The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-06-03
STORY OF BLACKOrAILING.
j. r. PIatt Tells How Negroes Got
Nearly a Million.

New York June John r. Platt,
the aged millionaire, who is suing Mrs
Hannah Elias, the negress, who he
swea-s blackmailed him out of almost
c70O. 600. today told the story of his re-
latiOns with the woman, beginning 70
years ago.
In the course of his narrative Mr..
Platt said he knew all along that An
drew H. Green was mistaken for him
by the negro Williams, the murderer,
and that he had started his suit against
the woman who has despOiled him for
the purpose of clearing the dead mans
name.
An order for the Elias womans ar
rest was issued late yesterday after
noon, but all efforts to reach her in
her palatsl home were vain. Said Mr..
Platt
Andrew H Green was mistaken for
me. He never knew Hannah Elias, and
she never knew him.
Il am not wealthy man now nave
enough left to keep me for the rest of
my days"
The woman had never actually gone
to any member of my family until late
~. Then because L did not respond
with as much as she thought 1 ought
to, she sent some one to see my broth
er, Isaac S. Platt. This emissary told
my brother that I had not been pay
ing UP fast enough, and that II dldn
do better she would expose me.
L talked the thing over with my
brother and determined to bring this
suit
Il first met her about 20 years ago.
when she was a girl of Is or Il. I had
been out to California once with the
volunteer hremen, and they gave me
the time of my life in Frisco. Well
when some of those same fremen came
east, about 20 years ago, I felt in duty
bound to show them the town. I took
them to a house in Twenty-seventh
street, kept by a mulatto woman. It
was at that house that L first met
Hanna Elias. I visited her several
times soon after that. but within a
short time I lost track of her
About nine years ago. when, being
troubled with rheumatism, I read an
advertisement in the paper that a GER
tain person in Third avenue could cure
one of rheumatism by massage. l went
to the address given and was surprised
to find that the advertiser was none
other than the pretty little octoroon
girl now grown into full wOmanhOod.
"She treated me for rheumatism for
several months, and I did get better
One day she expressed the desire to
give up the massage busin ess and start
boarding house, and [ volunteered
to start her. She did, as 1 swore to
in my complaint represent to me
when l met her again, eight years
ago, that she was still single"
1t has developed that the woman
and her Japanese servant were about
to leave for Japan. The two are prac-
tically codefendants in Mr.. PIatt's
suit.
The defense of the action will. ac-
cOrding to a man in this city who is
very close to Mrs. Elias, show that
Mrs. Elias was herself blackmailed in
turn by persons who knew of the re-
lations between her and Mr.. Platt
and demanded money as the price of
their silence. Said this man TODAY.
"a certain physician and his wife.
living up town, discovered in some
way the relations between Mr.. PIatt
and Mrs. Elias. They made demands
on Mrs. Elias, and successfully bled
her for 500. 600. There were others.
too, and before this case is through
you will see a number of supposedly
respectable persons dragged into it
A statement issued by counsel for
the Elias woman today indicates that
no money will be spared in fighting
Mr. Platts suit. The defense will de-
clare that the woman was entitled to
all she got from Platt and used no
threats to get it.
District Attorney Jeromes office is
watching the case with a view to
starting criminal prosecution
against the negress-
Sheriff's men. after being refused
admittance at the Elias mansion, sta
toned themselves at the door to
watch for the woman's departure
Mr. Plat obtained, through coun-
sci a civil order for the woman's ar