The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1905-07-20
AHLE'S CAREER is
BEING INVESTIGATED
District Attorney Is Convinced
New York Society People
Are Blackmaiied.
BUT FEW DARE TELL
Desire to Avoid Exposure of Their Own
Social and Moral Shortcomings
Prompted Their Dealings
with Him.

New York, July 1o,-Following the
holding of Charles Fl. Able on a charge
Oh attempting to eNtort $500 from Ed
Win M. Post, Il member of the stock ex-
change, as the price for keeping out OF
Town Topics q scurrilous article about
ms personal affairs, Assistant District
Attorney krotel sought to get into
communication with the wealthy So
clety men and women who. according
to Able, had subscribed for "America's
Smart Set" His idea was to ascertain
II any OF them had been threatened
should they decline to pay $500, the
usual price for the subscription.
Only three did he find. however, but
he will continue his efforts, although
he fears most of those he would inter
view are out Of the city at this time.
One whom he found was E, r. Thomas,
had paid $500 to Able. A detective
armed with a subpoena was sent for
Mr.. Thomas. He responded without
delay, and frankly told Mr.. Krotel what
he knew of Able and his methods. He
admitted that no threats had been ut
tered to himself or Mrs. Thomas, nor
was there any suggestion that, should
either OF them fail to become a sub
scriber, there would BIZ any unpleasant
result in the way of publicity.
The first saw Of Ahle,' said Mr..
Thomas, was about six months ago,
HiiSi iC NdilSu Oil lie III my Ottlca.
When he told me he desired me to sub
scribe for a book on society to be is
sued soon, [ old him hat I didn't
care anything about society, and that
my wife attended to those matters. r
told him that if he wanted to see her
he might.
When I reached home that night
Mrs. Thomas told me that Allie had
been to see her, and had told her T had
sent him to her. Ee told about the
work, which was to be issued by ths
Society Editors association, and added
1t was my desire to present to her a
copy of the work, as q gift. He talked
for a long time and the interview was
ended by my wife subscribing for the
DOCK and handing to Able her own
check for $500.
Made a Second Visit.
Some time after that Able came TO
see me again. He told me the Society
Editors association was getting out a
new edition of the book. which was 60
elegant that I could not afford to he
without a p AS if to induce inc to
subscribe. he showed me two subscrip-
ton cards, one bearing the name Of
Clarence H. Mackay and the other that
of John Jacob Astor. Zach having maid
Sl,ooO to aim. But 1 had no use for the
thlns ana told him so. II he left, tell
ing me he wanted the money as the
editors We're tired and wanted to hire
Il yacht for the summer. 7 have heard
nothing IRON him since. But at no
'lme IN his conversation with me or
win MIS-. Thomas did he hint that the
lanuie 70 supScrlbe Woulo be attended
WIN any unpleasant consequences"
MI. Thomas, who was at one time
IN partnership with Mr.. Post. said that
ilad Ahle been insiStent or threatening
ne would have had no hesitation in
kicking him out of office, nor would
n % IptI,rli11 f,.ni,, .toJ1i,,-,. - .--,
lie commended the action taken by Mr.,
fost. Many others did likewise, espec-
tally the brokers' fellows on the stock
exchange, who crowded around him
yesterday morning and congratulated
him.
District Attorney Jerome received
letters II telephone MESSAGES
commencing him for the arrest of k6le
and he said he understood Able an,
preached several public officials in the
ehdeavor to have them hand over $500
LOT d DOCK TO be published some time.
Was Caught in a Trap.
The arrest of Able was the result of
a trap baited for him by Assistant
District Attorney krotel. in whose
charge the matter was placed by Dis
1rlct Attorney Jerome after Mr.. Post
Iad made his complaint. AS if to dis
money from Mr.. Post. Able after his
showed MI. Krotel a large
bundle of receipts showing that men
and women of wealth had subscribed
for the work.
While the money was ostensibly paid
as a subscription for a work entitled
Americas Smart Set to be published
oy the Society Editors association Of
oO3 Fifth avenue, Mr.. Post declares If
was demanded from him as the price
;! preventing a scurrilous article about
his personal affairs being nrintad ~
Topics.