The record-union., 1897-04-01
THREE BOLD BLACKMAILERS.
The LeVanting Lawyer Morgan Was Chief
ConSpiratOr.
How He PersistentIy Forced E. K.
Alsip to Pay Large Sums
of Money.

had a new and sensational story con-
cerning r M. Morgan, the fugitive San
Francisco lawyer, who lately disap-
peared after swindling a large number
of people
The latest developments concerning
Morgan show that the chief reason
for his flight-if not the only one-was
the fact that he had been for two
years Matchmaking a prominent Sac
ramentan, Edwin K Alsip, the real
estate dealer. and that Alsip had final
ly discovered that the blackmailer had
deceived him into the belief that he
(Morgan) had .cinch' on him. Fear
ing exposure and prosecution Morgan
fled.
The story published yesterday, and
which connects AlSip's name with that
of Morgan's operations, is to the eff
feet that in 1894 Alsip became init
mate with young woman in San
Francisco: that she believed she was
to become a mother as the result of
the intimacy, and consulted physi-
clan; that latter encouraged this belief,
and that he told his friend Morgan
about it; that subsequently he discov-
cred his mistake, but entered into an
agreement with Morgan to have Alsip
assured of the womans condition. that
Morgan induced the woman to take up
her abode in his house and lend herself
| to the scheme to blackmail Alsip; that
in due time a newborn babe was pro-
cured from hospital and palmed off
on AlSip as his child, and that for more
than two years he had been paying
blackmail to Morgan and some $50 a
month for the support of the mother
and child
Then the story goes on to explain how
Morgan's wife (since divorced) recently
laid bare to Alsip the scheme by which
he had been plundered, and how, after
long doubt, he finally became convinced
that he had been made the victim of a
vile conspiracy. Meantime Morgan
had prevailed on the woman to go East
where she married, and the child was
given a home with a family in the
country. Alsip also learned that of
the money paid to Morgan for his own
silence and the support of the mother
and child, the woman received but a
few hundred dollars altogether. The
sum alleged to have been obtained by
the arch conspirator was about 500
600
There were the usual newspaper en-
bellishments to the story, but the
above are the main points
ALSIP'S STATEMENT.
A 'Record-Union'' reporter called at
Mr. Alsip's office yesterday to learn
what he had to say as to the truth or
falsity of the published statement. but
he was busy and sent word that he
could not be seen. The Bee" published
statement, however, as coming from
him, which covers the case He ad-
mits most of the story, but maintains
that the conspirators got from him only
about $2,350 altogether
Mr.. Alsip said he did not meet the
young woman at a church social. as
stated in the Chronicle" but in his
office in San Francisco, where she was
introduced by young woman acquain-
tance of his. Some time after that, ne
said, he received a letter from Miss
Howell, in which she said, although
she was practically a stranger to him.
she wanted to request a loan of some
money to return to San Fran
cisco, as she wanted to search for a po-
sition. He sent her SIS When she
reached San Francisco he assisted her
in securing a position. They were
thrown into each others company a
great deal, and finally their acquain-
tanceship ripened into an intimacy.
One day the young woman, whom he
said was "a or % years of age. tear
fully told him that she was in trouble.
He says that he advised her not to do
anything rash, not to do anything bv
which she would injure herself-and he
agreed to take care of her child after
it's birth.
Soon after that interview, continued
Mr.. Alsip, E. NJ. Morgan came to him
and demanded $4,000, under threat OF
exposure and suit for damages. Alsip
said he would not listen to such a prop
osition, and repeated to Morgan what
he had told the girl-that he would care
for her child. Morgan again threat
ened the real estate man. and then the
latter laid the case before Attorney
Freeman of San Francisco. Mr.. Alsip