Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-15
Blind Cotton Pool.
WASHINGTON LADY CREATES SENSATION IN
NEW YORK BROKERS' oFPlCR

NEW YORK BROKERS OFFICE
There was an Interesting scene IN the Office of
Even Brothers, cotton brokers' No. 81 and ss Broad
street, New York, last Saturday, In which the New
YORK Times says Mrs c. A Stetefeldt OF this CITY,
wife OF Prof Stetefeldt OF the Smithsonian Iusiitu-
tion, was the chief actor. She went 10 the ONCE
it appears, TO demand the settlement OF an account
which she claimed 10 have with the frm. She In
sisted that about 5000 was due her, although
members OF the 1rm said they owed her nothing.
She made so much disturbance that q policeman
was sent for but refused " Interfere. she finally
LEFT, threatening 10 place the In the hands ol
Roscoe Conkllng or Roger A. Pryor. Mrs Stete-
feldt subsequently, made complaint against Even
Brothers 10 members OF the cotton exchange. dis
playing bundle OF letters which. she said, would
make Interesting reading. She also consulted Gen.
to-day. According TO Mrs. stetefeldts ftory, she
went into blind pool IN cotton. she said she un-
derstood that the trn had agents Ia this city who
had Induced wives or members OF Congress TO In
vest The method or the firm, she said. was TO pay
fair profits for month or two, and then cease 10
render any account member OF the nrm on the
other hand, when asked about Mrs Stetefedt's ac-
count, stated that Mrs Suetefeldt had entrusted
the firm with 5000, and had taken out $500 In
profits. besides Withdrawing nearly all her primes.
pal. She had, they said, transferred the account
To her husband December 1, 1885, and last week the
account was closed by his order. A member OF the
cotton exchange is quoted by the New York Times
as saying that about TWENTY-FIVE cases OF irregular
conduct on the part OF the Even Brothers has
been brought 10 the attention OF the exchange IN
In these cotton pools When Lewis, the blind pool
oil man disappeared last summer confidence was
shaken In blind pools OF all kinds. and there was
considerable inquiry concerning these cotton pools
but the agent or Even Brothers here appears 70
have satisfied everyone at that time OF the relia-
bility ana honesty OF the nrm.
WHAT Is KNOWN ABOUT THE MATTER HIRE
STAR reporter learned to-day that there u no
person named Stetefeldt connected with the Smith,
sonian institution or the National museum. Gen.
tlemen connected with the Smithsonian think the
lady In question must be the wife OF Prof Stete-
feldt, a metallurgist OK some distinction, who re
sides IN New York, but spends much OF his time In
this city.
WHAT THE WASHINGTON AGENT OF TIE NEW YORK
FIRM SAYS.
Major A. II. s. Davis, the agent in this city Of
Even Brothers, in speaking TO q STAR reporter To-
day expressed confidence that the action OF the
cotton exchange would thoroughly exonerate the
firm. The disturbance Was, he considered, en-
tircly the work OF spiteful woman, who had
threatened the firm a year ago. Mrs. StetefeldL.
he said, had so annoyed the firm year ago thas
they threatened TO close her account altogether;
but the matter was finally arranged by transfer
ing the account to her husband. She had pronted
largely through her dealings with the firm, having
received from them much more money than she
had originally invested, but became piQued be-
cause upon making demand for money there hap
pened TO be at that time no profits TO her credit as
her funds were then invested on the losing side oe
the market