New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-12
LETTERS WHICH SURPASSED Mr.. BAUMANN.

A prisoner who gave his name as James Smith
was arragned III the Jefferson Market Police Court
yesterday, charged with conspiracy TO blackmail
Ludwig Baumann, of the firm of Baumann Brothers,
furniture dealers IN Eighth-ave and in Fourteenth
st. Mr.. Baumanu sald that he had received several
letters signed by Miss Emma l.. Roberts, IN one of
which he was charged with having BETRAYED the
writer. 1t stated that he would be punished If
he. did not make reparat!On. The letters were
great surprise To Mr. Baumann, and he kept them to
await further developments. He received the first
letter Thursday and in it another letter adj
dressed to r Marsh The Enclosed 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
handed to Justice Bixby Yesterday as part of the
evidence against the prisoner. The writer asks
tor the return OF private papers contained III
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 my right
name" She asserts that the first note
that she received from Mr.. Baumann
asked for the society of refined, cultured
and respectable lady. conversation could do no
harm, aud might result to our mutual benefit" She
then states that III the interview with him nothing
was said about the duties that she would nave TO
perform. except that she would soon be able to save
5000 for the relief of her lnnrm mother. The sec
ond time that he met her she alleges that he took
her to u dsOrderly house, and stole herip0cketbOOk
and brutally 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.
On saturday night boy handed letter to Mr.
Baumann and said that 1t had Oeen sent by lady.
The letter was si2ned by MISS ROBERTS and simply
stated that she had made n mistake In sending The
letters TO Mr. Baumann, asked for return OF the
lone letter aud censured him for opening the letter
addressed 10 Mr. Marsh clerk IN the store fol-
lowed the boy and saw hun speak 10 a man at
Fourteeuth-st. mud SlXth-aye. A policeman was
subsequently called and the man arrested. lie
ave ths name OF Smith, but said that not his
right name He concealed that, he said, because
he was an innocent victim III the case
and knew nothing about the contents OF tine letters.
In the police court the prisoner was reuanded until
il M order
The prisoner SAID to a TRIBUNE reporter yeSter-
dav that he had known Miss Roberts for long
time but hal not seen her in several months until
last saturday night. when he met her III wall
street ferry boat She SAID that she was gong up
town to deliver u letter, and that if he would at
tend to 1t for her she would be saved great deal Of
trouble He was told that there would
ne an answer to the letter and she
asked him to address the answer to her
81 the General Post Office in Brooklyn He further
stated that he had learned that Miss Roberts saw
Mir. Baumann standing IN HE store, and through
mistake thought that he was the man that had
,yronped her She addressed the letter to HIM with
the inclosed note 10 Mr. Marsh thinking that If he
had never used that fictitious name he would not
omen the note She learned that ne had opened It,
and therefore thought that she had found her be
trayer Further tnan TINS he SAID that he knew
nothing about the case.
MIR Baumann sad that his knowledge OF the
casa was confined To the fact thai he received the
letters lie had never advert sed for female help.
A singular part OF the affair is that Mss' Roberts
called on Mr. Bauminn on sunday and expressed
repentance for having made the mistake. she
Yould not enter the house anu escaped before sue
could be arrested. Mir BaumaDn thinks that the
prisoner knows more than he mas told.