The herald., 1897-05-29
AN IMPOSTOR
Who Plays the Role of a
Deaf Mute
FOOLS CHIEFS OF POLICE
AND RECEIVES ASSISTANCE
FROM THE OFFICERS
FOOLS CHIEFS OF POLICE
Miss Helen Fink Has Reached Los
Angeles With Her Tale of Woe.
How She Travels

Helen Fink, alias Mrs. Jack Wilson,
alias Mrs. Gall, and with numerous
other names to suit the occasion, who is
probably one of the cleverest impostors
that has ever beaten her way across the
continent, arrived in Los Angeles about
two weeks ago. Miss Fink has left a
long record on her trail from New York
The Journey has been accomplished
through the assistance received on the
strength of her impositions, and her ca
reer for the past six months has been
remarkable one.
Miss Finks favorite role is that OF a
deaf mute and she has worked 1t sue
cessfully in several of the large cities
along her route. In Cincinnati and
Denver she applied to the chiefs of po-
lice for assistance, representing tnat
she was deaf and dumb, and telling
pitiful story of her long journey to
reach a dying mother in Los Angeles.
At both places the officers were taken IN
and did what they could to assist the
woman on her way
! She came to Chief Glass on last Mon
day and tried to work the same game
upon him. Coming into the big chief
presence she made signs to him that she
was a deaf mute. Then she sat down
and wrote him a long story about her
trials and wound up by asking him for
assistance.
She gave her name as Miss Helen
Fink. and carried out her part so we'll
that the chief did not suspect the impo-
sition but decided to investigate the
woman's story.
The matter was placed in the hands Of
Detective Goodman, and he located the
woman at a private lodging house at
722 Grand avenue. She arrived there
about two weeks ago in company with
man whom she claimed was her hus-
band, and rented rooms. They gave
their names as Mr.. and Mrs. Jack Will
son.
Contrary to the story which the wo-
man had told Chief Glass, she was
voluble talker at home, and had never
said anything about being deaf-mute.
She told her landlady that she had just
arrived from Boston by a sea voyage,
coming by way of Cape Horn. Mr.. Will
son. as he was known, was usually out
late of nights. One day in burst OF
confidence his wife stated that he was
a professional gambler and spent his
evenings in a club room up town. She
also said that his real name was not
Jack, but Frank, but did not give any
reason for the deception she had prac-
| ticed.
A few days ago Mrs. Wilson said that
she was a professional teacher of deaf
and dumb sign language and was de-
sirous of starting a class. AS none oil
her rent had been paid, the plan was
very agreeable to the lady of the house.
who was only too willing to see her
delinquent tenant get something to do
which would assist her to pay her bills.
The plan was never carried out how
ever, and the rent which now amounted
to about $50, remains unpaid.
During her sojourn in Los Angeles
Miss Fink decided to satisfy her am
bition to learn to ride wheel. She
went to the Central Park bicycle schoo,
at 518 South Hill street, and purchased a
ticket for six lessons, sold at 81. She
did not have the cash and asked to be
trusted for the amount, and credit was
given. She gave her name as Mrs. Will
son.
On Wednesday, after taking her bicy-
Gle lesson, she told the teacher that she
was giving lessons in deaf and dumb
sign writing and was on her way to
Boyle Heights to see one of her pupils
She had forgotten her pocket book and
would have to walk because she did
not have car fare. If he could lend her
ten cents until tomorrow it would be
such an accommodation. The loan was
readily made.
The full extent of Miss Fink's imposi-
tions since her arrival here is not known
and probably never will be- She must
have learned that the officers were look
irg for her and decided to move on to
new fields. At any rate she left the
Seventh-street lodging house and an
unpaid board bill early yesterday morn
ing and did not return last night.
In her room card from the matron at
the Denver police station was found
This was received on her departure from
that city. On arriving in Denver Miss
Fink went to the chief of police and told
him that she was trying to reach dying
mother in Los Angeles. She said that
she had started out from Buffalo with
plenty of money to reach her destina-
ton, but claimed that she had been
robbed of her ticket and valise. She
had lost her wardrobe, and had been
travelling through the assistance OF
kindly disposed persons since this hap
pened The chief turned her over to the
matron, who looked out for her comfort
during the day which she remained In
Denver and escorted her to the train
when she left. The following day it
was learned that the woman was IN
impostor, and full account of the
affair was printed in the Denver papers
at the time, and later in The Herald.