The Irish standard., 1888-09-15
a FAIR BLACkMAiLER.
Flew She Extorted Hundreds Of Dollars
from Her Victims.

81 from Her Vtct11nsst H
Gotham is today paying tribute to vast
legion Of women who live upon the folly,
the egotism and the innate brutality OF men,
writes the New York correspondent OF the
Chicago Herald Police-Inspector Williams,
who is beyond all question the best authorl-
tv upon the subject, estimates their hummer
at twenty thousand Ex-Superintenden
Walling goes even higher, and puts the
figure ten thousand beyond. The methods
employed by these women display q pc
wildering novelty and ingenuity. Some
are practically blaclzmail, but blackmal so
the law. OF those who work this vein the
most ingenious is Mrs May Robinson, alias
May Roberts, alias Irene Latham, alias only
heaven knows how many other names. She
is about twenty-eight years Of age, medium
sized, handsomely proportloned, elegantly
dressed, with a brilliant brunette face that
would command notice and admiration any
where When I" at work" she would leave
her home ct nine-thirty or ten g. m. and
take some thoroughfare frequented by the
merchants, bankers and wealthy men in
general For dudes, actors and profession
al {" mashers' ~ she had no eye. But a port
ly, well-clothed man whose n1ien and de-
meanor suggested prosperous pater~
familias, received her smile and bow the
moment he looked at her in half-recogni-
ton. Twice in three times the bait took
and the victim made her acquaint-
ance From now on it 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
the queries he would naturally make she
always gave the same story. She was
widow, well-born, well~educated, enjoying
life and pleasure, and having-thanks to
her dear dead husbands love and fore
thought limited income OF $1,000 year,
just enough to support her in comfort. The
story treasured the adluirer, who in his
hears had feared that his new inamorats
was ary thing bur what she said. With hum
she for the next week iunched. attended
natinees and drove through the park and
on the boulevard. In the meantime she
wormed from him his home and Office al
dress, the names Of his wife and children
and a hundred details in regard to his pri-
vate life. When this was accomplished her
next move was to send a begging letter, in
which she stated her renaittances were de-
layed by litigation or cut Of by reason OF
sorne corporation skipping it's dividend, and
wound up by q very neat and affectionate
request for q loan Of sum OF money, any
where from 500 TO $500, according to the
pecuniar,,y responsibility Of her prey. Once
in three times this would bring a. financial
return. Twice it would not. Then came
the MASTER stroke. With coarse pen and
the BLACKLIST OF ink she would write fer
vent love letter upon heavy white paper, IN
close it in the thinnest and most transparent
steamer envelope and mail 1t to lin at his
OWE house. It always began: "My Own
Darling,o or "My Dearest and Sweetest
Love- aud ended, Hoping to lay your
dear tired head again upon my breast.
Your Little Love, May" There was not
single unkinG word in the letter. There
was vast amount Of passionate love and
/ very distant reference to the num-
her OF dollars wanted. A. near
sighted man could read the compromising
epistle through the envelope. Much more
readily could a jealous wife or an inquisi-
tiv, sister or daughter. The luckless man
.eceived the nAissive at the breakfast to"
lie. He recognized tho 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 pre-
sumptive against the husband. It's effect
was terrific and instantaneous. Ile lost
his appetite for breakfast, and left iu1medi-
ately Tor his Office or for the house of his
respondent Nine times in ten the mon
ey was forthcoming, and in many Instances
large sums were PAID to compromise the
| matter and induce secrecy on the part Of
Mrs. Roberts Sc far as is known ste be-
gan her career in this line Of business On
Thirteenth street, transferred it to Johnson
street., Brooklyn, near Miners Brooklyn
Ibeater, and then went 10 Twenty Sixth
street, near Broadway. In zil three places
she had magnificent rooms, Kept a two.
horse coupe and wore clothes, diamonds
and iewelry worth $4,000 at least Her first
departure fro1a New York was induced by
Inspector, tlaen Captain, Alexander S. Wi2,~
Jams; from Brooklyn by Police-Captain
James Campbell, Of the First Precinct, End
her last In New York by Rowe e Humnlel
the criminal lawyers. ". all these cases tna
would-be victim, instead of being secret,
waxed wroth and made confession 20 the
police or to his council. Ihe woman ROW
resides near Central Park; but does not seem
as prosperous as hclcre.
MODERN HARRY GILL.
Tho Man Who Invented the Invisible
Patch Is Arrays Cold.
4 melancholy Looking man, with . shaggy
beard, wearing an old sloEch hat and
trousers with deep fringe around the bot