sentenced to prison
for life. Nine years later the governor
pardoned her, in consideration of testi.
mony respecting her husband, by which
the latter dangerous counterfeiter wa;
sent to take her place, and she came out
of her cell, a mere specter of her former


self. to become but specter indeed vary


sood thereafter.


As for Edward Warren, the Buffalo


Nea0s, from which chiefly these facts art


complied, says he and his devoted fathel


departed. for some Western State imme


diately after his release from prison


and, as the events above described oc
CURED only about thirty years ago, hc
may be yet in the land of the living
/ Aside from its common admonition 70
I all men holding Offices of trust that uni
. form prudence socially, no less than in
corruptible integrity financially. is essen
J tial to safety, his story illustrates YER
dramatically what may be called tn
| heroism of evil in woman nature.