The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-10-01
VICTIMS OF "HIGH" DEGREE.
Exploits of Mary DE We're and he,
d: q liter.

y: q Inter.
| Denver, Colo, Sept 30.-The opera
! tons of Mary De We're and her daupht. r
| Mary L. Olga were fully exposed dur
| ing the hearing Of the younger woman
! before United States Commissioner Ca
! prom yesterday afternoon. Mary Olga,
| or Baby" as she was called. was held
| in $500 bail for trial Her mother, who
| called herself Mama to her victims.
VIII have hearing on Thursday. These
two women, who are really mother and
daughter. have sent letters to at least
dozen men. How many other victims
they have had during their stay in this
city is not known, but the authorities
expect to show that n great many other
men We're compelled to pay them hush
money. According to the testimony
given yesterday the mother was a per-
feet female F'agin and conspired to ruin
her own daughter for the purpose Of
gain The girl is only IS years old and
does not appear to be vicious. Her
mother, on the other hand is IS, and her
countenance shows her character very
plainly. Neither of the unfortunates
had a lawyer and they told the story Of
their operations without wincing. One
of the men who had received a letter
from them is a well known official and
less in the matter. Others who had re-
ceived notes and even postal cards from
the pair had never seen them. They
had learned OF their victims names some
where and had selected them as posi-
bic game.
The letters were usually very short
and simply asked the ones addressed to
call at the De We're residence on impor-
tant business. There was a trap at this
house or houses. for they lived at mum
Der of places since they came to Denver
and very few esca ped it. Only married
men were approached.
The testimony of the girl was Of a We
~ Startling nature. She said that most
of the men who had been written 10
were brought TO their rooms by her
mother Afterwards. when they had
called in response to the letters she
and her mother talked to them about
making settlement to keep them quiet.
She engaged two attorneys who have
very shady regulations TO sue one Of
her victims. She asked $1,000 damages
but settled the suit for $50.
Another man who had made the ac-
quaintance of her mother was asked to
give the pair a house and piano. Il was
to be furnished. too This man is a
public official When she was asked
why she settled the suit for $50 she said
she did not think she could get any
more. Her mother interrupted her sev-
eral times while she was testifying and
cried: Tell the truth, Mary. no mat
ter what happens
The old woman looked angry when
she was called to testify. She pitched
into the public official and said that
there was no blackmail IN his case She
ct CHI To-
duced him 10 her daughter. He prom
Used them the house and lot without
their asking for IL. Afterward she ask
Ell him 10 make good his promise and
She said he refused 10 give her a pass TO
get out of town. Mrs. De We're continu-
ed that she was a nurse. She had been
married three times and had worn the
names OF Olsen. Nelson and De We're.
She lived with her first husband nine
years and then obtained divorce
Her second husband was an old man
with six children and she became tired
Of him in less than a year and obtained
her second divorce. Her last husband
enjoyed her society Tor about two years
and another divorce suit was instituted
by her with the usual result She sent
the letters mentioned because She wish
ed these n1en u keep their promises
made 10 her and her daughter The un-
fortunate woman became very much ey-
cited during her crosS-eNaminati0 by
United States District Attorney Rhodes
and exclaimed d; the top 81 her voice:
IF l have blackmailed anybody send
me 70 jail, but ! VIII tell the truth
Two of the victims testified as - their
experience with the woman and then
the letters they had written were plac-
ed in evidence. Mr.. Rhodes claimed that
the contents OF them We're such as 70
make the sending OF them violation Of
the postal laws. Commissioner Capron
held the girl for trial II was too late
70 go on with the hearing OF the case OF
the mother and she viii have until
Thursday TO get ready. Both women
are returned 10 the county jsil
CHoLLY-'Why DO 50 many of the girls set
married IN June. June brides You know
Poly-"That's easy Its because they're
asked Chicago Record
t4AcasR-~,N Wy o,o you have Your hair
cut SO short. -Sobhyt' Bobby-s.So that
you couldn't pull it. la'aIa. r-Harper's Ba- |
Lzr.