St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-09-19
A BIG CITY'S YIELD.
Some of the Striking Scenes and Facts
Revealed to Reporters From Life
in Minneapolis.
a Pail Mall Scandal Revived in Recent
Libel Suit--How it Was
Squelched.
Col. G1enn's Strategy and How it
Worked--A Case Showing the
Wonders of Mesmerism.
How Some OF the Sure-Thing Men
Succeed in Working the Public
by Cappers.
A BIG CITY'S YIELD.

The appearance of Harriet Burner. the
prOcureSS, in libel suit against morning
paper in the Minneapolis district court last
week, brings to mind an occurrence in the
unwritten history of this delectable dame.
charge, no matter what, and a couple of
reporters were sent to interview her. She
protested her innocence and claimed she
could produce documentary evidence. She
hastily opened small satchell and began
to examine some of the letters contained in
several packages. While her attention was
thus engaged one of the reporters bright
and versatile genius, now employed on
st. Paul morning paper, ''sniped," pur-
loined or in plain words stole, one of the
bundles of letters. Mrs. Bnrner did not
notice the theft at the time and the reporter
got the letters safely to his room, where he
examined them at his leisure. And what
a revelationl There were letters to the
procureSS from lawyers, bankers and bust
ness men, some signed with initials and some
with full names, but all connected more or
less directly with the madame'S Infamous
business as procuress Of young girls to
crafty the base passions of rich debauchees.
The letters told of appointments, or engage
ments, and spoke of Enclosures of money.
Come at s, and bring NeIIie," was brief
but pointed note from leading merchant,
who is yet prominent figure in business
circles. when will you have things fixed
for me?" was an anxious inquiry from a
lawyer of high standing. The reporter
looked over the miniature Pail Mall scandal
he had unearthed. The first thought nat
urally was, ''What sensation this would
10 -
could not make more by holding the letters
and simply letting their authors know that
he had them in his possession and might
do something with them.
THAT WOULD BE BLACKMAIL,
and true to his newspaper instincts, he de-
cided to give them to the world. Still, he
wanted to make some money out of them.
Finally he hit upon the plan of writing al
article. in which he Incorporated history
of the woman and gave the contents of the
letters, just as they were written. Await
ing his opportunity, he found the manag-
ing editor of the paper upon which he was
employed at leisure one day, and carelessly
tossing the manuscript of his Feature" on
the desk. said: Look that over and tell
me what you think it's WORTH His chief
gave its contents hasty glance and said:
"Well, this is decidedly interest
ing reading. Where did you get
it?" The reporter told how he
had procured the letters, and added signiti-
cantly that he had them in his possession.
Il think this will do to keep" said the
editor as he threw the manuscript into
drawer, and wheeled sharply around in his
chair. 'Now. see uhere," he commenced
sharply, IF we should publish this stuff
we'd break up half-dozen families. make
bitter enemies out of our best friends. and
be sued for libel. am going to keep your
manuscript, not necessarily for publication.
but just because it's safer with me. Now.
you had better not show those letters
around, or you'll be arrested for blackmail. /"
The reporter concluded to let the matter
| drop, and probably did as far as he is con-
concerned. but one thing is certain, there is
man in Minneapolis who has those letters