The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-08-24
ACTRESS CHARGES BLACKMAIL
or HERSELF AND MARRIED. MEN
VINO WE'RE HER CALLERS.

tnarge Against wan AMI woman Arresteu
IN Complaint of susanne Halprcn
Of the Fronman Companies woman
Had Been Fer Maid-sIOO the Price.
On a charge that they had attempted
to blackmail Miss Susanne Hslpren, who
has been a member of Charles Frohman's
companies, Henry Steiner, 81 years old, OF
5i1 West i22d street, and Jennie ~Pearlmetter,
who had been Miss Halpren's maid. were
arrested yesterday afternoon by Central
Office detectives after Miss Halpren had
given 800 to Steiner on condition. it 10
Of men who had been calling on her. The
arrests was made outside Of the Hotel
Rand, at 142 West ~Forty-ninth street. where
Steiner, 1t is said, had demanded and had
received the money from the actress. The
man and the woman were taken to Police
Headquarters, where the bills. which had
been marked, we're found on Steiner.
Magistrate Breen in the Tombs court held
the couple in 81 900 bail for a hearing this
morning. Miss Halpren did not appear in
court, but Lawyer Dan O'Reilly, who repre-
sented her, said that she would be present
this morning to press the complaint.
Miss Halpren was in the "Puddin' Head
Wilson, company. with Frank Daniels In
Sergeant Brue' and also appeared in The
Pride Of ~Jennico.' According TO the story
she told the police Steiner had been an
nOying her with demands for money for
some time
About two months ago Miss Halpren
engaged Mrs. Pearlmetter as a maid,
and Steiner appeared shortly after that.
TIL maid told Miss Halpren that she was a
widow with two children. She came in by
the day, but il was not long, Miss Hslpren
said. before Steiner began to spend a good
deal Of his time in her apartments and
make himself generally obnoxious. Finally,
Miss Halpren said, she was forced to dis
charge the maid. Soon after Mrs. Pearl
meter came to her and told her that
Steiner had noted carefully the names Of
the men who had called upon her in her
apartments, particularly the married ones.
She said that he would make trouble for the
men. the married ones, unless he got 500.
The woman said she thought il would be a
good thing for Miss Halpren to have an
interview with Steiner Following this
Steiner appeared and made the demand
FOR the money.
The actress decided then 20 have a talk
with the police. On Inspector McCaferty's
advice Miss Halpren made an appointment
with Steiner for Thursday evening at the
Hotel Rand. where she had lived. The
police told her to offer him $50. Two de-
t~ectives were in hiding when Steiner called.
Steiner refused to take the $50 and Is
said to nave announced loud enough for
the detectives to hear:
Unless you give me 500 | will make the
names public"
Miss Halpren told Steiner To- come back
yesterday, when she would have thought
it over. The detectives told her to give
Steiner 500. two $50 bills. both OF which
they had marked. Steiner appeared with
the woman and took the money. Then the
detectives pinched both Of them.
h names Of the men who had called
upon Miss Halpren did not come out yester-
day. IL is said that the police know OF at
least one man who was approached by
Steiner and who rave up money. Steiner
is said 10 have called on others. Some OF
Miss Halpren's callers are said to nave been
men Of more or less prominence.
Mr.. O'Reilly said last night that ne did
not care to discuss his clients case before
the hearing. He said that an effort would
be made to prevent any Of the names OF
her callers from being made public.