The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-09-12
BLACKMAlL QUEEN
IS AFTER HERRICK
Chicago Woman, with Record in
West, Seeks to Ruin Ohio
Man Future.
New York Sun special Service.


Chicago, Sept. 12.-Mrs. Marie Ivors
Lawrence, otherwise known as Minnie
Lee or Helen Butler, whose attempts
to blackmail prominent men of the
central west have stirred officials of
two states, and whose persistent eff
forts to wiring money from Governor
Herrick of Ohio, at last brought her
epe Ems 9o gh fsaehsd Gnesge
campaign in the east. With her was
the child, a blue-eyed, faxen- haired
boy, who she declares is Herrick' s son.
Lights were kept burning in the
Warren avenue house late last night,
but repeated rings at the bell brought
no response. Mrs. Lawrence was not
officially at home.
Strenuous Two Weeks.
The return Of Mrs. Lawrence marked
the end of strenuous two weeks for
| the alleged adventures, during which,
| it is thought, fresh attempt was made
| to make terms with Governor Herrick IS
political opponents in the present cam
/ paign.
/ Yesterday was marked by an import
ant interview at Columbus, Ohio, with
/ Judge Uric Sloan, who may consent to
| take her case if he is assured that she
| is not mere blackmailer. Is. I.
Her presence in the capital OF the
state ID thought to have peculiar sig,
| nifcance at this time, when taken III
connection with her previous efforts tG
\ interest Mayor johnson OF Cleveland
in her plan and ruin Governor Her
rick's political future.
/ On Gigantic Scale.
! Developments of the last twentytfoul
hours indicate that Mrs. Lawrence con
Quoted her operations on a gigantl.
scale, and that her victims included
many prominent and wealthy men be
i sides Governor Herrick and 0. W.. Pot
{ ter in the central west. She is said b,
detectives to present an excellent Typ
of resourceful modern adventures TO
= whom no scheme was too ambitious. Sh
J; conducted her attacks under cover o
the quiet and unassumlng life whlcl
she lived at 808 Warren avenue, keep
ing the members Of her own family ie
norant of the double life she was lead
, ing. -..s
be connected in the remotest way wit
the notorious "Mirror Palace,' whic
she operates in West Randolph street
; and she appeared there at infrequen
!: intervals.
!: Gave Daughter Another Name.
In order that no suspicion Nigh
!: reach the members of her family, 1t
$ said that she reared her daughter, Mr.
: William T. Foster. as Nellie Hennepil
!. Mrs. Foster Remained in Ignorance a
: to who her parents were for numbe
: of years, a guardian being appolnte
!: to look after her affairs.
& So great was the shock OF the diE
. closures of her mother s true characte
. that Mrs. Foster was FRUSTRATED yeste'
!: day.
. In the operations of the Hgang
8 described by detectives, children wei
5 used to extort money from wealth
!. men under threats Of blackmail. SCI
!. eral different children Of various age
. are said to have been employed at v;
!. rious times.
!. Woman's Early Life.
. Despite her story of aristocratic CO..
T. nections, the Pinkerton agents say tn;
s she comes of Irish peasant stock. ar
!. that while shrewd, she is practical
!. without formal education. They SO
. that she came to America when
:: wears old. Her first husband, a M
s Ivors, was brought here by Q. w: Pc
. ter and was associated with him, in b
:: steel mills. After his death the wido
!. extorted $4,000 from the millionair
!. Lawrence, her second husband, Wi
!. whom she lived in Campbell Park, W
!. known as a professional gambler F
/. died five years ago. After his dea
!. Mrs. Lawrence settled her claim wi
s his estate for $1,000, signing qui
!. claimdeed in the name of Marie lvol