The Washington herald., 1907-10-20
PLAN TO BLACKMAIL
Two Men Accused Of Mulct-
ing Raymond Hitchcock.
POLICE SEE A HUGE SCHEME
Arrest of bartender and Bank Teller
Follows Threat To ImplicHte Name
of Actor in ScandaI-Others May
Have Been Victims of Similar
SChemes-NewspHDer az Medium.

New York. Oct 19-In the arrest Of two
men tonight at the instigation of Ray
mond Hitchcock, the star In "A Yankee
Tourist" now playing at the Astor Thea
ter, the police believe they are on the
trail that will lead to the unveiling Of one
of the most extensive blackmailing
schemes in New York's police history. The
men arrested tonight gave the names Of
Hugo c. Voecks. twenty-one. a bartender.
Of S66 Third avenue, and Frank o. Torn
berg, nineteen, second assistant paying
teller In the bank o. the Metropolis
For the past eight months Hitchcock
and his wife. known on the stage as
Flora zabelle. have been receiving black
mailing letters threatening 10 involve
Hitchcock in a scandal unless ne gave up
a large sum Of money. Simultaneous
with the receipt by Hitchcock Of these
letters New York newspapers have been
tipped off TO stories relating 20 outrages
practced on young girls by "a prominent
Broadway comedian" The name Of the
offender was never given. Hitchcock has
steadfastly refused TO be shaken down,
and has been making efforts to trap the
men who he says have tried to blackman
him. Ali Of his efforts failed. however.
until tonight
Demands to See Hitchcock.
Last night. while Hitchcock was in his
dressing room a. the Astor Theater
man who subsequently proved TO be
Voecks, called and asked 70 see Hitch
cock. Maurice Kirby. Hitchcocks former
manager, was in the latters dressing
room at the time, and, when the caller
became insistent, admitted him. Yoecks
called Hitchcocks attention TO stories
that have been appearing IN New York
papers Tor the last few days, and relating
how "a prominent Broadway comedian"
had been guilty Of wronging young girls
Voecks said that unless he was given
S1,o00 at once. he intended 10 expose Hitch
cock, and inform the papers that the lat
ter was the unnamed prominent Broad
way comedian"
Hitchcock told Voecks that he did not
have the money with him, but gave him
three rings, valued at $500 as security.
and made an engagement 20 meet FOecks
at 1 o'clock this afternoon and redeem
the rings and give him $1,000
Hitchcock then consulted with detec-
tiyes. and. with Kirby, met Voecks at I
o'clock to-day rendering him a 81 600
bin and demanding The rings I'm return,
EoeCks did not have the rings with him.
and refused q $1,000 bill He demanded
1880 more-makjng $2.5eQ in aIl-and also
insisted that the amount be paid in small
bills.
Keeps His appointment.
Hitchcock made another appoint
ment with Voecks for o'clock to-
night Previous 20 that time the actor
had two detectives hide themselves In
his dressing-room. When Voecks ap-
peared tonight Hitchcock handed him
81 600 in small bills and his personal
note for $500 more.
Noecks still claimed that he did not
have the rings The detectives then
stepped out and placed him under ar
rest
Under rigid ss-eXaminatiOn VOeCks
confessed the blackmailing charges.
and declared that he was trying 10
get the money 10 educate a younger
sister, who is now a prisoner charged
with inCOrrigibillty in the House Of
Mercy. Voecks also confessed that
Tornberg had the actors rings and
was waiting for him at Forty-sixth
street and Fifth avenue. The officers
went there and arrested Tornberg. who
had the rings Tornberg admitted
knowing that Voecks was receiving
money from Hitchcock. but denied all
knowledge Of blachmail
The police think several prominent
actors have been victims OF similar
shakedowus. such reports having been
made 10 them.
The officers who made the arrest de-
clare that Voecks admitted to them that
he had furnished the information to OFF,
Ger PissaTO. Of the Gerry Society, which
has resulted in that organizations inves-
tigation Of Hitchcock. Voecks named his
sister as one OF the victims of Mr..
The prisoner also admitted that he had
circulated the stories which have been
appearing In the New York papers. and
claimed the authorship Of an article writ
ten in the suggestive fashion and appear
ing In the New York papers this morning
stating that. Notwithstanding the ire
success Of his present engage
ment, Hitchcock intended to terminate
his engagement at the Astor in a few
days and sail for Europe