Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-03-16
.BLACKMAILED 4 DOCTOR
A Columbus Woman Caught at
 a Despicable Trick.
SOCIETY SHOCKED AT THE NEWS.

Mrs. Alice c. Patton Finally Arrested
 After Government Detective Had
 Given Up the Case-wroto Letters tG
 Both the Victim and His Friends. Which
 Are toe Indecent to Publish-How She
 Was Found Out and the Evidence Against Her. "
 COLUMBUS, O., March 18.-Most outrage ous attempts to blacken the reputation oi Dr. J. w. Means, one of the leading physi- clans of this citty, have been made from time to time for several months past, and the guilty party has, without doubt, just been arrested. The affair is the most sensational that has stirred the higher so- cial circles of Columbus for some time.
 The plan pursued to ruin the physicians reputation has been a systematical one. At frequent intervals letters have been sent to his wife charging the doctor with having assaulted the writer, and demand ing money. Besides this letters alleging the vilest crimes on the part of the doctor have been sent to other physicians and to the leading society people of the city. These missives would invariably be sent just before some social gathering which the physician and his wife would probably attend.
 The letters all passed into the hands of the physiciRn's attorneys, Rankin, Thrail- kill & Bicketts, and formed the basis of the patient work which has unearthed the crim- inal.
 The affair has eliminated in the arrest of Mrs. Alice G. Patton by Constable Taylor and Detectives Kelly and Kramer upon q charge of blackmail.
 The accused was taken before Justice porSora he va hnil in ha nf $500 to appear next Tuesday. Her security was Dr. Charles F. O'Rell, a prominent physician, whom she called her uncle. She is about 40 years old, and claims to be a niece of Col. A. G. Patton, the penitentiary contractor, and also claims relationship with the late James G. Blaine.
 The latter claim assisted in her detection The attorneys for Dr. Means had lettera written to her saying that a history of Mr. Blaine was being written and asking for any facts she had in regard to him. Stamps were enclosed for a reply.
 The letter received in response to this was compared with the blackmailing let ters and the handwriting was found to be similar. In addition to this 8 pretended canvasser for a city directory visited Mrs. Patton. The canvasser had no ink in his new fountain pen and she politely filled it up for him. This ink being analysed was IOunQ 1uenClca1 W1Cn that used 1n the leC- ters sent Mrs. Means. There appears to be no missing link in the chain of evidence formed by the attorneys.
 Dr. Means was Mrs. Patton's physician when she lived in the doctors neighbor- hood. It is said that she, during one of his professional visits, locked the door and demanded money of him, but did not ob- tain any.
 Shortly after the Pattons moved to their present residence and the doctor was again called. Not knowing who it was who wished to sec him, he went, and was again met by Mrs. Patton with a second de- mand for cash. Another woman was present and urged the doctor to accept the proposition made.
 The doctor refused and then the cam paign of anonymous letters began and con tlnued. These epistles are too foul, both in language and the pen pictures used, to be published. The fact that such commu- nications have been consistently sent to Mrs Means and other well known people of the highest character makes the affair one of the most villalnous kind.
 The sending of these letters began shortly before Thanksgiving and immediately q government detective was called into the case and worked several weeks but gave it up after becoming satisfied that the guilty parties were on to him and would send no more letters while he was engaged on the naQa