The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-06-03

As a result Gotham is to-day paying tri-
butte to vast legion of women who live
upon the folly, the egotism and the innate
brutality Of men. Police Inspector Will
Jams, who is beyond all question the best
authority upon the subject, estimates their
number at 10000. Ex-Superintendent Wal
ling goes even higher and puts the figure TO-
600 beyond. The method employed by
these women display bewildering novelty
and ingenuity. Some are practically black
mail, but blackmail so delicate and artistic
as not to come within the law. OF those who
work this vein, the most ingenious is Mrs.
May Robertson, alias May Roberts, alias
Irene Latham, alias only heaven knows
how many other names. She is about 2S
years Of age, medium-sized, handsomely
proportioned, elegantly dressed, with
brilliant brunette face that would command
notice and admiration everywhere. When
lat work" she would leave her home at $50
or 10a. m. and take some thoroughfare fire.
quented by the merchants, bankers and
wealthy men in general. For dudes, actors
and professional 'mashers'' she had no eye.
But portly, well-clothed man, whose mien
and demeanor suggested prosperous pater-
Iamlllas, received her smile and bow the
moment he looked at her in half recognition.
twice IN three times the bait took and the
victim made her acquaintance From now
on 1t was clear sailing She would use all
her powers of conversation to fascinate her
new friend and was seldom unsuccessful.
Money was never mentioned. In reply to
t9e queries he would naturally make, she
always gave the same story. She was a
Widow, well born, we'll educated, enjoying
NE and pleasure and having-thanks to her
dear dead husbands love and forethought
"a limited income of 81 600 a year, Just
enough to support her in comfort. The
STORY treasured the admirer, who, in his
neart had feared that his new inamorata
was anything but what she said. With him
sne tor the next week lunched, attended
matlnees and drove through the park and
on the boulevard. In the meantime she
Wormed from him his home and Office adj
ufesS, the names of his wife and children,
ana hundred details In regard to his pri-
Vate llte When this was accomplished, her
next move was to send begging letter, in
winch she stated that her remittances were
usiayed by litigation or cut off by reason
VI some corporation skipping its dividend,
anu wound up by very neat and affection
dlerequest for loan of a sum of money,
anywhere from 500 to $500, according to the
pecunlary responsibility of her prey. Once
IN three times this would bring financial
tteturh. Twice it would not. Then came
a.. .te master stroke. With a coarse pen and
s sne blacklist of black ink she would write
!erVent love letter upon heavy white paper,
.ntlose 1t In the thinnest and most transpar-
I IIiV steamer envelope and mail i; 10 him at
ms own house. 1t always began my Own
Iparung" or MY Dearest and Sweetest
1--we and ended Hoping TO lay your dear
THeG mead again upon my breast, Your
Little Love, May" There was not a single
' uiikind word in the letter. There was a
S sast amount of passionate love and a very
instinct reference to the number of dollars
t Ibahleu A near-sighted man could read
compromising epstle through the enve-
,Up o' Much more readily could n Jealous
T TIE or an inquisitive sister or daughter.
81 iuckless man received the missive at
sue breakfast table, He recognized tile
t1taaluwrltlng, read dozen words through
sn9 envelope and then went into a cold per-
shb;Ialloh. While in most cases the relation
-; up between the man and woman had been
ro.!SHVeht, the letter bore all the indicia of
Punt and in divorce court would have
bo on PROOF presumptive against the hus-
o' nnu' ItS effect was terrific and instantane-
laft ne lost his appetite for breakfast and
b IelS immediately for his Office or for the
t toeSe Oh his correspondent. Nine times in
Nh n the money was Forthcoming and in
many instances large sums were Maid TO
compromise the matter and induce secrecy
b. Vne part OF Mrs Roberts. So far as is
hrs J"n sne began her career in this line of
W. ~ on Thirteenth street, transferred it
PoVIunson street, Brooklyn, near Miners
TT1Uoklyn Theater, and then went to
all ~ eihty-slxth street, near Broadway. In
t ta .nree places she had magnificent rooms.
49, pV two-horse coupe and wore clothes,
Io aliiohds and jewelry worth s., 900 at least.
d Ar 1rst departure from New York was in
de see 9 py Inspector then Captain, Alexan-
c. .. williams; from Brooklyn, by Police
e ai%p. James Campbell, of the First Pre-
ny, and her last in New York by Howe
auHinel, tho great criminal lawyers, In