Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-06-09
Demanded of Mrs. Hannah
Elias at New York.
She Is CoIored and Charged
With Extortion by J. R. Plat.
Counsel Alleges That She and PIatt
Were Also systematically Bled by
Other Parties-Habeas Corpus Pro-
eeedinss Under Way.

New York, June S.-Mrs. Hannah
Elias, the colored woman, who was ar
rested, last night, charged with ex-
tortion by John X. Platt, was arraign-
ed, today, and held in $4,000 for ex-
animation, next Friday. Bail was not
furnished and she was committed to
the Tombs prison. When the prisoner
was taken from her cell to a cab in
which she was taken to the TOmbs
court, she was met by jeering crowd
which filled the street around the po-
lice station. The woman was accom-
panied by two detectives. Just as the
cab started, however, q large express
wagon drove directly in its path and
the crowd closed in. The crowd was
more curious than threatening, how
ever, and the detectives succeeded in
clearing passage.
The proceedings began with Mr..
Jerome insisting that the bail be fixed
at a high figure in proportion to the
gravity of the allegations against her.
Attorney Brauns. representing the
prisoner. protested against high bail.
He thought $4,000 would be a reason
able bail.
Magistrate DINNER then fixed the
bail at s5O,OO0 the figure suggested by
the district attorney.
Mr.. Jerome assured Mrs. Elias at
torney that the case would be taken
before the grand jury at the earliest
possible moment. He said:
THE circumstances of last week, the
crowd in front of the defendants house
and her evading service of legal papers
lal 20 hi, s,,k@
irrespective of what this woman OBJ
tanned she and Plat were ibled by a lot of
other people who divided the proceeds of
matchmaking among themselves; but with
all this Matchmaking to which the woman
has been subjected she is in possession of
considerable property and can furnish $780,
900 bail if she wants to-
Mr. Brauns called at the Tombs, this af-
ternoon. for the purpose, he said, of get
ting Mrs. Elias signature to an affidavit
to be used in obtaining a writ of habeas
corpus. Mrs. Elias was placed in one of
a row of 10 cells occupied by negro pris
oners. When she was led to her cell she
broke down and wept
Justice Clarke is the supreme court, this
afternoon, issued 4 writ of habeas corpus
for Mrs. Elias, returnable tomorrow.
When Hannah Elias, the negress under
arrest for eXtortion, goes on the stand in
her own defence on Friday, she will tell,
it is expected, a story OF how she. was
blackmailed for years and how threats of
exposure of the relations between herr
self and John r. Plat drew thousands
from her, 4 great part of which money
Plat furnished, knowing for what it was
to be used,
Following her testimony two warrants
will probably be issued for persons who
rendered professional services to the ne
gross. one of them a physician, the other
a lawyer. August G. NanZ. who was
Mrs. Elias lawyer for q time. said, to-
night that Mr.. Plat consulted him
about letters threatening exposure if
money was not paid to the writer's.
The full extent of the uieeding" pro-
cess. it is believed, amounted to Il round
S100. 0OO
Mrs. Elias will testify that she complied
with the demands upon her until, in dcs-
peration, she refused to pay more. Then
a suit against her was threatened She
told Plat of the demands of the impend
ing suit, which would in all probability
disclose more than he or she desired. and
he yielded to the blackmailers' demand.
No names of "other prominent men, it
is said, will be dragged into the case, be-
cause, according to Mrs. Elias. Platt was
the only man that was 'bled.'
PIatt's lawyers served their injunction
papers upon Mrs. Elias in her cell i'm the
Tombs. late this afternoon. thereby tying
up every dollar she possessed.