New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-27
NOT FOR FRESH AIR FUND.
Tribune Charity Not Beneficiary of
Concerts Up the State.
Tnr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE ]

Albany April pa systematic use of the name OF
The Tribune Fresh Air Fund for the purpose OF
raising money absolutely without authorization,
was EXPOSED here to-day when Mrs. NJ o. Updike
admitted before Magistrate Brady that she mad
been engaged in the business Of promoting enter
tainments with Mrs. Kate /. Speck, of Bingham
ton and was acting under the impression that Mrs
Speck was a direct representative of the Fresh AIT
Fund. Mrs Updike was not held. owing to the alb,
sence of any formal complaint, but the manner IN
which she operating was fully exposed.
Suspicion was first directed TO the operations or
the two women by the attempt their part to sell
tickets for a concert be given in local hall on
May 49, The tickets announced that the concert was
for the benefit of The Tribune Fresh Air Fuhd. n
prominent citizen who purchased ticket comnnunI-
Gated with The Tribune, and the result was the
disclosure Of the extent of the operations or the
two women.
According to the story told by Mrs. Updike. she
and Mrs SpeCk who figures as business agent lor
the firm have been running concerts for the benent
of the Fresh Air Fund' all winter. Sometimes
they explained that the fund was the Tribune
Fresh Air Fund: sometimes II was not explained.
Only a short time concerts were given LOT
the Fresh Air Fund" at Wilkesbarre, Pittston ana
Hazleton. Penn. Concerts are now scheduled TOT
Albany Troy and Cohoes May IS, 10 and 20 re-
spectvely A hall has been engaged I'm Albany,
tickets have been sold and the general impression
has been circulated that the affair is for the
benefit OF the Tribune Fresh Air Fund The pro-
gramrne for the concert consists mainly in the
Binghamton, together with the work Of high school
children in each locality trained in Mother Goose
entertainments.
Mrs. Updike protested vehementy to-day that
she was acting in good faith and had supposed that
the performance was authorized by The Tribune,
despite the fact that letters shown from thu
responsible authorities disOwning all knowledge or
authorization. Mrs. Updiks persisted In her claim
Of ignorance, placing the responsibility all upon
Mrs. Speck. who is reported 10 be In Cohoes, put
did not come to the Ci,y when summoned
Mrs Updike declared that she had worked TOT
Mrs. Speck about year. and that prior 10 that
time she advertising agent FOR PROFESSOR
Riley, OF BinEhamton. She gives her ADDRESS as
No 1914 COnklin-aVe. in that city. and the ADDRESS
OF Mrs. Speck as No. 96 Leroy-st. Mrs Speck dld
not arrive at the police station, although Mrs. Up
dixie waited several hours FOR her last evening
They will appear at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning
aud make further explanation or their operations.
Meantime Mrs Updike persists IN her INTENTION OF
giving the Albany concert May ~. Despite inc
obvious fact that the concerts have been success
full as proven by various newspaper clippings
shown by Mrs Cpdike. and the probability that
several thousand dollars. at least have been raised
The Tribune Fresh Air Fund is richer only by n
contribution OF So5 received in the name or Mrs:
Speck and without any explanation or the methOu
by which IL was raised.