Evening journal., 1891-04-06
HER NERVE FAILED HER.
Cassie Brooks Tells About the
Robertson Conspiracy.
Eow THE BIG PLOT WAS PLANEED

HOW THE BIG PLOT WAS PLANEED
Lawyer Cohen Coached Her in Her Part
as the Dead Miiiionaire's Widow. but
She Became Frightened aud Told All
She Knew to the District Attorney.
NEW YORK, April 6-For some time In
spector Byrnes has been endeayoring 20
get at the bottom Of the alleged conspiracy,
concocted several months ago, to obtain
possession OF the estate OF the hatchelor
millionaire Loring Robertson, who died
At the Hotel st. George on Oct 10 last
The inspector has finally bagged eve, the
whole number.of the persons party TO the
alleged plot Their names are Cassie Helen
Brooks Byron w Cohen, lawyer nf this
city; James Daskam, OF Stamford. Conn;
Edward i. Studwell and Mrs. We q
Dnskam Planned the Scheme.
The conspiracy was patched in Stam-
ford, in which place all Of the Implicated
parties originally lived. The scheme, It Is
charged, originated with DaslMm. who
shortly after Robertson's death asked
Studwell TO secure a woman TO mpesson-
ate Robertson's widow Stud@cil pro
cured Mrs West, and took her to Cohen's
Office 70 make the necessary aflidavits It
was decided by Daskam next day however,
that Mrs West was old and unnttractive
and Cassie Brooks. who better answered
the requirements, was substituted for her
Cohen Coached Cassie.
Cohen liked her appearance and instruct.
ed her In her role. She was thereafter TO
call herself Helen Robertson, and was fur
nished with a photograph OF Robertson
and drilled into recital Of that rentleman's
conspicuous peculiArities. Cohen then
took Miss Brooks before Max Moses, a
notary, and obtained her signature to atii-
davits alleging that she was Rohertsons
widow, having lived with him as his wife
az various places mentioned. Subsequently
she petitioned for letters administration
on Robertsons estate, and was taken by
Daskam 70 Philadelphia TO keep her out
of the way Of Evarts, Choate & Heaman,
counsel for Robertson's heirs
Then Cassie "squealcd."
Receiving no money from the conspir
ntors and becoming alarmed at the increas-
/ ing complications Miss Brooks sought the
/ advice Of a friend, upon which She com
l municated the details of the plot 20 Dis
/ trict Attorney Nicoll, resulting ia the ar
rest Of the plotters, who will be arragned
| today
More Of Cassie's Story.
Cassie says Cohen bade her practice
writing the name OF Helen Robertson SO
that when she came TO sign documents
and afiidavits she VOID do 50 readily. lie
also suggested that she buy !. - 49,. -.
have inscribed upon the back Of t. "Fram
I Loring 70 Helen.n She was also told that
owing to the inqinstiveneHs ol Gle dc.
| ceased he hnd been nicknamed "Iac Ques-
tioner-" Cassie WINS told that Evnrts,
Choate a Beaman was SO respectable d
firm she would have Co be represented by a
man Of well known probity and respacta-
bility Shewas then introduced to Lawyer
Baker as the widow and his client
ny Verbal Contract.
Baker, Cohen, Daskam and Cassie met
by appointment at the Grand Union hotel
and held long consultation later the
papers were drawn UP in whirh lie
sWore that she had been married 10 Rob.
ertson by civil contract Mr. Bakerthen
presented her claim. Inspector Byrnes
and Assistant District Attorney Weeks
believe that Baker acted ia good faith and
actually thought the girl was Mrs Robert
son. In her affidavit Cassie sworu She had
first met Robertson 40 the st. Denis hotel
in company with a Mr.. Bell She said he
frequently visited her at her rooms - East
Ninth street, aud that for three months
they dined frequently together a, the So.
Denis.
Cassie also said in her afiidasi, ihat she
married Robertson by verbal contract in
May, 1887, and bore his name
Tried the Grief stricken widow Role.
At 100 Gold street, Brooklyn. She was
known, she swore, as Mrs. Robert son, but
Inspector Byrnes' men found out that 100
| Gold street is a church. After mntipg the
afiidavits Cassie returned to Philadelphia
| and lived under the name Of Cassie Brewer
at 1907 Walnut street Brewer is the
name Of her father. Daskam went to
Philadelphia with Cassie and remained
some time
A week or two ago, when the story OF the
| fraudulent claim came out, thr conspir-
ators became alarmed Cohen. as claimed.
| went TO Philadelphia and wanted Cassie
to make affidavit that while she wits Cassie
Brooks she was not the bogus widow and
claimant. She refused to do Sex and de-
clared herself tired OF playing the role OF a
respectable and grief stricken widow.
How the Arrests Were Made.
"A week ago Assistant District Attorney
| Weeks called on Inspector Byrnes for aid
in investigating the conspiracy. Each OF
the alleged guilty men was located and
| yesterday at a preconcerted signal all were
arrested about noon.
l Detectives Sheridan and Grady arrested
Il Cohen on warrant sworn out bs Weeks
and issued by Judge MARITIME Detectives
Mulry and Mnlyey arrested Stldwull, and
Sheridan and Grady arrested Cassie
| Brooks. In the meantime Detective
| McClusky, armed with warrant, arrested
Daskam at his home in Stamford Das-
| kan promised TO accompany McClusky to
| this city this morning without waiting for
requisition or extradition papers The
/ warrants charge the prisoners with subor-
nation of perjury Cohen sent for Pro
| prietor Dam, Of the Hotel Dam, TO go upon
his 81 800 bond, but it was found that Dam
could not qualify. Judge MARITIME prom
ised to hold himself in readiness to accept
bail at police headquarters up to $50 pm. !.
but at midnight the prisoners were ALI
asleep in their cells.
The Operative Briclymakers' Schedule.
TRENTON, April 6.-The Operative Brick
makers association numberinu over "A