St. Paul daily globe., 1888-07-30
BLACKMAIL AS FINE ART.

ingenious Scheme of an Advent
uress to Extort Money from Her
Victims.
New York Correspondence of Chicago Herald.
Gotham is to-day paying tribute to a
vast legion of women who live upon the
folly, the egotism and the innate bru-
tality Of men. Police Inspector Will
liams, who is beyond all question the
best authority upon the subject, es-
Inmates their number at 10000. Ex-
Supt. Walling goes even higher, and
puts the figure 10000 beyond, The
methods employed by these women dis
play a bewildering novelty and
ingenuity. Some are practically
blackmail, but bIackmail so deli
cate and artistic as not to come within
the law. Of those who work this VEN
the most ingenious is Mrs. May Robin
son, alias May Roberts, alias Irene Lath-
am, alias only heaven knows how
many other names, She is about twenty
eight years of age, medium sized, hand
Somely prOpOrtioned, elegantly dressed,
with brilliant brunette face that would
command notice and admiration any
where, When sat work'' she would
leave her home at $50 or 10 a. m. and
take some thoroughfare frequented by
the merchants, bankers and wealthy men
i'll general. For dudes, actors and pro-
feSsiOnal ''maShers" she had no eye.
But a portly, well-clothed man whose
mien and demeanor suggested a pros
periouS paterfamilias, received her
smile and bow the moment he looked at
nh1If-rnnnOnItInn Hyxvin in flNt.nn
times the bait took and the victim made
her acquaintance. From now on it was
clear sailing. She would use all her
powers of conversation to fascinate her
new friend and was seldom unsuccesS-
ful. Money was never mentioned. In
reply to the queries he would naturally
made she always gave the same story.
She was a widow, well-born, well-edu-
Gated, enjoying life and pleasure, and
having-thankS to her dear dead huS-
bands love and forethought-a limited
income of 81, 900 a year, just enough to
support her in comfort. The story re-
assured the admirer, who in his heart
had feared that his new inamorata was
anything but what she said. With him
she for the next week lunched, attended
matinees, and drove through the park
and on the boulevard. In the mean
time she wormed from him his home and
office address, the names of his wife and
children and hundred details in regard
to his private life. When this was ac-
cOmpliShed her next move was to send
begging letter, in which she stated
her remittanceS were delayed by litiga-
tion or cut off by reason of some corpora
tion skipping its dividend, and wound
up by very neat and affectionate re-
quest for loan Of sum of money, any
where from 500 to $500. according to
the pecuniary responsibility of her prey.
Once in three times this would bring
financial return. Twice it would not.
Then came the master stroke. With a
coarse pen and the blacklist of ink she
would write fervent love letter upon
heavy white paper, inclose it in the
thinneSt and most transparent steamer
envelope and mail it to him at his own
house. 1t always began, "My Own
Darling" or ''My Dearest and Sweetest
Love-" and ended, Hoping to lay your
dear tired head again upon my breast,
Your Little Love, May" There was
not a single unkind word in the letter.
There was vast amount of passionate
love and a very distant reference to the
number of dollars wanted. A near
sighted man could Tread the compromis-
ing epistle through the envelope. Much
more readily could a jealous wife or an
inquisitive sister or daughter. The
luckless man received the missive at the
breakfast table. He recognized the
handwriting, read dozen words
through the envelope, and then went
into cold perspiration. While in most
cases the relationship between the man
and woman had been innocent. the let
ter bore all the indicia of guilt, and in a
divorce court would have been proof
preSumptive against the husband Its
effect was terrific and instantaneous.
He lost his appetite for breakfast, and
left Immediately for his office or for the
house of his correspondent Nine
times in ten the money was forthcoming,
and in many instances large sums were
paid to compromise the matter and in
duce secrecy ON the part of Mrs. Roberts
So far as is known she began her career
in this line of business on Thirteenth
street, transferred it to johnson street,
Brooklyn. near Miners Brooklyn Thea
ter, and then went to Twenty-sixth
street, near Broadway. In all three
places she had magnificent rooms, kept
a twO-horse coupe and wore clothes,
diamonds and jewelry worth $1,000 at
least. Her first departure from New
York was induced by Inspector, then
Brooklyn by Police Capt. James Camp
bell. of the First Precinct, and her last
in New York by Howe d Hummel, the
great criminal lawyers. In all these
cases the wOuld-be victim, instead of be-
ing secret, waXed wroth and made con-
feSsion to the police or to his council.
The woman now resides near Central
park, but does not seem as prosperous
as before.