Evening journal., 1891-03-27
A FIGHT FOR MILLIONS.
Cassie Brooks Claim for Crp-
sus Robertson's Cash.
THE PLOT OF A NOTORIOUS WOMAN.

a remarkable Conspiracy Said 30 Have
Been Unearthea by Reporter at New
Yerk-The Deceased Left an Immense
Fortune-No One Knew OF his wife.
NEW YORK, March 27.--The Herald lays
before its readers today full disclosure
and exposure OF mystery that for Some
months past has baffled the keenest legal
and detective minds in this metropolis
Step by step the mystery is laid bare, re-
vealing gigantic and ingenious conspir
acy to defraud which is on a scale without
parallel in the history OF litigation in
New York.
/ Loring A. Robertson, a merchant who
had IN thirty years Of business life in the
swamp amassed fortune variously es-
tsmated at from 100000 to $4,000, 900,
died inestate very suddenly in Brooklyn
IN October last
His Alleged widow.
When the heirs applied for letters Of ad.
ministration their petition was blocked
by the appearance on the scene Of an al
legged widow, who was quite a stranger In
the family circle of Mr. Robertson's many
sorrowing relatives. A bombshell Ia an
ambusoade could not have occasioned
greater constersnation. While there was
no evidence Of a ceremony having taken
place, the widow claimed that verbal
contract and a mutual agreement which
in the eye OF the New York state law are
binding, united them. Furthermore she
bore the name OF a woman with whom the
millionaire merchant had been acquainted
years ago-the name OF skeleton in his
bachelor closet.
Baked by Reporter.
With splendid skill l.. Allen, a reporter.
destroys the fabric Of the bogus Helen
Bremer's alleged widowhood. Her origin
and her low, pronigate life contain no page
or chapter which he has not brought out
from the slime of midnight New York into
the clear light Of day But this poor Great
ure is mere puppet in the hands of those
who should know better and whose punish
ment should be greater. Behind Cassie
Brooks are two members Of the bar, whose
conduct in the case has been of extraor-
binary simplicity, to say the least. Their
conduct, however, will be carefully investi-
gated by the Bar association, so IL is un-
necessary to criticise or PREJUDICE the mat
Ter here
The Visible Puppet.
Next in the chain Of conspiracy comes
James w Daskam, an unworthy scion OF
a revolutionary hero. He is the connect
ing link between the active and visible
puppet and the concealed originator OF the
whole conspiracy. The anonymity OF this
plotter is only temporary. He is known
and his name will be coupled with bis
handiwork. The responsibility for the
whole gigantic scheme 10 steal millions
will be placed upon his shoulders, The
Herald says.
Not a Ladies' BEan.
Boring A. Robertson came 20 this city
from Windham, N. Y. He was a philan-
thropist and did a great deal of good.
While he was on friendly terms with many
women it could not be said that he was
ladies man. He admired the sex, but he
was not devoted 70 any one woman. As
nis relatives saw year upon year added TO
ais age and still no upstart interloper mar
ried TO him they felt a reasonable assurance
that he would never enter into matrimony.
Judge, then, Of their surprise, when "thc
Widow Robertson" appeared before the
surrogate and claimed everything
No one could doubt the genuineness Of
she widows claim when il was presented
by two respectable lawyers, Byron w.
Cohen and John f. Baker They regret.
ted that they could not bring the widow
into court because she was still out IN the
country prostrated by grief Cohen even
ainted that there would soon be a child OF
The dead millionaire whose claim must be
paid. But az this very moment the "wid.
0w" was in New York, spending her
nights in "Tom' Gould's.
The Heirs Astounded.
The heirs of the deceased assembled on
Dec. i2 1880, in Surrogate Abbott's court
IN Brooklyn for letters Of administration.
They were Elbert Robertson, Of Geneva
Y. ~; James Robertson, Of Constantine, N.
X; Philira r. Pitcher, Of this city; Elisha
Strong, Of Starrucca, Pa; Louisa Strong.
1f Ashland n. Y, aud Elvira Steadman,
of Brattleboro VT They swore that dill |
gent search had been made for a will with.
out success and that they were the only |
living relatives Of the dead man. AT this |
interesting juncture Lawyers Baker and |
Cohen, Of i56 Broadway, appeared and pre-
sented a petition, signed by "Mrs. Helen /
Robertson, y setting forth that she was Che |
widow, and asking that she and the Brook |
yn Trust company be intrusted with the /
administration Of the large estate.
Attorney Cohen said; When Mrs Rob /
srtson" made the acquaintance Of Mr.. Rob
srtson she was a lady Of character and /
refinement. She was about twenty-five /
years old and "her husband was fifty-six Il
He furnished apartments for her and al
ways kept her well supplied with money /
With perfect understanding that She /
should be regarded as his wife, the secrecy Il
was maintained by both Of them and they /
lived together. There was always the hope
held out that in a brief time he would ac
knowledge her publicly as his wife She
trusted him implicitly and yielded to the
delay
Thought II Another Hamilton Case.
One Of the heirs, James r. Pitcher had
an idea that the ''yidow" would soon show
her hand, or, rather, bogus baby, a la
Eva Mann, and during the trial Of that
claimant the court room was
closely shadowed. Her lawyers refused TO
furnish the slightest clew as 10 her where
abouts or station. The heirs were alarm
ed and the detectives bafiled when one |
night Herald reporter, whom an unpleas-
ant assignment had taken to "Tomr
iould's dive, stumbled upon the clew
which bad led to the unmasking of the
whole nefarious conspiracy. IL was long
after midnight, but the dive was crowded.
AT the table where the reporter sat study
ng the scene, party of four were seated.
They were two racing men and two
Cassie Brooks and Flora Ray
mond. There was a dispute about the
payment for several bottles Of wine, and
.he whole party We're about to be put out,
when Cassie Brooks said:
Il declare it's a shame that / should be
-reated in this way. Do you know who /
lma I'm the widow of Loring A. Robert
son, who died the other day in Brooklvn |