Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-03-25
A Dangerous RIackmaiIer.

READlNG-A LON ELY WOMAN
WHO WAS CANyAssING FOR A RE
LIGIoUS PAPER AND HOW SHE
! MADE OUT.
From the Reading Eagls.l
For the past week strange wo-
man has appeared in this city
which has created quite a furry
in some circles. She represented
herself to be o canva ssing agens
for particulars church publication
and she brought letters with her
purporting to have been written
by prominent clergymen in Har-
risburg, Allentown and other ci-
ties of this State. She made her
business known, and it was not
long before she had several fami-
| lies interested in her business wei
fare.
| She is described as a tall woman
with black hair and black eyes,
fair complexion and moderately
we'll attired. She was apparently
very modest and reserved and was
successful in palming herself off as
a respectable lady whose husband
had died two years ago in Boston.
She was brilliant in conversation,
a good singer and performer on the
piano, and when sufficiently in
duced to take part, formed an at
tractive person in any social gath
ering.
She canvassed during the day
| for subscribers, and was quite sue
cessful. Mrs. Montciair visited the
offices and private residences of
quite number of people, and in
many instances she collected a
years substitution in advance. A
certain gentleman, however, had his
suspicious aroused from the fact
that at times she showed her true
nature to be dashy and forward,
rather than modest and retiring,
and that instead of being what she
wanted others to think and believe
she was masquerading ali the
while.
He made 1t his business to ascer-
tain the facts if possible. 1t did
not require great length of time
to do this, for the woman's true
character burst .-upen~him like a
thunderclap from clear sky. He
tried to set trap, but it sprung
long before he anticipated. He was
alone in the parlor, the wife being
up stairs. All OF sudden the wo-
man screamed at the top of her
voice, the wife rushed down stairs
| and the husband was in q terrible
plight for a moment and knew
not what to do
The wife demanded an explana-
nation, the strange woman sat
crying in corner, and the hus-
band, maddened with rage, paced
the floor and ordered the woman
to leave the house immediately
Matters were fearfully mixed and
a strong dramatic situation fol-
lowed. The strange woman said
that she had been terribly insulted
and that the man had offered her
serious insult and attempted to
take improper liberties with her.
BOUNDS, madam, you lie :" ex-
claimed the husband. forgetting
his manhood in his passion. "Si-
lence - said the exasperated wife.
lis this true or false, she asked of
the stranger.
"It is true, madam, and l shall
take care to tell people how / was
| treated by your husband, too !"-
The wife seemed to be nearing dis
| traction, and she asked piteously
what could be done to avoid the
impending dishonor of the family.
Strange to relate, the female
agent very coolly replied, Madam
If you will give me one hundred
dollars will leave Reading to-
night and never say word about
it,n
"Monstrous ~ exclaimed the
husband. Here, madam, walk
right out of this house; do your
worst; but never darken this door
again." He led the woman thro'
the vestibule and slammed the
door as she went down the front
steps. He sent a person immedi-
ately to the telegraph Office and
inquired of the publication house
whether they had a certain Mrs.
Montclair in their employ canvass
ing for papers in Reading. The
store was closed in New York, and
a reply was not received until 10
o'clock the next day. The answer
was, mo, we know of no one by
that name employed by US. She is
a Fraud
The telegram was shown to the
wife, who then fully believed the
woman was a heartless blackmail-
err. She must have left the city
either the same night or early the
next morning, as she has not been
seen or heard of since then. 1t has
boon nannrtninad hnANauar thaf