Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 January 1911 — The Naughty Little Milliner [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The Naughty Little Milliner

A TRUE STORY OF THE SECRET ; SERVICE 1 . .

By Col. H C.

Whitley , Former Chief United States Secret Service

HE sympathy of B the public is usui ally bestowed up C on the weaker sex, fy/l M.W although Heaven 1 /A knows it is a mis- | 'IB take to suppose - m? that the weakness of humanity is conn\ fined to woman - M l alone. Certainly in J\(j matters of love and «1 fIT sacrifice she oftentimes proves herAnaHHBBM self the stronger,

and in criminal ways her powers pf invention have many, times reached the acme of perfection. The subtle 'devices resorted to by women for pulling the wool over the eyes of the officers of the law are frequently more misleading and difficult to penetrate than the most scientific .roguery planned by men. The several novel expedients resorted to by the Widow Wood, better known in police circles as “The Naughty Little Milliner,” for throwing dust into the eyes of the detectives, is indeed a marvelous exemplification of female ingenuity. It was along in the early seventies when it became known that there was circulating about New Orleans a dangerous counterfeit five dollar treasury note, likewise a pretty good imitation of silver half dollars. A number of these bad five dollar bills were received at the banks and might have passed along undetected had not one of the bankers, more discerning than the others, made the discovery that these noteß were counterfeit, thStigh they were well calculated to deceive the average The bogus half dollars had been coined with steel ’ dies and were exact facsimiles of the genuine in all except the metal they contained. They passed readily among the foreigners, especially about the French market. Operator James Fitzpatrick, who was at that time in charge of government secret service affairs in New Orleans, began an Investigation for the purpose of ferreting out the source of this bad money. After weeks of anxious watching it was learned that a young girl who daily the French market for the purpose of buying family provisions had, as regularly as she came, left a bogus half dollar. she wore a tattered dress and there was a sorrowful expression settled about her pallid yet interesting features. It was the gentle and dejected expression of her countenance that first attracted the attention of Officer Fitzpatrick. The Gascons and Italian dealers about the market had never made a complaint in regard to the bad money, as they could readily pass it off on one another or at the coffee houses along" the river front. Following the girl one day the officer traced her to a little variety store on St. Joseph street, near the corner of Tchoupitoulas street. After a short time had elapsed the girl came out of the shop. She was now attired in somewhat above the common garb. Unobserved by her, the officer watched her movements until she finally went into a small grocery store. When she came out she carried a package. It was plain that she had made a purchase. When the girl was well out of sight the detective stepped into the little store and requested the Creole boy in attendance to let him see the money that he had from the girl that had Just left the place. It was a new flvedollar note that the boy handed out. Looking it over carefully it was found to be one of the bogus kind. The officer made a plausible explanation that he thought sufficient to satisfy the curiosity of the boy, and was now quite certain that he waß on the track of the source of the counterfeits and that the occupants of the little variety store were the distributors of the bogus stuff. Opposite the variety store across the street was the sign “Furnished Rooms to Rent,” and Fitzpatrick was fortunate enough to be able to hire a front room where he could sit at the window and watch the suspected place. In the course of time he learned that the occupants were mother and daughter, JTbe mother was a widow, quite pretty, about thirty years of age. Her daughter was not more than twelve or fourteen. As the wheels of time rolled on it was learned further that the husband bad died but a short time before and that the family had entombed in New Orleans. It was likewise discovered that the little store was a resort for persons who would bear watching. The officer noticed that the woman who was the occupant occasionally left this place of business carrying a basket on her arm and that she was iilways looking over her shoulder and peering about as if she suspected she was being watched. Tracking her one day, she led the way to the 8L Louis cemetery on Basin street Approaching a tomb, she knelt down before it and bowed her head as if engaged in prayer. Leaning against a tomb nearby was a well-dressed man apparently waiting for some one. As the detective carelessly sauntered along he drew near the stranger, and as be did

