Evening journal., 1893-12-09
SAYS 1T IS BLACKMAIL.
Mr.. Byrnes Denounces George
Gould's Annoyer.
HE HAS LOOKED UP HER RECORD.

MIS- Lella Nicolaus, the Pretty Young
Bionde Who Is Suing the millionaire For
$4,000, Is, According to Byrnes. an Ex-
pert BiaokmalIer From Chicago.
NEW YORK, Dec 9-All doubt concern
ing the character Of Mrs Zella Nicolaua.
who Is suing George ]. Gould for $4,000
has been swept away by Superintendent
Byrnes. Mr.. Gould called on the superin-
tendent and talked with him for nearly an
hour. Six hours later the superintendent
freely expressed his opinion about Mrs
Nicolaus and incidentally related some stir
ring incidents connected with the pending
suit
Mrs. Nioolaus and Mrs. George Gould,
the two women most deeply interested ia
the matter, have discussed il with the SUI
perintendent at different times and at diff.
ferent places. IL was also admitted that
the record of Mrs. Nicolaus is thoroughly
known TO the superintendent, and his IA
miliarity with il gave him the privilege OF
calling her an adventures, blackmailer
aud criminal. Perhaps the most inter
esting statement made by Mr.. Byrnes was
that Mrs. George j. Gould was heartily In
accord with her husband in his determine
tion 20 fight the suit 20 the bitter end and
that she is entirely convinced of his com.
plete innocence.
superintendent Byrnes' story.
II have had number of conferences
with Mr.. Gould,n said Mr.. Byrnes, icon.
cerning the suit brought against him, aud
have known this Mrs. Nicolaus for sew
ornl months. She is a professional black
mailer. Before leaving Chicago she black
mailed an ex-mayor Of that city, and an in
vestigation into her history which caused
to be made has shown that her life has
been full OF similar exploits She has gone
"a little too far this time, and / think that
now we will be able TO show her up in her
true colors and so put a stop to her shame
iul career. This IS the only way TO protect
the public from the attacks of such people.
and hope that every man who is singled
out as victim by such a creature will ap-
| peal 90 the police and receive the protec-
tion TO which he is entitled.
"Aou can say as coming from me that
know the woman very woll-in fact,
know All about her. am familiar with
her career. in other places, and too muck
cannot be said against her The informa-
tion that 4 have received concerning her
cannot nc present be given to the public,
for 10 is necessary TO keep IL secret in the
interest of q certain object i have In view
"All this information. however. is at the
disposal of Mr. Could and it will be used
In case the suit ever comes 90 trial. It will
show that this woman has q blacker char
acter even than she Is credited with There
Is no doubt that she Is n bnckmniler pure
and simple, and that Mr. Gould's relations
with her were just what hc represented
thom 60 be.
81 SAW Mr. Gould several times before
this slit was brought and went over the
case with him, but it was determined to
take no action until after the woman had
made move In the matter.
Mrs. Gould Determined.
~ have also had several interviews with
Mrs. Gould, and she is even more deter
mined than her husband TO see that the
woman receives the treatment due her for
coucoctiug such a blackmailing scheme.
Mrs. Gould has the most absolute and per
feet confidence in her husband. She is
certain that the woman is nothing more
than common adventures and she has
expressed willingness to make any public
appearance or do anything else in order to
show her trust in the loyalty and faith Of
her husband. She told me that she was
convinced that the entire scheme was CON
cocted for the sole purpose OF extorting
money.
"Mr. Gould is one Of a hundred-yes, Of
thousand-men in this city who have
been asked TO pay tribute to blackmailers
and adventuresses, and most OF them have
paid rather than submit TO any exposure.
'When the scheme was first tried on Mr.
Gould, he went to his wife for advice, and
she advised him TO defend the action. In
fact, she was determined that the suit
should be defended for the sake of his own
family, in the interest of the public and
for the sake of those men who may be sin
gled out as victims in the future who.
lacking courage to fight, would yield to
the outrageous demands made upon them. %
Mr. Byrnes was asked whether he in
p tended taking any formal action against
{ Mrs Nicolaus.
"l made no threats, nor will make any. -
! he replied, "but whenever I discover that a
wrong has been done / will certainly do all
/ can to right it and to bring the wrong
doer 20 justice. If a criminal intent is
shown in this case, the criminal will bt
prosecuted.
II have the names of a large number OF
persons that this woman either attempted
to blackmail OF has succeeded in black
mailing. but Of course ] can't give them tc
the public The men she selected 20 work
were all wealthy and occupied either a high
I social or a high public place, and these arc
= Just the sort Of men who are most eager e
keep such a matter quiet. have taken
measures to get statements from men who
have paid money to this woman"
i On A.. "a