Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1901-03-01
bLACKMA|LERS'
DEADLY WORK
MULCT VICTIMS OF GREAT SUMS
OF MONEY.
LED TO SEVERAL SUICIDES
GANG OF INDIANA SHARPERs
THAT WAS A TERROR TO
THE COMMUNITY.

kn1ghtstown, Ind, March 1.-The con-
viction and sentence to the pentitentiarv
of Alice Green has disclosed the fact that
an organized band has been successfully
carrying on system of blackmail i'm
tEis vicinity for years. The trial of Will
bur Woods. an attorney of this city. who
is charged with being implicated in the
scheme. began in Richmond, change
OF venue having been taken from this
county on the ground that the prejudice
resulting from the recent exposures
made it impossible for the defendant to
set fair trial
Some time since Squire Southard. a
well known citizen of the county, COM
mitted suicide by hanging himself in his
barn His friends, who knew that he
had no domestic or other troubles that
would cause such an action, began an
investigation. based upon rumor that
had already gained circulation. This
investigation revealed some startling
facts about the matchmaking gang s
mthods and operations, not only in this
case. but in others for years past.
AS consequence of this Investigation
Alice Green, notorious woman of Raw
vile. across the river from this city.
Captain V. Steiner, constable of this
township and veteran of the civil war:
Wilbur or Red" Woods of this city, and
Rose Green. niece of Alice, were ar
rested and the trial of Alice Green WIS
lhmeulately had. She was convicted
ana sentenced to the state prison The
case against Steiner will probably not
De trled. as his friends claim that h.,
had nothing to do with the case, except
persons.
1t developed that Rose Green was
about to become mother and this fact
had tren used as means of blackmail
ing Southard, together with other.
prominent citizens, each Of whom was
accused in his turn of being the father
o. the unborn child. In every case a
settlement was made as demanded.
Southard. however, gave notes for a
part or the sum, and on account of
financial difficulties he was unable to
meet them. The threat was repeated
and rather than stand the disgrace of
exposure. although believed to have
been innocent, he killed himself.
At the trial of Alice Green Rose Green
turned states evidence and swore that
she had never seen Southard but once.
and then at which time he did not get
cut of his buggy: that she had never
authorized Woods to threaten to bring
criminal proceedings against him as
was alleged and that she had been
made an innocent tool of the gang, NOT
knowing of the plot to blackmail. Her
story was believed and it was mainly
her testimony that convicted the other
Green woman. her aunt. Before the
trial an attempt was made by the
friends of Alice to kill Rose Green to
prevent her from testifying.
Alice Green the leader Of the gang. is
known as the Queen of Blackmailers.
She kept resort that was the terror of
the community for years. Time and
again she was fined anc sent to Jail, but
only for the time being was this effect
ual, as her place hourished in spite of
the officers.
Two old men of the village were Sc
lected for victims, and before year
was passed they had been systematic
ally robbed of about $4,000. Many
prominent men of this community have
put up large sums of money to avoid
disgrace. Nearly every lawyer in the
county has been called on at one time
or another to settle one of these cases
with the gang, and not in a single in
stance would a victim consent to fight
the case, preferring to pay the money
and avoid the disgrace of exposure.
Two big farms We're sold to satisfy
the demands of the gang, one man en-
bezzled the amount demanded because
he did not have it, and decamped. and
at least two suicides before that of
Southard's can be attributed to the
threats made by the gang.