New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-01

j. r.. PLATT SUES FOR 1T.
Sa1s. Womap Blackmmled Him
Mdy Erplain Green Mystery.

Declaring that she has blaczmailed him for
years. John R. Platt. aged white man. re-
puted to be exceedingly wealthy. Is bringing
suit in the Supreme Court against Mrs. Han
nah Elias. the negress who came into proni-
nence at the time of the murder of Andrew H.
Green. Mr.. Platt seeks TO recover about $685.
900. With this extorted from him by fraud and
threats Of bodily violence. the plainttn alleges
the woman bought the handsome house. No. $50
Central Park West where she lived when Cor
nelius Williams shot Mr.. Green. several other
houses and diamonds and clothes. regarding
which he has no particulars. He asks that
there be an accounting OF all the moneys. that
the real estate and accounts in various banks
which he makes co-defendants. be taken from
her control. and receiver be appointed to COL
lect the rents.
Mrs. Hannah Elias could not be found yester-
day. y japanese servant at her home said she was
out of town. August c. Nanz. who her per-
sonaI counsel at the time of the Green murder.
said that he was not acting for her now. and had
not heard from her In several months He did
not know how she acquired the property in
question. ne declared. and knew nothing about
John r Platt and any relations he might have
had with Mrs. Elias.
This suit may explain the mystery regarding
the man for whom the negro Williams mistoOk
Andrew II. Green Neighbors Of the Elias
woman said that a white haired man called on
her almost daily, who bore a striking resem-
blance TO Mr. Green. District Attorney Jerome
learned considerable about this man. Tt was
said at the time that to some he was known as
Green. TO others at PIatt. The story told in
Mr. Platt's complaint leaves little room for doubt
that he was the who inspired the negro's
insane jealousy. which ended in the murder OF
the aged lawyer
Mr. Platts attorneys. Warren, Warren &
O'Beirne. would say nothing about the case. and
nothing about Mr.. Platt At his home. No 9
East Fifty -fourth-st.. last night, friend who
declined to give his name said that this was
simply case of n feeble old man who was
blackmailed out of his money" Mr. Platt is
not a relative of Senator Platt- In his COM
plant he says he is retired merchant eighty
four years old He has office at No. IA
Church-st where he attends to business OF some
kind nearly every day.
The complaint filed by Mr.. Platt's lawyers
tells how after making his acquaintance the
woman played on his credulity and affection,
forced herself on him: then, with japanese
servant. extorted money in vast sums from him.
threatening exposure OF him father of her
illesitimate children. first 10 her husband, later
10 the world at large: finally forcing him to
nav money under fear Of personal violence Yet
her Establishments must have been potent for
after paving her large sums for years, Mr..
Platt In his complaint Confesses to having con-
timed his relations with her until last year.
md that he paid her money up to May - of
this year.
PTATTS MEETING WITH THE WOMAN
Mr. PIatt lives with his two daughters He
met the Elias woman before January, 1886. she
renresented herself as of Spanish origin. single
and virtuous the complaint says, whereas Mr.
platt soon discovered that she was of bad char
actor consorting with dissoute persons and
that she was the wife of one Matthew @. Davis,
NEGRO. notwithstanding all this. the COM
nIaint AYERS by protestations Of love. she in
I'D him To have relations with her, all
90 ,.biob was mart of a scheme to coerce him
ora blaad him of any superfluous cash he had
This process the complaint sets forth, went
into execution at once. The woman threatehed
20 exnosa their relations to her husband, who.
she said was a man of violent temper. When
he first met her she had no property and no
assets Of any kind. save q few clothes and a
little furniture After the collections began, the
complaint says Mrs. Elias acquired the real
estate habit In 1896 under fear OF exposure,
Mr.. Platt alleges. he paid to her In January
81 600; in March, 81 100; April. $1,000; May.
5000; June. $500: July $500: September. S.
4T5; October 81 900: November, $1,000; Decem-
ber S1100 a total of $190I5. On September
"a 1896, she purchased the house in West
F1fty-thrd-st.. for which she paid S13,500. Out
of the balance she purchased furniture and
brie-a-brac. which she still has
In January. 1897. he alleges. he gave her $11.-
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