so he saw a signal of xecognition between the man and the woman. The latter, having completed her seeming errand of love, peered cautiously around for a moment and retired from the cemetery r The detective thought she might have come there to meet this man, but had been foiled in her intentions by the appearance of a third person. It was Sunday that the occurrence 'described took place. Oil the same day of the week following the detective, dißgulsed as a decrepit old man apparently almost blind, went into the cemetery early and took a seat beside a tomb not far from the one upon which the woman had placed the flowers the Sunday before. It was nearly noon-day when the suspected woman with her basket upon her arm came in. The basket was filled with flowers as before. She was dressed in deep mourning and seemingly bent on a sorrowful errand. This time she did not kneel, but sat ddwn beside the tomb and bowed her head as if in contemplation. After a short time the stranger of the week previous entered the cemetery, and approached the sorrowing woman by a circuitous route. Neither of these persons seemed to take any notice of the old man leaning upon the nearby tomb. The stranger and woman met and engaged in conversation. They were partially concealed from the view of the old man, who now straightened up and hobbled towards them, upon which the stranger suddenly bolted over an adjoining tomb and took to his heels. The disguised officer rushed up to the widow and demanded to see what she carried in her basket. Upon an examination it was found to contain a set of dies for coining Imitation silver half dollars. The woman was arrested. Her lib tie store was searched, but nothing of an incriminating nature was found there. The woman said her name was Wood, and that her husband had died but a short time before. She had since his death regularly visited the cemetery every Sunday for the purpose of decorating his tomb. She had a young daughter to support and had been sorely pressed for money. The dies which she carried in hes basket had been left with her by a man who asked her to sell them for him. On second thought she had resolved not to comply with his request as she feared such an act might be wrong. She had gone to the cemetery that day for the purpose of returning them. Her explanation was not altogether satisfactory to the mind of Fitzpatrick. The Widow Wood, notwithstanding her protestations of Innocence, was placed upon trial charged with having counterfeit dies in her possession. There was no question in regard to the possession of these dies—but did she have knowledge of their nature, or was she a victim of a cunningly devised scheme of a person who was seeking to dispose of them. There were at that time existing in New Orleans as in other cities at least two clashes of persons subject to sit on juries. On the one hand there was the fellow with the dark brow, who thought there was no great harm in passing counterfeit money. On the other, there was the man who would scorn to commit a crime himself or have a neighborly feeling for any person engaged in swindling the public, yet whose, sympathy might get the' best of him when called upon to sit upon a Jury and try a woman for an offense. The Widow Wood told a lame story in regard to the counterfeit dies, but the tale of her struggles to maintain herself and keep her head above water was touching in the extreme. It brought sympathetic tears to the eyes of the warm-hearted and chivalrous southerners. They could not think of convicting her. One evening a few months subsequent to the widow’s honorable exoneration, a good-natured gentleman, a member of the jury that had acquitted her, was on his way to his “Yes, Madam, at your service,” responded the gentleman gallantly, home from his office on Carrondolette •street. He suddenly felt his coat skirt pulled. Turning around be was not a little astonished to find himself confronted by a prepossessing woman whom he could not remember ever having seen before. “Are you Mr. Chappela?” she asked in a sweet voice. Without further ceremony she introduced herpeif as Mrs. Wood, the lady who hail falsely accused by a United States detective. She said she had approached him because she had learned that he was a benefactor to the worthy poor and that she now stood sadly In need of assistance. Her story was that she and her daughter of tender age had been keeping a small variety store and had become heavily involved in debt. Through humiliation and want she had managed to struggle along and eke out an existence. An attachment had now been issued and a keeper put In her little store. Tears glistened In her beautiful brown eyes as she narrated her pitiful tale. Bbe had $10,000,000 that would soon come to her from her father s estate and If she could

only stave off the trouble for a short time—. The good hearted southerner's sympathy was not confined to words alone. He went at once to her little store and paid the S3OO demanded by the keeper and left her SIOO besides to relieve her Immediate wants. It was only & few days following this when Detective Fitzpatrick concluded to enter the Widow Woods’ place of business and make a thorough search. He had obtained some new evidence in regard to her dealing with "queer” money. When he entered the suspected place he discovered that it was nearly empty. Everything of value had been removed. A number of cheap artificial flowers, bits of worn ribbon and lace and empty bandboxes constituted the stock. It was all appearance and no value. The little room in the rear of the place had been 'the Madam’s living quarters; it also was empty except a few tattered garments strewn about. What puzzled the detective most was to account for the removal of the goods without attracting his attention. The movements of the woman had been carefully watched and the detective had recognized the Carrondolette street broker as he visited the widow’s store, and the exit shortly after of a man very much resembling the stranger who had met the Widow Wood in the cemetery on the occasion Of her arrest. It finally came to light

