The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-03-15

Jail, but the punishment was mere rec
reation for the backmaiier.
Associated with the Green ~snan in
her bold schemes were a number OF no.
torious characters, who saw no reason
In laboring for money when they could
get II by n simple process of blackmaiL
Principal among the men alleged To have
been connected with queen Alice" was
Wilbur. better known as Red Woods
an attorney of this city.
So far as the world was concerned. he
was known as the woman's legal adviser
Ii was she who, spider-like. wove the net
while the lawyer, II is alleged. shared
the victim. 1t was the woman's part TO
invent the charge and impose the penal
~ of silence, while the lawyer served
notice and obtained the settlement
The first victims chosen by the gang
were two wealthy old men OF the village
Michael and Henry Pride. Both had
lived frugal lives and ey had sccumu-
lated a fortune running well up into five
figures. Michael was a typical miser
whose familiar figure was a terror TO
the school boy.
Day after day he worked upon a tract
OF bottom land that was practically
worthless, cutting down the brush upon
IL for the purpose OF damming up the
water In the stream that flowed through
IL, SO that none OF IL might escape TO
other landowners. The gang chose these
two brothers as easy victims.
Slowly but surely and systematically
the blackmailers worked until between
$4,000 and Sl7o0e had been procured from
tho old men. Relatives finally interfered
and had the Pride brothers declared in
competent 60 manage what was left OF
the depleted fortune. Ii was by forging
deeds for mortgages that Alice Green
and her women assistants robbed the
two old men.
But II was blackmail that was always
the gangs chief Industry. "Queen
Aiice's' house was popular with men and
boys OF all ages and stations, and few
ever visited the place that were not made
TO regret their foolhardinoss.
IL did not require a visit 10 the place
however. TO form n pretext for black
mail. Indeed most OF the cases on rec
ord against the gang are those wherein
1t is positively known that the victims
never had been TO the notorious den.
Each victim was chosen on account of
his respectability, and Il was due To this
fact that the gang met with such con-
unued success without exposure.
The method was TO select a victim who
had a sufficient reputation at stake TO
insure a compliance with any demand
rather than to have his family disgraced
by the stories that would be circulated.
charge would then be Invented and no.
tice served on the victim that unless he
made settlement i'm the amount asked
exposure would follow.
Although In most cases exposure meant
nothing more than the making public
OF the trumped-up charge. only one case
IL on record in which the victim showed
a determination TO fight the case. In that
case the charge was dropped and the
man was never again molested. In every
other case the hush money was paid.
This blackmaling business was car
RED on for wears without molcstation
and Win but intfe publicity Men wpnld
put the amounts OF money in the hands
NJ their lawyers aud would disregard ad-
vice 70 nghf tho case. Negotiations were
conducted 80 secretly that not even the
mosi intimate friends or rela ives OF the
victims woUld know % fhc threats
In the course Of the gangs operations
two big fnrme were sold 10 satisfy de-
mands made upon the owners. one man
was driven 80 smbezzlemcnt and flight
and two or three suicides followed
charges made by the rang
Many n man paid his last dollar rather
than bear the disgrace ne believed would
follow a refusal 10 be blackmailed. one
prominent man OF this city took q friend
10 the Bender house for u drink. rather
than 20 10 a saloon. and a week later no.
tice WAS served upon him that ~ 81 he
paid Nifh Without dclaE criminal case
would br hied against him.
ffc naid the muueY although Nr wsH
ufg~d not - DO 20. This q. but ons Of