Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-13
Curious Attempt TO Black mail.
LETTERS WHICH SURPRISED Mr.. BAUMANN.

LETTERS WHICH SURPRISED MIR. BACMANN.
prisoner who gave his name as James
Smith was arraigned in the Jefferson market
police court yesterday. charged with conspiracy
to blackmail Ludwig Baumann, of the firm of
Baumann Brothers. furniture dealers in Eighth
avenue and in 18th street. Mr., Baumann said
that he had received several letters signed by
Miss Emma l.. Roberts. in one Of which he was
charged with having betrayed the writer. It
was stated that he would be punished if he did
not make reparatiOn. The letters were a great
surprise to Mr. Baumann. and he kept them to
await further developments. He received the
first letter on Thursday and in it was another
letter addressed to Mr.. Marsh. The inclosed
letter was opened, and was found to contain
request for an interview. The next day
another letter, ten pages in length, was
received from Miss Roberts This letter was hand
ed to Justice Bixby yesterday as part of the
evidence against the prisoner. The writer asks
for the return OF private papers contained in the
pocket-book stolen from her on November 81
and directs that they should be sent to the
school or to the Brooklyn post office in nv
right name. She asserts that the first note
that she received from Mr.. Baumann asked for
the society Of a refined, cultured and respect
able lady. conversation could do no harm
and might result to our mutual benefit" She
then states that in the interview with him moth
ING was said about the duties that she would
have to perform. except that she would soon be
able to save $500 for tie relief of her infirm
mother. The second time that he met her she
alleges that he took her to dsOrderly hOuse
and stole her pOchet-bOOk and brutaly assaulted
her Since then he had failed to meet her, and
she did not know where to address him. but
While shopping the day before she saw him
standing In his store.
MISS ROBERTS "MIsTAKE."
on saturday night boy handed a letter to
Mr.. Badmann and said that it had been sent nv
lady. The letter was signed by Miss Roberts.
and simply stated that she had made mistake
in sending the letters to Mr.. Baumann. asked
for return of the long letter, and censured
him for opening the letter addressed to Mr..
Marsh. clerk in the store followed the how
and saw him speak to man at 14th street
and 9th avenue. policeman was subseuuentIv
called and the man was arrested He gave
the name Of Smith, but said that was NOT his
right name. He concealed that, he said. be-
cause he was an innocent victim in the
case and knew nothing about the contents of
the letters. In the police court the prisoner
was remanded until this morning in order to
obtain counsel.
The prisoner said to Tribune reporter yes-
terday that he had known Miss Roberts for q
long time, but had not seen her in several
months until last Saturday night, when he met
her in a Wall street ferry boat She said that
that If he would attend to 1t for her she would
be saved great deal Of trouble. He was told
that there would be an answer to the letter and
she asked him to address the answer to her at
the general post ofiice in Brooklyn. He further
stated that he had learned that Miss Roberts
saw MI Baumann standing in his store and
through mistake thought that he was the man
that mad wronged her. She addressed the letter
to him with the inclosed note to Mr. Marsh
thinking that II he had never used that iictitions
name he would not open the note. She learned
that ne had opened 1t, and therefore Thought
she had found her betrayer. Further than this
he said that he knew nothing about the case.
MISS ROBERTS REPENTANCE
Mr. Baumann said that his knowledge of the
case was confined to the fact that he received
the letters. He had never advertised for female
help. A singular part Of the affair is that Miss
Roberts called on Mr.. Baumann on Sunday and
expressed repentance for having made the mia
take. She would not enter the house and
escaped before she could be arrested. Mr.. BAN
mann thinks that the prisoner knows more than
he has told.