The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-01-09
BOOTH BELL CAUGHT
The Alleged Theatrical Manager
Charged with Grave Crime.
Further Particulars Of His Scheme to
Get Money from UnsOphisticated
Girls-One Girls Experience.

Booth Bell the manager of the True
Woman's Oath" was an anxiously sought
for parsonage yesterday. Chief of detec-
tives Splann was looking for the gentle
man with a warrant Scores of stage
struck maidens were on the lookout for
the manager. with the money which was TO
buy them glorious future behind the foot
lights. The True Woman's Oath is known
TO be fake of the first water. 1t was
the creation of Bell, whose operations were
exposed in yesterdays Journal. The dis
patch received from the Harris Theater at
Louisville Sunday night verified the doubts
of Superintendent Powell as to Bells stand
ing in the theatrical profession, and de-
tectives have since been on the lookout for
him. Since last Thursday or Friday Bell
and dark-haired woman who claimed TO
be his wife, entertained in their apartments
at the Illinois House large numbers Of
young women ranging in age from sixteen
to twenty years.
The secret of the inflow of young woman
hood to Bells apartments was his adyer-
tisement calling for six young ladies to
join dramatic company. He told the same
story to all. He was preparing to put on
Tic iOdu d new HlclOuId tHlllicu tic
True Woman's Oath" To all applicants
for positions in his company Bell stated
that a deposit of 50 was necessary. How
many of these young women he succeeded
in dipping Is not known, but he found a rich
field to work in. For three days the par
lors of the Illinois House We're thronSed
with waiting applicants. Bell informed the
girls that they were expected to appear at
the Park Theater on Thursday for re-
hearsal. He said there would also be re-
hearsal on Sunday morning preparatory
TO leaving for Louisville nv SnPcial raj
where THE True Woman's Oath was to
open at the Harris Theater on next Sun
day night. Saturday afternoon
Bell was visited by Charles b. Aims
worth and wife, of No. 21S South
East street. The Ainsworths. are not
and were seeking positions. Both were en-
ployed at salary of $40 a week each. The
Ainsworths were TO execute a musical spe-
cialty with the company, and at the sug-
gestion of Bell gave an exhibition Of their
talent. 1t is needless to say that the rendi-
entire satisfaction, and they were engaged
on the spot. After the Ainsworths left the
apartment of the alleged manager they de
and TO the police they made known their
suspicious. Bell evidently found himself
nois House with his wife about o'clock.
He informed the night clerk that he and his
wife We're going to church and would return
landlord that he intended giving an enter
tainment at Tomlinson Hall Sunday night.
1ney Ie1C the MOTEL ana the proprietor
mOurnS the loss of a weeks board.
Yesterday the Bells kept themselves Sc
cluded from the public. and last night 1t
was learned that they had spent the day in
the Abbott Block, where they were called
the police were informed that Bell was to
meet some of his newy-employed talent
at the Union Station. The arrangement was
that those of the girls who had not yet de-
posted the 20 guarantee were 10 meet the
Between Z and s o'clock half the seating ca
pacity of the depot appeared to be occupied
by young girls. wearing an anxious look of
women, evidently of respectable parentage.
and quite pretty. were there to pay the re-
mainder of stipulated amount named dur
ing their visit at the Abbott Block yester-
day afternoon. They were to pay IS each
speciality. Some of the waiting madens
were watched by their parents and the
detectives. and were acting in the capacity
of decoys. Little girls. big, girls and girls
of every particular type of beauty watched
and longed to the same end-the ultimate
smooth tongue of the alleged manager.
But Mr.. Bell failed to put in an appear
ance. and it was pretty evident that he
rested on the charge of obtaining money
under false pretenses, but before he could
OF a serious nature against the man. One
of the girls who visited Bell yesterday
openly charged that he had taken undue
advantage of her. She informed her par
ents that she had been shamefully abused
while in Bells apartments, and this infor-
nation was given to the police. When Bell
failed to meet his various appointments
at the depot the officers instituted search
through all of the cheaper class of hotels
on South Illinois street, and at 10 o'clock
found him in room in the Crawford
House. The landlady told the officers that
a young girl had called to see Bell an hour
before and was yet in his room, but the
girl was gotten out Of the way before the
officers appeared. The pseudo theatrical
manager was arrested by detectives Splann
md uTQC a
He was charged with criminal assault; No
money was found on his person, ana the
case of an old brass watch, attached to
heavy chain of cheap metal was hllec
with collar buttons and blank cartridges.
The appearance of the prisoner sadly be-
lied his alleged standing in the profession.
He denied the charge against him. ana also
the statement that his business was purely
a swindle. In fact, he, entered denial
to all the stories related by his victim. re
gave his name at the station as George b.
xidd and 1udr eiaim kidd that 6f roR his
ing Green, Ky. The prisoner states
that 'B-n' is mis- stage name. His wife
could not be found, and he told the OIL
GERS that she had gone 10 Louisville, their
home Bell asserts that, although he IS
financially embarrassed, his prospects for
a prosperous season with the True Wom-
ans Oath were bright. He says that II
was necessary for many or the ladies' or
his company to appear in tights, and ad-
mits that he took the measurements of
several of the girls whom he assigned roles
i'm the play. Until a few weeks ago Bell
says he was starring in THE Player" the
drama produced here a few weeks ago by
Lawrence Hanley The prisoner Is about
thirty years old. He is not at all cast
down over the arrest, and tells his story
with much GOODNESS. The detectives would
not divulge the name of the girl who
brings the charges against him, but state
hot CHI ho1 n q rPSnpRta bile family