The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1908-11-14
Story That Proves Insanity or
Deprayity Told by Mae
L. Otis.
BARGAINED WITH THUG"
WHO WAS AN OFFICER
Girl Still Protests She Loves
Mother, but Admits the
Bargain.

CHICAGO, Nov. 13-Mae l.. Otis,
arrested last night on n charge of plot
ting to do away with her mother
through the agency OF hired thugs, was
pronounced sane tonight by Dr. Blake
Baldwin, city physician.
Dr.. Baldwin, at the request of the po-
lice. spent an hour with the prisoner,
testing her on various subjects, When
the test was over he declared that the
girl S mind seemed normal, although she
was on the verge Of q nervous collapse.
Thr following message was received
by Captain O'Brien. of the detective
bureau, from Mrs. Sarah Otis, mother
of Macs
"Maustin, wis;-will arrive, if plans
do not fall in Chicago at $3.50 clock
tonight at the Union depot. Send pro-
lection. MRS. SARAH OTIS
Captain o 'Brien detailed two detec
tives TO meet the woman.
Statement of Mother.
Mrs Sarah Otis, Miss Otis mother.
was interviewed by telephone at Maus-
ton, Wis, today. With reference to the
statement by detectives who made the
arrest that Mrs, Otis was to be mur-
dercd by hired thugs on her return to
Chicago Saturday night, Mrs. Otis de-
clared that she had not intended to
come to Chicago on that dav. had made
no plans in fact. and had not been
urged by her daughter to come.
"Mae's last letter said she was quite
as usual. and made no reference. to my
coming home. She was cheerful girl,
normal girl, and [ am sure she is
the victim of some preposterous mis-
.take. l gave her some money at times.
! but she seldom needed it, We never
had any trouble, for she was a good
! girl and a loving daughter"
! 1t was in this Interview that Mrs.
| Otis learned of her daughter s arrest
and she expressed the intention OF COM
ing at once TO Chicago to the girl IS
aid.
Miss Otis is alleged TO have ap-
preached Robert G.. Stolpman, private
detective, with a proposition TO do
away with her mother for a considera-
tiou of 500 TO bind the bargain aud
$1,000 when the doed had been accom-
! plished. Stolpman informed the city
police, and Detective Mackay was de-
tailed TO assume the role OF a thug will
| ing aud competent ''to do g Job.
which would have no hospital prelude.
Paid Blood Money.
Every arrangement had been com.
! pleted with the 'tthug' last night,
The following receipt was taken from
| her after her arrest:
''Receivod of Mae L. Otis, 450 East
Forty-siXth place, 500; balance due,
/ $1,000
[Signcdl :'ROBERT STOLPMAN."
1t is also alleged that Miss Otis gave
/ Stolpman q promissory note for the
! $2400, payable after she had collected
her mothers small fortune. Following
! the delivery of this note, the thugs
made known their true identity and the
| arrest was made,
The prisoner first visitor today was
I Miss Anna Stuvingel, n cashier of a
restaurant near the Rock Island station.
! She declared that she had persuaded
| her employer to loan 10 Miss Otis the
| 500 said to have been paid over by
the latter TO the detectives.
Later Captain o 'Brien ordered the
! prisoner brought to his office, where
| Lieutenant Cudmore recognized her as
Il woman who four days ago came to
, tho. station and complained, somewhat
/ vaguely, that her mother thought more
Of her money than she did Of her daugh-
ter, She told the lieutenant that her
mother had several thousand dollars left
! by her husband and that she refused
to share it with her daughter
Wanted Mothers Money.
~ went to Detective Stolpman IS of.
+, flee for advice. said Miss Otis. "I
wanted to look into my mother S finan,
cial affairs and 1 told him that my
mother thought more of her money than
she did of me. l thought I would be
+, happier if had control of the money.
Stolpmau promised me that my mother
should mysteriously disappear.
"Whcn | asked what he meant, he
said he would get my mother out of
the way and keep her away if ! was
willing to pay the price. He suggested
various methods. aud finally l agreed.
/ don { know whv we uuarreled my
tainly would not want her killed. al.
though she has not treated me right, -
Believes Daughter Innocent,
| Mrs. Otis. the mother, did not arrive
until midnight. She went at once 10
| \ pathetic scene followed. Both mot her
and daughter wept when the latter was
| taken from a cell and given the liberty
| of an officers room.
Mother, do you think I could do
such thing3" exclaimed Miss Otis,
throwing, her arms around her. parent,
"It is all n horrible mistake
Further talk was interrupted by the
young woman S hysterical sobbing, AZ
! ter the interview the mother said:
81 do not believe for an instant that
my own daughter plotted against my
! life. | will do everything in my power
/ and spend every cent 1 posses to save
her from prosecution on this charge"
! Mrs Otis was taken to the home
/ of friends in this city for the night,
with tho promise that she could sec her
/ daughter again in the morning.
The police declared tonight that their
possession. of Miss Otis places them IN
| a quandary Captain o 'Brien said tho
police would be glad to allow her to
J leave Chicago, if she wished to go.