The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-07
LURED SOFT CELIBATES
j. NJ. CRAIG AND BELLE HAUSER AR
RESTED FOR WORKING A GAME.
Victims ALI Over the Country Sent
Money to This Village of
Gold Bricks.

John NJ Craig who lives opposite I'll
South Meridian street. and Belle Hauser,
whose home has been in Traverse City,
Mich, were arrested yesterday upon two
charges, one of them for using the mails
for fraudulent purposes. Their case will be
investigated by the federal authorities, and
it is claimed, their victims are found from
one side Of the country to the other David
Burke, of Silver, Wash, is the last, and the
one to whom they may lay the blame for
their present predicament. He advertised
for a wife and received an answer from
Belle Hauser, 231 West Washington street,
Indianapolis. A brief correspondence led to
their enga cement, and demand from the
woman for money with which to come to
her betrothed. Forty-five dollars was sent,
and Burke received his receipt from the
postoffice here in due time. But that was
the last he heard from his prospective wife.
The case was at once put in the hands
of the police authorities here, who began
an investigation which resulted in the ar
rest of the man and woman yesterday. The
address given to the Washington man was
ascertained to be merely the place where
this woman received her mail. It is a news
stand, and the owner said that a we'll
dressed woman of good appearance had
called at his place several weeks before
and had asked that her mail might be de-
livered there. She explained that she did
not wish her husband to become acquainted
with all of her doings, and the request was
granted. Since that time many letters,
postmarked from all sections of the coun-
try, have been received and turned over to
the woman. Her actions at last led to sus-
picion. She would never call at the same
hour of the day, and after awhile began
sending for the mail. When the police
went to the address she had been using
they were told the entire story by the news
dealer. They waited for the woman, but
for days she failed to call for the mail
which had accumulated.
Yesterday at noon, however the detec-
tives were rewarded by the appearance of
the woman. She was arrested by Detec-
tive Splann, Wilson and Kinney and taken
to the private Office of the police for cross
questioning. She at once implicated John
M Craig, a local saloon keeper, with whom
she says she has been living since last
September. At that time she was living with
her father at Traverse City, Mich. lie was
engaged in the manufacturing business. The
father failed and the daughter. who is
known under many different aliases. started
into business with Craig, who appeared in
the Michigan town about that time They
first considered Denver as the best place
in which to begin, and went to that city,
but soon failed, and in March came here,
where, 1T is said, Craig has wife and
family.
Craig's fertile brain, it is claimed, soon
projected a method for fleeing the people
who advertise for wives. Matrimonial Jour-
nails were subscribed for, and the couple
entered into a wholesale answering of the
advertisements. If it was man Craig, ac-
cording to the woman's story, would die
tate letters to her, which she would write
and send to the prospective victim. In
many instances these letters would lead
to others, and in many cases to an engage
ment Then the woman would ask for an
amount OF money to pay railroad fare and
other necessary expenses. This would be
the last heard of the matter. She says she
cannot form any estimate of the number
of persons whom they have thus robbed.
Each time Craig would receive half of the
proceeds. 1t is even claimed by the woman
that Craig collected and opened much of
her mail without even consulting her.
Since their arrival in this city she has
lived in several different places under diff
ferent names. Belle WeiSe Belle HiltZ and
Belle Brack have each served their turn
in fleeing some stranger. But she had be-
come tired of the life, she says, and in
tended going to Washington State and mar
rying the man whom they had addressed
there. He seemed an especially promising
person, and mad it not been for sudden
attack of nervous proStration she says she
would now be miles away from here With
this in her mind she did not tell Craig of
the receipt of the $45 from Burke. But her
sickness lasted too long, and before she
could start TO Burke that gentleman had
caused her arrest.
The charge of using the mails for fraudu-
lent purposes will be made before Commits
sioner Moores yesterday morning. All war
rants and other necessary papers have been
obtained by the detectives, and speedy
trial is anticipated.