Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-17
CHARGES OPBLACKMAIL
MRS. MOLLIE CAKE PLACED UN-
DER ARREST BY DETECTIVES.

Mrs. Mollie Cake, twenty-eight years OF
age. is at the house of detention, having
been arrested by Detectives McNamee and
Helan yesterday afternoon on a charge of
blackmaii. Her arrest was based on COM
plant made by her second cousin, Miss Mar
garet Dunning. who resides at 1923 Az
street southwest Mrs Cake gave her ad-
dress as 10 NJ street. At the time the re-
port was made to the police Miss Dunning
was not aware that she was complaining
against a relative. 1t is alleged that Mrs.
Cake made an effort to blackmail or fright
her cousin into sending her two pairs Of
gloves from a store where she is employed
at the glove counter. When Miss Dunning
received the letter she had no reason to fear
that the writer could do her any harm. She
placed the letter in the hands of the man
ager of the store. After second letter had
been received q decoy package was pre-
pared and mailed to the general delivery,
as had been requested in the letter. When
Mrs. Cake called for it she was taken into
custody.
Miss Dunning received the first message
last Thursday afternoon, it being delivered
at her place of employment.
Text of Letter.
The letter read:
Miss Margaret Dunning: 1 have been no
ticng you for several weeks-the number Of
1 am upstairs in the hat department and
need some gloves. and If you will treat me
o X l will be a friend of yours; If not 1
will have you discharged. What 1 need is
this-one pair of long white kid gloves, size
61e. and one pair of embroidery black silk
gloves, 61s; each $3.50. Now, you can send
them in a box and put stamps on them and
send to Miss Ethel Smith, G street post Of
flee, and l will get you nice hat for Eas-
ter. You can write to me and tell me what
kind of hat you want and where to send
ii. Do not fail or tell any one of this. If
do not receive the gloves by Saturday when
L go to lunch / will have you discha rged
Saturday evening / will be your friend if
"A FRIEND"
Miss Dunning did not fully understand
the meaning of the letter. he concluded
the best thing she could do would BE to
turn II over to the manager of the store,
which was done. The police were then con-
suited 1t was deemed advisable to mail
dummy package to Miss Ethel Smith," Be-
fore it was prepared second message ar
rived from "A Friend" The latter evident
ly thought a mistake had been made. She
wrote: Miss Margaret: Drop me line
and let me know what address you sent
gloves. Write me letter to Miss Ethel
Smith, G street station, Washington, D. c.
Don't fail"
Claimed at Post Office.
The dummy package reached the G
street station on time. Mrs. Cake was there
to claim 1t, and the detectives were on hand
to claim her. She expressed great surprise
when told that she was under arrest and
that she was wanted at police headquarters.
Miss Dunning was even more surprised
when she learned that the writer of the
messages was her cousin.
Mrs. Cake was formerly a resident of Nor
folk, Va, and recently resided in New York,
having gone there in October of last year
and remained until she came to this city,
about month ago. When questioned by
Inspector Boardman the prisoner admitted
that she had written the letters to Miss
Dunning. and said she had done so because
a friend had told her that was a GOOD
scheme to adopt whereby she could get her
Easter gloves for nothing. Mrs. Cake ex-
hibited surprise at her arrest, but she was
not greatly affected by the action Of the
detectives. Unless security is given for her
appearance she will be held at the house of
detention until she is taken to the Police
Court for hearing.