The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-05-22

law of Walter G SchermerhOrn, and lives
at No 40 West Iwcnty-third street He
Is mem ber of the knlckCruockor,
Metropolitan, Tuxedo, Camera and Mill
tarY clubs. Ills life is that OF "a clubman,
and is divided between his clubs and his
home. The plot 60 rxtort SlO9, OOO, or any
part OF IT, from hin -tvus-teFmed- -hF
several persons, pnst masters of the art Of
blachnniling.
On February f. n notice was served on
Dir. Brtghuin of u suit brought against
hin for sl00 OJ0 by flames Ward. Ibe suit
alleged tnat Mr.. brigham had alienatod
tnp affections OF Eupenia Ward, the wife
OF the plaintin. The papers we're drawn
up by Lawyer James L. Brown, OF No.
80 Nest twenty third street. and were
sworn 10 before Henry Merz5alk,
Rotary, who is the interpreter Of the
Eighth Judicial Court and lives at No
30 West Thirty seventh street. They
were served by a man from tho lawyers
Office.
Mr.. Brigham Iouked tho papers over
and gave them % his attorney, Congress
man Franklin Bnrtlett 10 the latter
hc s7id he did not know the Wards; had
ne7er seen them TO his knowledge, and
had never heard of them.
That tire suit might not 30 by default,
Lawyer Bartlett entered an absolute
donial o: all allegations made In the
rapags
At about the same time that the ral ers
In the brigham suit were served upon
him Lawyer Brown drew up summons
aud complaint In divorce suit. James
Ward was the plaintiff against Eugonia
Ward. In this suit Mr.. Brigham was named
rs correspondent
About six weeks ago Lawyer John j.
Hailigan, with an Office in the New
York Life building. defended u thiet
known as big Hawley, alias - NJ.
Woodward and n woman accused OF stea!-
ing some diamonds. Hawicy is an al
round thief and confidence man IL Is
claimed that ho once attempted 20 black
mail NOM bcr Of the Vanderbilt fanIily.
He was acquitted ia court but failed 90
pay his lawyer. Three weeks uFyo H7tr+ie4
called on Halligan. Ho said no Sas
sorry about the fee, but was unable to
do anything as he was li7ing an honest
life, but no had woman outside who
was in need OF legal advice. Shd had
money, he said, and no wanted to show
Haligan that while he was unable TO pay
he was grateful.
The lawyer, believing that Hawlcy
was trying To do the best no could. fell
into the trap Hawley brought the
woman ia and introduced her as Mrs.
Ward.
she was handsome, about 30 years old,
we'll dressed, apparently we'll edit Gated,
and talked with an English accent. She
showed the lawyer tho sufffefstfts aiid eoB-
plaint In the divorce suit and said her
husband, James Ward, had secured the
divorce by default. She said she had put
of attending to the matter, but since 10
had gotten the docreo she wanted ID re-
opened She denied the allegations in the
suit and left, promising Co pay 500 when
the papers were drawn. She said Ward
was well to do, and, besides property, had
5000 I'm cash in the bank,
Five days later letter was received
from the woman. 1t was postmarksd
Philadelphia, and written at tho Windsor
Hotel. In IL was n Request that the case
be hurried up, as she "islod To take a
trip To Europe 10 bo gono for the sum
mer. The woman has not been seen by
MIR Halligan since then.
At about the same time that Mrs Ward
was engaging counsel TO open the alleged
divorce suit she was planning an attack
upon the millionoire's wife.
Through the mail Mrs Bridgham re-
ceived a letter signed by Mrs. Eugenia
Ward. The letter stated that the writer's
husband Joseph Ward, had secured n
divorce from her, and that Mr. Bridgham
knew the reason why. IL wound up by
stating that the writer might call on her.
This letter Mrs Bridgham turned over
To her husband, who gave IL To Lawyer
BARTLETT.
Two days later Lawyer Brown called on
Mr. Bartlett To talk over tho case of Ward
alienation of wifes affection. Lawyer
Bartlett said his client refused TO pay one
cent and Lawyer Brown lett.
Until this time " was not thought that
the case would take n serious turn After
the lettor and Browns call, detectives
were called in. For two weeks they
worked and then became convinced that
they had discovered big blackmailing
scheme, ana that the parties TO 10 were
certain Mr. Bridgham would pay rather
than have tho alleged suit made public
The different ends OF the case were hunted
mp and fitted together, and the District
Attorney was appealed 90.
IL was learned by the detectives that tho
woman had had some dealings with Law
yer Haligan. He was called upon and
when the scheme was unfolded tO him he
saw the unwilling part he had been ex-
pectod to play in the blackmailing game.
On Thursday the witnesses were called
before the Grand Jury. Every one mp
pcarcd except Murphy, of the news
bureau. When it was learned that Big
Hawlcy' had introduced the woman 20
Mr. Halligan the ruugc's picture was
brought down from tho gallery Lawyer
BARTLETT presented his evidence and Halli-
gan told the divorce end OF tire plot. Tho
latter was exonerated 10y the jury, since
10 was evident he had innocently fallcn
into trap.
Mr. BridghaIn was before the jury and
stated that he did not know the Wards
He said he could only account for their
attempting 90 blackmail 10y suppusing
that he had at some timo lost pocket.
book containing cards and chec;A which
had fallen into tho hands uf dishonest
people.
Upon this information the jury indicted
Lawyer Brown. Big Hawlev aud Mrs.
Eugcnin Ward, aud warrants for their ar
rest were issued. Brown lett his Office at
4 O'Clock on Thursday afternoon and did
not return yesterday.
Assistant Distict Attorney John D
Lindsay, who has charge uf the cHSc re-
fused @ discuss 10 yesterday. except tu
say that such q ease ha ad hcen hUt0rc the
grand jury and thet Haliignn had loan
fully cxoncrsitcd of any connection win
the plot. Hullingn claims that be- has m
vCstigltcd the Ward divorce uHd has ~ Tar
found no record Of a. tie now hoiiev,s
tro default proceedings was gnuthcr Mt
tempt 20 got ~ heiore tie public.
Murphy, the head of the Union Press
Bureau, said yestcruay The matter
came Ia fup IA the rnpular tVay A