The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-08-17
WOMAN UNVEILS
$l,500,000 PLOT
Murder and Fraud in Tangle Now
Being Unraveled by Woman
Seeking Her Own.

Milwaukee, Wis, Aug: 17-In an at
tempt to prove her rights to share Of
an estate of $1,50O,O60, Mrs. Frank g..
Curtis, wife Of a Milwaukee automobile
dealer, has been with her mother, Mrs.
Ruby Woodman, travelling thru the
mining districts of Colorado for the
past two years, and, it is claimed, is as
conspiracies involved in murder and as
successful a fraud as ever known.
The conspiracy involves several null
ti-millionaires, men Of national reputa-
ton, men known in the highest circles
of national politics and finance.
Beginning of Romance.
In the early sixties John Murphy was
a poor prospector in Nevada. In the
latter part of that decade he met in
NOVA Scotia, Ruby Fox, daughter Of a
After a short engagement the two
married and went west. Shortly after
they returned and located in New York
city. Later he returned to the west,
leaving his wife in New York. She did
not hear from him for some months.
He returned later and took her to Chi
cago, where he deserted her, it is
claimed.
Within a year after their marriage
the first child, Ona, who is now the
wife Of Mr.. Curtis, was born. During
the woman s stay in Chicago after be-
| ing abandoned by her husband, sec
| ond daughter, Elizabeth, was born. She
was loath to inform her father Of the
disastrous end of her marriage and at:
tempted to support herself and children
by work. - d. .-.<.-- -,...~..:
=. The Heiress Adopted.
The youngest child was given to a
family by The name Of Duncan at
Logansport, Ind, and was adopted.
Later the father Of Mrs. Murphy came
to Chicago and took the daughter back
news came to her that Murphy had been
murdered in Carson. During his stay
in New York at the time he was &C
companied by his wife, Murphy had
purchased property valued at that time
Shortly after his death his wife re-
ceived letters at Nova Scotia discour-
aging her from coming west and saying
that the property was Of but little
| value. r..
Six years ago one Of the four body
guards whom Murphy had employed be-
fore his death died at Truckee; New.
In his possession were found many, of
Murphy's papers which. claimed to
prove him to be millionaire.
One Of the properties has been occu-
pied by wealthy real estate man
erty was legally transferred to him
but since the investigation, has disap-
peared. The valuable mining properties
in Nevada were transferred, it is as.
Serted in the same way by man and
woman who impersonated Murphy and
his wife.
Will Was Found.
Among Murphy'g papers was found
will leaving all his property to his
two daughters. He carried large de.
posits with the Wells-Fargo Express
company, as they admit, but they dc
not say what the balance was at the
time Of his disappearance.
| No effort has been made to get this
money or several thousand dollars
which he is said to have had in New
It It is ss's said Murphy's death occurred
during one of his excursions to his
proper ties in Nevada. At the time he
was killed, it is said, he was about fifty
miles from Carson City. Some weeks
guards r ar who "a accompanied him state that
he had been shot from ambush while
some distance away from camp. They
found the body and inferred, it. Some
| of these are now men of national repu
tation. Two Of them are dead.
Murphy's papers were found in the
strongbox in possession Of one of the
former bodyguards. 1t is said that
the part of people who are interested in
the property for many years to keep
the disclosures from coming to the pub:
lic,. Several years after the death of
Murphy his wife married Mr.. Wood
man.