The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-09
MISPLACED
CONFIDENCE
A Woman Teacher and Church
Worker Of Baltimore
Worked Confiding Friends to
the Extent of $4,000.
DID A BIG BUSINESS
In the Name of the LeafIet AS
sociation Of New York.
One of the Victims Entrnst-
ed Her With $4,000.

Baltimore, Nd, Feb. 9.-Miss Frances
Caspari, principal in one of the public
schools of Baltimore and a leading
church. worker. has been convicted in
the criminal court of obtaining money
under false pretenses, and pending an
appeal was released on $4,000 bail
For a number OF years. while connected
with the largest Unitarian church in this
city and secretary OF the pastor, she
secured from many of the members
money for investment According to her
own statement while on the witness
stand she did a land Office business. and
made an explanation which convinced
her hearers that either she was insane
or a very shreWd confidence woman
She said she represented the Leaflet
association OF New York. This associa-
tion,' she continued, lis composed of
teachers and writers who before Christ
mas and Easter issue the leaflets. and
from the profits a dividend Of 8 to 10
per cent is declared on the investments,
which run over a period of six months.
The association started in a small way,
but its business soon increased and with
it the expenses Of issuing the publica-
ton.
They have no salaried employees. and
all share equally in the profits after the
printing expenses have been met. The
association is always able to state be-
forehand what dividend will be paid, as
it gives its work out by contract, and
quarters are in New York
Then she went@on to say that she be-
lieved the concern would ultimately pay,
but could not say by whom or where
the money was invested. She acknowl-
edged having got over $50, 900 from in
vestOrs the majority of whom are wo-
men, and include some of the best
known business men in Baltimore. These
say that she was SO plausible and stood
so high in the community that they
asked no questions, but turned over the
money without asking any questions.
One woman gave her so, 900, another
81 600, and still another SO, SEQ. A large
number invested from 500 to 81, 900. The
most remarkable feature of the whole
business was that she gave only her
personal receipt No one has a scrap of
paper to show from the alleged Leaflet
company The specific charge upon
which she was convicted was obtaining
$500 from Mrs. Bertha A Green.
For two days the trial has been in
progress, the courtroom being packed
with women who had invested. Miss
Caspari sat beside her cOunsel's table,
throughout. The lawyers who cross
examined her were puzzled by her be-
havior. She acknowledged receiving the
money, but insisted the investment was
made in good faith and was perfectly
safe. She refused absolutely to tell to
whom she paid the money.
Her counsel Mr.. Edgar Cans, who is
one of the leaders at the bar here, con
tended that the woman was not respOn-
sible for her actions.
The jury first took a vote on her san
ity and unanimously agreed she was
her guilty. She received the verdict
with composure and seemed satisfied.
The penalty of her crime is from two to
ten years in the penitentiary.