Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-10-09
FEMALE BLAOKMAILERs.

81 know of instances of Matchmaking
operations in this city," said one of TIN
ablest and most trusted detectives il
the country to writer in the New Yorl
Graphic recently, (which were l a
liberty to give all the facts for publica
ton would be the town talk for at Least
month. have made their operations
q study, and myself am astonished al
the weakness of human nature. These
people thrive upon the fears Of men and
women, who, by the display of a little
courage and discretion, could have saved
themselves from the eXactions Of theil
tormentors. BY this l mean that by
openly defying blackmailers, into whose
clutches they had unfortunately fallen,
they would have foiled them. The first
step in treating with them at all is the
entering wedge Of their mistortunes. l
know leading merchant of this city, a
man whose character is splotless, who
has for q quarter of Il century been one
OF the leading pillars in one of the most
arstocratic uptown churches, and who
is credited with being a man of rare
nerve and prudence, who for the past
fifteen years of his life has paid fifty
dollars monthly to woman whom lie
knows to be professional bIackmailer.
You ask me why, knowing her to be
such character, he consents to be so
boldly and continuously robbed. He is
rich; the woman possesses some tell
tale letters written by him to third
party, and rather than be exposed he
pledged himself to provide for her in
the manner have indicated, and he
will do so as long as he or she lives
~ know of another case in this city
which has proved to be even more dis
astr0us The victim in this instance,
too, is widely-known and q wealthy
business man. He became involved in
al intrigue, and was bounded by two
blackmailers to whom he paid SIS, 900
as hush money. He eventually sue
ceeded III quoting them, but refused
positively to prosecute them, although
aware of their character, fearing pub
lefty. These tiends---I can call them
by no other name--havc been the cause
of the wreck of fortunes, the suicide of
more than one man, and Of untold mis-
cry i'll many families in this city. Only |
year or SO ago wealthy Chicagoan,
who had been in.liscreet, suffered him.
self to be frightened by professional J
who had become coynizant Of his way
wardness. He paid her thousands Of !
dollars, neglected his business, and fin
ally, when utterly ruined, frankly told
her that he had made his last payment
to her, She threatened to expose him,
told him she would kill him, followed
him from place to place, believing that
he had still some money. left, and even
tually put her threat into execution and
shot him dead. A short time ago | was
called OIL professionally by a gentleman
who wished my aid in getting rid Of a
man and woman who had prosecuted
him grievously. He had met them at one
of the fashionable hotels at the Catskills,
and had carried on Irritation with the
woman, who was young and fascinating.
OF course he had compromised himself,
and the result was that he had been
visited unexpectedly by the woman's
alleged husband, who demanded under
pain of the fullest exposure, SIC, 900. He
gave the man his check for 81, COCOON one
of the city banks, thinking that was the
easiest way to settle the trouble, and
was assured that there the matter would
end. A month later be received letter,
i'm which an additional sum of money
was demanded. Realizing that com
pliance with his request would render
him liable to further assessments, he
placed the matter III my hands | saw
at once that lie had been the victim of
blackmailcrs, and immediately called on
the outraged husband, who had cone
down from Garrison's that day, and was
then waiting to see my patron at the
Putnam house on Fourth avenue. He Il
grew highly indignant when informed
him that he would not get another dollar,
and threatened to eject me from his room
When told him l would send him to
State prison if he further annoyed the
gentleman. l gave him good choking
when he became unbearably insolent,
which so frightened the villain that he
has not been heard of since
A MEXICAN P0MPEII.