The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-07
They Are Charged with Attempting
to BlackmafI Basil stcnbeI,
Young Dentist.
HUSBAND DEMANDED $1,000
STEM3EL DAZED AFTER DRINKING
WINE WITH MRS. HERMAN.
Told Detectives that Herman, with a
Revolver, Made Him Write for
the Amount He Asked.

What the police call badger game
closed badly for two of the players last
evening. julius Herman and wife were
arrested by Detectives Colbert and Hauser
in the office of Basil Stembel dentist and
Dr. L. S. Roberts, in the Coburn apart
ment house, at Delaware and New York
streets. They are charged with blackmail
and robbery They have been living at
the Oxford 316 East Vermont street The
detectives got from Mrs. Herman a dia-
mond ring belonging TO Stembel. She said
she and Herman were married three
months ago in Chicago She was then the
widow of a man named Prinz. at one time
president of the st. Louis Terminal Rail-
road. she said.
Herman. who is twenty-six years old, TALL
goOd-looking and apparently we'll edu-
Gated, refused to talk to newspaper re-
porters after his arrest further than to
say that he had been druggist in Chicago.
Detective Colbert told the story. Last
Thursday night" he said, "Hauser and |
were called to the office of man that
said he had friend who had been badly
treated by a man and a woman. Knockout
drops had been given to him, he said. and
was a prominent young fellow and he
feared publicity. He asked us to go and
talk to his friend, who was in a serious
condition. He gave us the address of Stem
bel, IA North Alabama street
I'VE went to this house and were taken
to Stembefs room. He was in bed. His
cheeks and eyes were sunken and he looked
like a dying man. This is what he told us :
Six weeks ago Herman and his wife went
TO the office of Stembel & Roberts. Her
man said he was i'll and wished DR.. Rob-
erts to treat him; Mrs. Herman said she
wished DR.. Stembel to repair her teeth
They showed a check for ZOO and were
well dressed. but they did not pay for the
doctors attention. After number of
visits the two doctors and Herman and
his wife became we'll acquainted and the
former accepted invitations to call on the
Hermans and take dinner with them Two
weeks ago Dr. Roberts and the Hermans
had a carriage ride with DR.. Stembel.
MRS. HERMAN ALONE.
Last Wednesday Mrs. Herman appeared
at StembeI's office without her husband.
She asked him If he would call that even
ing He said he would He went to the
Hermans' apartments about 8 o'clock In
the evening and found Mrs Herman alone.
Where is your husband?' Stembel asked
He has gone to Marion TO buy a drug
store, Mrs. Herman replied. A bottle of
champagne was on table in the middle
Of the room, and the woman asked Stem
bel to have a drink. Before beginning on
the champagne they each drank glass
OF whisky. Then the bottle of cham
pagne was opened and each drank two
glasses of il. Stembel became unconscious
and when he revived he found himself ly-
ing across a bed. He heard Herman's
voice asking his wife. What's the matter
with that fellow Mrs. Herman said lie
is sick Herman went 10 the bed, pulled
Stembel up 10 his feet and ordered him
out. He then pushed him out into the
hall. Stsmbel weak and almost fell
When he got 10 the street he found that his
diamond ring and so that he had carried
in an inside pocket were gone. He was
afraid 10 return to the house. He went
home and told his story to the friend that
informed US about the case
ION Friday Stembel recovered sufficient
ly TO go to his ONCE. In the afternoon
Herman walked in. He thrust a revolver
In Stembers face and said: You have to
me thousand dollars. Stembel replied
that he had done no injury 10 Herman and
ne didn't have a thousand dollars 10 give
him. Herman insisted that he must have
the money and Stembel. fearing that the
trouble would become public said he had
a brother In Davenport. Ia. from whom he
could set the money. Herman instructed