Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-22

Miss Frances A. Caspari, alleged to
have swindled many women out of thou
sands of dollars in cash by representing
| herself to be a prosperous book agent and
inducing her victims to invest in a book
scheme. was arraigned before Judge Kim
ball of the Police Court this morning for
preliminary hearing on the charge OF
grand larceny.
Through counsel she waived her right
to a preliminary examination. Upon the
suggestion of Assistant United States At
torney Ralph Given that bail be fixed at
5000 she was held in that sum for the
action of the grand jury.
DR.. Caspari called at police headquar-
ters this afternoon and discussed his sis
ters case with Inspector Boardman. He
said he saw that nothing could be ac-
complished by giving security for his sis
ter. 1t was his intention TO allow her to
remain In custody. Before returning to
Baltimore he arranged to send his sister
what wearing apparel and other things
she would need while in prison.
Court Proceedings Brief.
The proceedings in the Police Court
were short, the arraignment and COM
mitting of the defendant not consuming
over five minutes. When the case was
called by Clerk Sebring the defendant ap-
peared before the bar and entered for
NAL plea of not guilty. Immediately
afterward the right to the preliminary eX-
animation was waived, the bail determin-
ed and the defendant committed.
During the entire proceeding Miss CAS-
pari appeared to be the coolest person In
the courtroom. She was simply dressed,
but her raiment was of good quality.
After entering her plea she apparently
took little interest in what was going on.
The specific charge on which the de,
fendant was committed was the alleged
theft of $500 May from Mrs. Elizabeth
w Gemmill of 400 Corcoran street.
There was nothing in the simple expEclt
phraseology Of the papers In the case
to indicate its Importance.
In anticipation that Miss Caspari would
ask for a preliminary examination and
that testimony relative to the charges
filed against her today would be taken
Detectives Baur and Cornwell OF the cen-
tral Office who made the arrest, were
present in the courtroom with all the
necessary witnesses. ready 10 testlfy 10
the alleged transactions of Miss Casparl.
and the complaining witness and the con-
sequent developments eventually leading
I'D to the arrest of the defendant.
With Miss Caspari in court TO-DAY was
her brother DR.. Charles Caspari. wen
known and prosperous druggist or baiti-
more, who came to this city oay OF
so ago in response to the de1enoahl
messages for help.
At the conclusion of the court S session
the defendant was removed to the tnled
states jail by Deputy Marshal Lacy and
his assistants.
What Has Become Of Money!
Mai Sylvester, Inspector Boardman and
Detectives Baur and Cornwell are dis
playing more than ordinary interest In
the case of Miss Caspari
The puzzling feature of her case is
what disposition she has made of the
thousands of dollars she has obtained by
means of her book club scheme. Ii Is
evident she has not spent the money on
herself. There is nothing to show she
invested in real estate. Nor have the po-
lice found anything to indicate that she
ever had bank account.
The woman admits having obtalned
more than 100000 from Baltimore people
seven years ago. She was unable to
spend any Of it during the five years she
was in prison. What she obtained from
people in Rochester. N. Y, where she
lived before she came to this city, the
Her correspondence indicates that she
obtained money by methods similar TO
those employed here from persons living
in other places. She is known to have
obtained about $500 from residents OF
this city during her short stay here, at
the same time corresponding and doing
business with persons living in other sec
tiOns.
Gould she have had an accomplice?
was the question that was asked this
morning
The police say they found nothing to
suggest that any other person had CO.
operated with her here or elsewhere. 1t
was suggested that she may have buried
the money and that some day the hidden
treasure will be found. 1t is known that
she had been in the habit Of taking car
rides from time to time and it Is regarded
as possible that upon such occasions she
went to the country for a safe place tQ
hide the money.
"I do not see how the woman could
have spent more than 5000 year, at the
very most" remarked a police official this
morning. Unless she had an accomplics