The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-08
BLACkMAIL, SAYS LACY.
He Threatens to Have Mrs. Ballou Ar
rested-She Disappears.

Mrs. George W. Ballou, OF Tacoma,
gained nothing by her attempt TO find
out from her divorced husband Harry
Lacy. leading man Of The War Of
Wealth" company, the whereabouts of
her daughter Jessie. Instead she was
confronted with a threat OF arrest, and
hurriedly left town, accompanied by her
aged mother and the boy whose paternity
was charged 10 Mr. Lacy.
Mr.. Lacy was in no pleasant mood over
the charge made by Mrs. Ballou that the
child was his, and as soon as he heard
that such a report had been circulated he
resolved on heroic measures. No sooner
had he heard the story than he consulted
an attorney with the result that W. II.
White, in the Bailey building. called on
Mrs. Ballou and informed her that she
Was to be arrested for blaCkmail or on
"a charge of breach of the peace in having
threatened Mr.. Lacy's life. Mrs. Ballou
boldly faced the attorney. telling him that
II such a charge were made she would
certainly go to jail, as she would not be
able to secure a bond
During the performance at the theater
Monday evening a bright-faced little fell
low had stood at the door Of the theater,
asking admittance- Ii was ne Who had
never seen his father and he had been
sent there by his mother with instruc-
tions to 90 behind the scenes and address
Ar Lacy as his father.
Have you seen the little boy?' was
asked Mr.. Lacy after the performance.
Mr.. Lacy did not hesitate about the
answer.
No have not" he said. "and do not
intend to; and more than that. am going
to take steps to see what the law
will do about this case. ] have borne
II long enough. but have never before
gone through the experience OF having 4
boy I never heard OF fOisted on me as my
own. It's blackmail and l propose 10 put
a stop TO it right here.
DO I know that woguan? We'll. I should
say I do, and / only wish | had never
looked upon her face. | have only myself
10 blame for marrying her, and II there
ever was a devil in human form, she is
one. / would not have said anything at
all in reply 10 her talk. bat when things
reach the point that she says / am the
father of her 1f-ysar-old son, / feel called
upon 10 demonstrate. The divorce was
obtained I'm IS7S. seventeen years ago, and
As she says the boy IS only H. If he be my
son. il must 10 a striking instance Of What
botanists term 'asynchronous maturity
Il look upon this last piece OF work az
pure blackmal. / am tired and sick OF
her continually trying 10 make herself
notorious on the strength Of my name.
In the Post-InteHlgenCer she took
- her credit g French name that she
from low French Canadian stock. and her
name was Lausbery.
After l was 50 fortunate as 10 be d.
vorced from her. she followed me 10 New
York city and tried TO got Jessie away
from me. In open court her attorney
said to her: You are the biggest liar on
earth. and I withdraw from your case
Even that did not humilate her. and it
was only after further advice from friends
that she got out Of the city.
81 say TO her candidly that 7 will not
tell where Jessie Is and that Jessie does
NOT want so hear from her. The idea Of
saying Jessie Is only j. years old.
She is 2. and moves In good
society and I would not disgrace her by
allowing her 20 look upon that woman.
who saws she wants 70 see her child /
was warned before reached Tacoma THAI
she was after mo and 1 purposely avoid
od her by going 10 the Tacoma hotel.
did not want 10 see her. put now that
she has attempted this blackmalilns bust
ness I am anxious 70 see that she re-
coives something al the hands OF the
A. the theater that evening there
ms an expectation OF scene
NM on the bills. ana policeman
vas stationed in q corner 20 head Of Mrs.
paT1l should she suddenly appear. L.
vas run, cred 1aat she aad tilrea tened Nr.
Iacv. and every preparation had oteH
r1a6a - receive her But Mrs. Ballou
l,.,s quietly II the hotel and made TO
r77v., save % send = note making inquiry
as 20 Jessie
sfrs Rallou IS a rather stout. medium
sized woman, q perhaps 3. with round
face. dark eyes and hair