The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-01-08
SCHEME OF MIR. BELL
Many Aspirants for HistriOnic
HOnOrS Called OH Him.
and They Decided to Investi-
gate His Little Plan.

A small, slender man, thirty years old and
neatly dressed, engaged apartments at the
Illinois House last Friday for an indefinite
period. The guest wore his hair in long,
wavy ringlets, which did not prove dis
prove his statement that he belonged to the
ranks Of the Thespians. The register of
the hotel proclaimed the identity of the
slender man as Booth Bell. With Mr. Bell
a young woman, brunette in appear
ance, and quite good looking. 1t was I'M
derstood at the desk that the couple were
theatrical people, and that their business
in indianapolis was in the recruiting line.
Bell claimed that he was securing talent
for dramatic company about to begin a
starring tour. Further he claimed TO repre-
sent the Harris theatrical circuit of Louis
vile. On Friday there appeared in the In
dianapolis papers the following adlet:
''Wanted-Six young ladies to join a dra-
matte company. Apply Immediately to Mr..
Bell at the Illinois House. The efficacy of
printers ink was successfully demonstrated
at once. All day Saturday the parlors of
the hotel were throngei with young women
waiting their turn to enjoy an interview
with Mr. Bell. There were women of various
types Of personal beauty, eager to accept
the proffered roadway to the stage and
to fame. While many of the candidates for
histrionic glory left the hotel with happy
faces. others looked pretty blue. which was
evidence that the manager was not en-
ploying every applicant that came along.
day Saturday, but yesterday when it be-
came known that there was a cash con-
W6e apnea in there the %ay Of those tn
slight falling off of callers at the Bell
apartments.
Among those who happened to see the
n
named Ainsworth, residing on South East
street. AinSworth, claiming to have had
wife, who is also a professional, called to
see manager Bell yesterday. They informed
him that they were looking for positions,
and were told to present themselves at
discovered while in conversation with Bell
that he was somewhat embarrassed, and
this fact, with other details learned, failed to
impress them with his manner of doing
business AS they left the hotel they met
young lady of their acquaintance. The
latter announced that She too; had been
to see Bell, and she related her expert
ence. She said that he had abruptly
asked If she objected to wearing an airy
costume not usually found outside or comic
opera. She replied that she could don this
sort of an attire if necessity required, and
then told that she must deposit 30, the
sum necessary TO purchase her wardrobe.
The girl did not have the money, and Bell
told her that she must get Ii at once as he
intended to leave the city early Monday
morning Ainsworth laid his suspicious
before the superintendent of police.
Superintendent Powell at once wired the
Harris Theater at Louisville, requesting
them to establish the identity of Bell. AT
o'clock last night a dispatch from Louis
vile denied any knowledge of the man or
his operations. Detectives Splann and Nc
Cuff were detailed TO look into the mat
ter but did not find Bell last night, and
it was supposed that he and the woman
had gone Instructions were given to the
police to arrest both on the charge of OBJ
tanning money under false pretenSes.
Whether or not Bell secured cash advances
is not known, but the police believe that
there is a heavy fraud at the bottom of
Bells scheme.