that the broker had been done out of four hundred dollars by the widow who had planned the “keeper” scheme with a confederate. After diligent search about the city the detectives were unable to learn the whereabouts of the widow, who had skipped out for parts unknown. Detective Fitzpatrick was fortunate enough to secure a photograph of her, and a number of copies of it were made and forwarded to the branches of the secret service in the various cities of the country. She was first recognized in Cincinnati where she had offered a flve-dol-lar counterfeit bill. When arrested and searched, no bad money was found upon her, person, and she was released for the want of sufficient evidence. A secret service officer carrying the widow's photograph was sure he had met her while on his way from Washington to New York. He was not quite certain, but was sure enough to attempt to follow her for the purpose of learning her location. She probably “tumbled” to the detective while he was eyeing her Intently. She did not affect to notice him, but managed, however, to give him the slip. Just before the train arrived at Jersey City, the suspected woman got up from her seat and 'stepped Into the ladles retiring room at the front end. The detective was keeping his eagle eye on this place when the passengers In front of him arose to leave the car. He worked his way as rapidly as possible towards the front exit, and rushing to the ferry landing, he took a position where be could carefully view the face of every woman entering the ferry beat. Not seeing the suspected woman he was the first to spring ashpre on the New York side where be again scanned the faces of the women as they passed. He was disappointed and ready to kick himself when he realized how neatly he had been done for. Now York city affords one of the best covers for all el&ses of criminals. Here the thief mixes with the throng ;nd passes along unneticed. It was a

year or more after the occurrence of the incident, just related, when the same detective while rambling about the city chanced to meet a well dressed woman who bore a marked resemblance to thp little milliner. She turned her head and gave him a side glance as he passed. He kept along at a considerable distance and turned just in time to catch sight of her as she stepped into Johnson’s millinery establishment. Taking up a position at a point diagonally across the street, and sheltering himself a little in a doorway, he was enabled to distinguish persons as they passed in and out of the shop. While he stood watching, a bright looking boy came along with a bundle of newspapers under his arm. The detective called him up'and bargained with him to do a little “piping” for him. When the suspected woman came out of the millinery store she was pointed out to the boy who was told to follow her and, if possible, trace her to her home. The boy was promised $5 for the job if his information proved to be correct, and he was to meet the officer later and report. When the boy came back to the officer be had followed the woman to a little shop on Ninth avenue. He said she went in and took off her bonnet as though she belonged there. The detective reported meeting the woman who had so nicely escaped him and had located her in a small store on Ninth avenue where there hung over the door a sign that read “Fine Millinery Work Done Here.” It was quite reasonable to believe that the woman wap none other than the naughty little milliner from New Orleans and that she was then doing business In New York. Officer Fitzpatrick of New Orleans wa% the only detective on the force that could positively identify her, but it wouldn’t do to bring him for that purpose as she would be sure to see him first, and having been put upon her guard she might fly away. The idea was to plan a ruse for the purpose of capturing her with evidence to convict. For this purpose

it was necessary to bring a new man into the field, and I chose an elderly gentleman who was then employed. He was a countryman born, and did not have to act the part, as it was perfectly natural to him. He appeared simple in his ways, but was in reality remarkably shrewd. The little milliner might have been surprised one morning to receive a visit from a country dressed old gentleman, and she blinked her large brown eyes as he entered her little shop. But her lips assumed a business smile as she said, “Be seated, sir.” The room was neatly furnished, and there was a display of readymade bonnets, flowers, etc. The door of her little trimming room in the rear stood open, and it was plainly seen that the floor was littered with bit* of ribbon, clippings of velvet and small remnants of silk and lace. The old gentleman smiled pleasantly; the woman gracefully sank Into her chair. She folded her hands in her lap and inclined her head coquettislily to one side and looked like a polite interrogation point. The old gentleman explained that his daughter who lived over In Jersey had asked him to purchase a nice bonnet for her, and as he passed along the sidewalk he had read hes sign and just stepped in. He told her that the novelty of a bonnet making concern had always attracted his attention and that be would like to talk with her about her kind of business. "Of course I will tell you all about it,” she said good humoredly. "1 guess you will get tired of listening beforo I get through.” i She was a good talker and appeared to be a wOman of refinement and education as | she prattled along. She said she had once been rich but had been unfortunate; her husband had died from disease and a young and only daughter had been killed in a railroad accldentTX As abo talked glibly she was all the while exhibiting her stock In trade. “Here,” said she, "Is a lovely bonnet that I trimmed for a rich lady, but it has cot been called for. A fine look-

