Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-02
BEGGED MONEY;
BET IT ON RACES
SOLICITED IN THE NAME OF
SWEET CHARITY
Woman Plays a Dual Role During
Three Years and Secures Thou-
sands Of Dollars From Many
Well Disposed Persons
Special to The Herald.

special 10 ! nc litTdlus
NEW YORK, Dec. t.--For two or
three years certain wealthy men OF
Brooklyn have been visited regularly
by a woman who collected for hospitals
and aid societies. She was perhaps 35
years old She dressed plainly, but
neatly. Her manner was gentle and
not too pleading. and her expression
one of sweet sadness. She never talked
of religion unless pressed to do so;
then she always said she had aband-
oned the frivolous life to do the work
of the Lord. She had credentials
from Bethesda hospital, the Wayside
home, the Little Mothers Aid society,
and the Home hospital. When givers
We're chary she produced these
At Belmont and Sheepshead bay
tracks during the last two or three
years a spruce woman, little faded,
but still showing traces Of former
beauty, has been a regular figure on
the stands. She always wore smart
tailor mades of expensive material.
She played the horses Systematically
by the dope sheet. Her luck was poor.
Between races she used to tell chance
acuuaintances she was an actress, and
expected to play out the season with
Viola Allen or Mrs. Fiske. She had in
fact a stage manner and really en-
gaging ways.
You've guessed it. The collector for
charity and the racegoing actress are
one and the same person. Her real
name probably is Mildred Curran, al
though she is known as Mary ArreSon
and Annette Smith.
Some time this season word came
TO some of the charities on Miss Cur
rams list that illegal collections had
been made in their name. The Brook
Iyn board of charities began to investi-
gate. Isaac H. Carey, one of their
directors, remembered for three years
that he had been giving 50 and SIS bills
quite regularly to a gentle lady, who
presented good credentials
Carey lay for her with a marked 81
bill. She appeared on Wednesday after
noon with new plea for Bethesda hos
pital. She was sorry to trouble Carey
so often, she said, but the Lords work
must be done, and those who have,
should give. Carey handed over the
marked So and asked her for a look
at the blank book in which she had
just entered his name. Miss Curran
was sorry, but he couldn't see it. Soms
people would rather the right hand
should not know what the left hand
did. Carey jumped to take it away by
force. Evading his rush she ripped the
pages from the cover and tore them
TO pieces. He detained her, using some
force, locked the door, and telephoned
John D. Godfrey, of the bureau of
charities. Godfrey sent up officer
Charles Murphy-"Mile Minute" Muir
ply.
Miss Curran, murmuring prayers un-
der her breath, was taken before James
Forbes of the charity organization So
ciety and put on the grill. She was
sweetly pious about it. The Lord af-
flicted his servants sometimes, she said.
When told the charities on her list had
repudiated her credentials she only
smiled forgiving smile.
By documents found on her when she
was searched they learned she lived at
the Putnam house. A detail went over
to search her room. They found a closet
packed full of bolts of cloth, children's
shoes, oags of groceries and other
things which she had grated in the
name of charity. When they told her
this and showed her a bolt of cloth
from her stock she shifted her posi-
tion.
well, what in h are you going to
do about it?" she said. Send me up?
How long do 1 get?"
After time she admitted she lad
forged the certificates and had been
grating for three years.
Il got only $500 in ALL" she said.
Later she raised it to $500. AS a matter
OF fact, one account book found among
her possessions showed entries of
%l,ulJ. 1neTe were Lnree Sucn books
and the covers. with the contents de-
stroyed. of nine others. At that rate
she must have raised about $40, OO0
Among the names on her lists are Viola
Allen, August Belmont, II. B. Claffin,
a. G. Spalding &s Co. and Eta Reed
Peyson.
The account books, however, are not
the most interesting things found in
her room. There was a pack of old
theatrical programs of the '90s, all con-
tanning her name. 1t appears she began
as an actress in a road company. In
one play che appeared with Joseph Fla
worth. Then there We're many letters
from stars, turning down her applica-
lions for job.
Other interesting things among Miss
Curran'5 papers are a full reading"
from Prof. Fowler, phrenologist, and an
astrological forecast which told her that
she should beware of lawyers, also a
photograph of Robert Mantell, with this
line on the back: "NOublie, March G.,
80. Bob"
The handwriting bears a resemblance
&c that of Miss Curran. She was held
in $500 bail for examination Monday
on charge of petty larceny.