New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-10
TO SUE FOR HUSH MONEY.
SERVANTS SUITS.
More Startling Disclosures about
Prominent Wen Predicted.

wants of Mrs Elias who declare that S1OO.OOO,
promised TO them if they would maintain silence
with regard to the names of prominent men VINO
had visited Mrs Elias. had not been paid This
new aspect Of the case in which j. X Platt
charges Mrs Elias with blackmailing him. and
in which Mrs. Elias in her defence is expected
to charge a lawyer and physician with black
mailing her after they had learned of her rela-
tions with PIatt is largely due to indignation on
the part of the negro element of the city at what
they term unjust treatment of Mrs. Elias SO
strongly does element of the negro popuia-
ton feel over the forcible entrance into Mrs
EIiass home. and the fixing of bail which In
sures her staying in a cell. that IT is to hold
a meeting next week 20 discuss the subject
At a meeting of negroes at No 149 West
Fifty-third-st. It was decided to exert every
effort 70 get the release of Mrs Elias. even 20
obtaining bondsman.
The information regarding the breach Of con-
tract suits was contained in a statement issued
by J. Frank Wheaton. a colored lawyer. who has
been retained by negroes TO assist in the de-
fence of Mrs Elias. He lives at the Hotel Mar
shall. Nos 127 and 129 West Fifty-third-st
The statement follows:
My interest in this case comes chiefly through
the intervention OF a number OF influential col
ored men and women Of this city who feel tnat
the action OF the District Attorney IN making
that sensational raid OF last Tuesday night on
Mrs Elias's home in Central Park West was a
harsh one, to say the least, and would not and
probablv could not have been done consistently,
had the defendant in Mr Platt's action been a
white woman 1 have two witnesses. one
Mary Scott, of No. 126 West Fffty-thtrd-st.; the
other Richard Smith, of No. 149 West Fifty
third-st.. who were employees Of Mrs: Elias
The woman was a cook in Mrs. Eliass house
at No 13S West Fifty-thtrd-st. when Mrs. Ellas
kept a furnished room house, and afterward,
still I'm the employ of Mrs. Elias, when that
woman moved to the house at No. ~ West
"
made the cOmplanants In suits for breach OF
contract on the part Of TWO men. one retired
man, the other man stllI In puDhc IKE, wnose
names l shall not disclose at the present time
One Of these men is lawyer; the other ply
sician.
Some months ago there we're a number OF
people employed by Mrs. Elias and other ser
wants of hers who were believed by many to be
in possession of certain facts regarding men Of
prominence who had at various times visited at
Mrs. Elas's homes Among these servants tive
singled out being in possession of GER
t4l Ii5eiOuS IlAOl ma ION anu ttIeSe I"O are
the Scott woman ana the man smith. Iney
were approached by individuals and offered
something like 100000 TO maintain silence.
They have not been paid. and 1t is breach Of
this contract which will lead TO the bringing OF
the suits have mentioned.
One Of the men who interested themselves in
the matter of Offering this large reward, which
has been variOusly estimated at something like
S2OoOO, but which. to be accurate, was brought
to SIO1Ooo was a man who once acted
attorney for Mrs Elias and who prevailed on
her TO secure this money with which to meet
silence on the part or these servants. Mrs. Elias
has herself stated that physician and lawyer
got money from her-in short that she herself
had been Northumberland the information in
my possession bears out her statements on that
point.
The two actions for breach Of contract will be
brought IN the Supreme Court following the
hearing of Mrs. Eliass case. The defendants in
the action will be sued for 5000 In each case.
Another phase of the case which l am aware
OF, and l know whereof / speak is that Mrs
Elias has double. so similar 10 her in appear
ance as 10 he taken for her almost invariably.
Photographs of this woman, II Is understood.
have frequently been used for those of Mrs
Elias. This woman and Mrs. Elias were
'chums'' for a number of years AT the time
Mrs Elias first became acquainted with Mr..
Platt this double was acquainted with all of
Mrs. Eliass men friends and the two women
were OFTEN seen in public places together
can safely say that there will probably be
some dtvulgences of very startling nature be-
fore this case has reached conclusion. The
most startling statements and developments are
Yet to come. OF that you can rest assured.
general meeting of influential negroes will
he held within the next week, at which time
number Of prominent ministers will be in at
tendance, not because they sanction such meth
DDS as have been attributed to Mrs Elias. nor
because they CondOne her alleged offence, but
because OF the seeming antipathy of the District
Attorneys office toward a woman of our race.
1t is all very we'll 10 make grandstaud plays but
the surroundings should be taken into consider
tion-attentiOu given to the personalities in
terested in the drama.
Although her lawyer. Washington Brauns OBJ
tanned reduction of $4,000 in the bail de-
manded in the criminal case against Hannah
Elias the negress she is still in the Tombs. The
$4,000 bail her lawyer says. is just as pro-
hibitive as the $4,000 demanded at first This
afternoon she will leave her cell to confront John
r. Platt her aged accuser. if he is able to ap-
pear and if there is time she will tell on the
stand the story of their relations. how she OBJ
tained her money and where il went.
James W. Osborne has been retained as asso-
ciate counsel 10 Mr.. Brauns. and will crOss-ex
anime Mr.. PIatt. II is unlikely that there will
be any other witnesses. although the testimony
OF the Elias woman is expected TO bring out
astounding revelations concerning two OF her
advisers.
August G.. Nanz. who obtained the divorce for
the negress from her husband. Davis. and has
done various work for her since that time, called
at the Criminal Courts Building yesterday after
noon to see MIR. jerome. The District Attorney
had gone home. and Mr.. Lord. who is handling
the Elias case. was not about. Mr.. Nanz said
that from the publication of statements at
tributed to Mrs. Elias in which a lawyer and
physician were mentioned, he inferred that he
was the lawyer meant.
Il was once her attorney. and take it that
she refers to me-" said he. II want the District
Attorney to know all about my connection with
her There is not detail of any transaction
should be afraid TO have him learn; In ract,
want him to investigate them ALL He need not
take my unsupported word for what shall tell
him: can show him proof of all 1 say.
Mr. Nanz will probably write to the District
Attorney that he win be ready at any time to
furnish all the information in his possession
Much about the Matchmaking of the negress
came to light yesterday. Letters from Boston.
signed by one Howell. demanding good and
sufficient consideration for silence regarding the
relations of Platt and the Elias woman. have
IL -. a..