I ing lady came in here one day and tried on my bonnets; she wanted a nice one but I could not fit her. She said she lived somewhere .in the suburbs and she was In a great hurry. She finally picked out one and said it would do well enough for size, but she wanted it trimmed differently. ,1 have made the alterations as she described but have not Been her since. I have made bonnets for a number of wealthy people. Some of my customers ride in their carriages within a block of my store and walk the rest of the way, as it would not do for them to be seen in a little store like this. They have recognized the fact that I make the swellest bonnets and sell them at about mils the price asked in the large millinery parlors.” "WeU, I declare,” said the' old gentleman; “that is about the kind of a bonnet I want.” “I thought you would fall in love with it,” said the little milliner, ”as it is beautiful. The woman hasn’t called for it, yet even if I thought she would, I will sell it Inasmuch as it fa going out of town and 1 can make her another Just like it.” After haggling about the price for a time the old gentleman concluded to buy It. “I. will take it along with me,” said he, as' he laid down a twenty dollar bill of the National Shoe & Leather bank to pay for it. The milliner picked up the note and looking it over for a moment, her face lit up with a smile of pleasant sarcasm, as she said, “Look here, old fellow, this bill won’t do.” The curious expression upon her face was certainly amusing, and the countryman thought he noticed a lurking smile upon her countenance that betokened sympathy and indicated that she was posted on that kind of money. “Look here, I know that stuff as well as you do, so you just keep It and give me something else.” They stood and looked each other in the face. There was a mutual sympathy—two souls with but a single thought •“My name is David Kirkbride,” naming a well-known counterfeiter. “Good gracious,” exclaimed the woman,” why didn’t you say so? I have never met you before, but I have often heard my friend Eva Cole talk about you. What were you thinking about when you came in here?” “Oh, just about what I told you; besides I thought it was a good chance to shove a twenty.” “Why,” said she, “I buy these bonnets at Johnson’s and keep them for a stall. If you really want this one, you are welcome to it.” As' she became more confidential, she said, putting on a peculiar smile, “Suppose I had given you your change in a bill like this one,” as she produced a five dollar bill. “Well, well,” said the old fellow, “it would have been all right with me. But I am keeping pretty shady at this time; I carry my stuff concealed in my tobacco pouch and only keep a little on hand at a time.” “Oh,” said she, “you men think yov are smart at doing things, but you’re slow. I was arrested in Cincinnat' by the city detective because I offered a counterfeit bill in payment for * pair of gloves, but they searched me at the police station and couldn’t flnq any of the ‘queer’ about me. I put up a nice spiel and was very indignant, and Jim Ruffin, the the chief of police, got scared and turned me loose.” “What do you think! I had more than a thousand dollars of those five dollar bills with me at the time, but they couldn’t begin to find them. Just look here,” she said; and reaching her hand into an opening in her dress she pulled a string and drew her bustle to the front. This ,on being opened at the end contained a pocket. The widow, by pulling the string, could move the bustle around her waist at will. “What is this contrivance for?" Kirkbride inquired. “You can put your hand into it and, see ” He pulled out a handful ot clean five dollar counterfeit notes. As he did so he expressed great amazement at the ingenuity of her plan. “I have carried ‘phoney’ with me for years,” she said, “but no one has ever discovered or even suspected It” At this moment the Jersey farmer reached out and grabbed the widow’s bustle. Unbuckling the belt that held it, he pulled it from her person. She was greatly surprised when she realized that she was at last fairly caught red-handed. This charming little widow was no# escorted to my branch office or Bleecker street. After a long and tedious questioning and convincing ar gument on my part, she so far yielded as to turn “squealer” and assist the government. This little woman with the sparkling brown eyes was a fair sample ol exquisite female shrewdness. The lit tie dodge she played upon the de tectlve who In parlance was “gun ning” her in the car, was this. She stepped into the ‘retiring’ room, let down her hair and braided it. Throwing her bonnet out of the window, she put a small worsted cap on her head. Turning her dress (that had been specially made for the purpose and artistically arranged so as to make It long or short) inside out, she bor<tho appearance of a school girl. As Burning a look of innocent childhood, she could meet the gaze of the offlcei and pass along without discovery. She was now the entering wedge to the arrest of a number of persons connected with the Miner gang of counterfeiters, and the government was amply compensated for the money expi tided In running her down through the information sbi- give. ••'<>t»yrl£hi,. til,)#,. Uy V,’. O. Cm ,-y