Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 June 1882 — Living by pious Deceit. [ARTICLE]

Living by pious Deceit.

For several weeks the attention of many pei sons in public places has been attracted to t wo singularly-look-ing women, whd among other peculiarities, ba Ye been spending large sums of money in a way and /or articles altogether incongruous with their appearance and manner, which are those belonging to the humblest condition of life. The mysterious pair—one a tall, thin, angular woman, about 38 years of age, and the other a rather robust young woman, bearing the appearance of a maid of all work —have been ordering sumptoug $lO dinners daily at Finelli’s and the Continental, driving in the park, visiting the most fashionable stores, buying the mostelegant articles at random, apparently regardles. of cost or season, and occupying the most conspicous seats at performances in the various th aters in the evening. In various ways they haee managed to get a number as romantic stories afloat as to how the tall and angular young woman who controls the pursestrings secured her money. One story is that it was a legacy from a lover who discovered a gold mine near L adville but the true story, which has come out, while anything but romantic discloses one of the most curious cases of deception and imposition upon credulous and charitably disposed people that has been known in along time. A few weeks ago two women, answering the description given, the older one very poorly dressed, wem; into a furnishing establishment a Thirteenth and Chestnut streets and asked the price of a set of blue repcovered parlor furniture in the window. It was a show set, exceedingly handsome, and intended for a rich modern apartment where surroundings would be in harmony. One of the young salesmen, chuckling at the thought of the astonishment of the would-be customer would receive, replied that the price was $650. To his own astonishment he was told that they would take the set. Inquiry showed that the furniture had oeen promised to other parties and could not be disposed of, wereupon the mysterious customers, more than ever determined to have their way, ordered a set made exactly like it, offering to pay an additional sumi if necessary. They gave the address to which the furniture should be sent, No. 1918 South street. Upon going there, it mas found that Margaret Bethel, as the tall, angular young woman had given her name, occupied a room on the second floor above a small notion store,kept by Mrs. A. Cregg. Although unable to find how the money had been obtained, the salesman was satisfied that the young woman was able to pay, and the furniture was made, and as soon as finished was paid for cash down. Several other visits were made by the two young women to the same establishment and large purchases made, including silk and velvet curtains and hangings, which are scarcely ever asked for at this time of the year, the latter alone costing upward of S3OO. The salesman having remarked the incongruity of putting furniture in a room without a carpet, he went with the two women,at their request, and aided them in the selection of one, and also directed them to a real-estate agent, as they talked of buying a house in some fashionable quarter. Out us this and similar examples of the extravagance of Miss Bethel and her companion the very singular story of how she got her money has come to light.

For upward of twelve years an elderly woman named Margaret Bethel has been a pensioner on the charty of Bt.lmark’s Protestant JJpiscopal Church, where she attended and showed all the outward semblance of great piety and extreme poverty. She attended nearly all the services and was the constant recipient of money and numerous, articles of wearing apparel from wealthy people in the congregation. A man named John Bethel, who liven with her, she said was her infirm couisn, unable to work, and she represented her daughter as an imbecile. Living in various places, the last being the room on South street, the old woman, up to the time of her death in Febuary last, appeared to be but little removed from starvation. She had scarcely been dead an hour when Mrs. Cregg, whe assisted in preparing her body lor burial, discovered that she had left behind her a very large sum of money in cash and books of deposits for many thousands of dollars in .various banks and trust institutions. All of this was taken in charge by her daughter. It now transpires that for many years, probably the old woman and the man who lived with her, who turns out to have been her husband, and the daughter have been practicing the most systematical deception upon charitable people of almost every religious denomination. Each worked in a different way and everything went to the common fund. They have represented themselves respectively as Catholics, Methodists, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, and it is hard to tell what else, and draw money, and food, and clothing constantly from people and churches of every faith. They have lived niggardly. sold everything given them of any value and put the money in bank. The father, who died a year ago, was buried under a Cathilic influence, while the mother was attended by tbe Rev. Mr. Kelly, a Methodist preacher. It now turns out that the mother, while begging alms, built a marble vault costing SSOO in Woodlands Cemetary, in which he places her husband's body, and the daughter in turn, gave the mother a S2OO casket and a splendid funeral. The number of families, and churches, and clergymen, and institutions who have been victimized during these years b\ “good old Margaret’,' as she was called by many, is said to extend into

other cities. Since her mother’s death Louisa, the daughter who is really very sharp wisted and fan of resources, although eccentric, has picked up a girl named Mary O’Neill as her attendant, and never goes out except in a carriage. She thinks 1 ar. self“an heiress.” has added an Ito her name, and refuses to speak to the neighbors, with whom up to the time of her mother’s death she had occasional intercourse. Philadelphia Times. , ™