The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1908-11-17
Under SPELL
OF SORCERESS
MIND, WEAKENED BY FEVER, Is
EASY PREY TO A HYPNoTIsT.
Madame Leroy Said to be Notorious
Woman-Is Known as o Murderess-
Friends of Mrs. Read Fighting to
Save Her Good Name.

Denver, Nov. 17.--Another develop
ment in the case Of the attempt to ex-
tort 100000 from Mrs. Genevieve
shandler Phipps today plunged the in
cident into deeper mystery.
The police declared yesterday that
they believed Mrs. Read to have com
mitted the deed under the spell of the
so-caled Nine. Leroy, to whom Mrs.
Read continually alluded in her rambl-
ing talk. They were seeking to ident-
ify Nine. Leroy as Madeline Leroy
Langley, alias Madeline Thompson,
alias Mamie Starr, notorious murderess
and adventures, who, eight years ago,
was arrested and sent to the Canon
City penitentiary. Madeline Leroy ls
considered the shrewdest female crimi-
nal who ever lived in Denver.
In 1891, when employed as a servant
in the family of man named New
lands in Chicago, she poisoned New
lands, the latters wife and two chill
dren, with poison which she mixed with
cornmeal mush. For this crime she
was sentenced to a life term in Joliet,
ILL.,. penitentiary, but she was pardoned
after having served seven years.
Arrested in Denver.
After securing her liberty the woman
came to Denver, and in 1899 married A.
G. Thompson, a deputy sheriff. Jan. 90,
1900 she was arrested by Chief Arm
strong Of Denver on the charge OF hav-
ing robbed a nam named Wolff. She
then declared that her name was Made
line Leroy Langley Thompson, and she
told wonderful tale of having been
raised in a convent and being an heir
ess. She was identified by S. w. Ray,
billposter, as his divorced wife,
Mamie Starr Ray, the Chicago murder
ess. She was sent to the Canon City
penitentiary for one year. When last
heard from she was in Los Angeles.
Physicians and a Christian Science
practitioner, who were called in today
in the case, asserted their belief that
Mrs. Read was acting under hypotic
suggestion.
May Not Prosecute.
Mrs. Phipps said today that she was
willing that Mrs. Read should go to an
asylum If proved insane, but that IL
proved she was merely shamming, she
must go to the penitentiary.
Attorney Hughes, acting for Law
renee Phipps, Is inclined to be most
severe with Mrs. Read. and refused tc
accept any compromise offered by her
husband. Phipps insists she shall be
punished.
State Treasurer Albert E. Bent yes
terday gave publicity to story of the
visit he received from a woman in his
office in the capitol The visitor
claimed she represented an eastern
magazine, and was collecting material
for an article to be entitled "A Morn
| ing In Colorado's Capital"
The fact that anv magazine should
be interested in such an ordinary sub
ject struck Mr.. Bent as strange. and
he was diffident about granting the
woman an extended audience. After
questioning him a little further the
woman suddenly excused herself say.
ing she would return later, and LEFT
| the room. An hour or so later the
Phipps affair occurred.
! Was Under Spell.
From the description of Mrs. Read
printed In the newspapers, as well a:
her photograph, Treasurer Bent Is con-
vinced that the woman who paid him
| the strange visit was no other thar
Mrs. Read.
In confirmation of the theory that
Mrs. Read was under the influence o.
another woman, a local palrnist ant
clairvoyant appeared at the police sta.
tion and Identified Mrs. Read as one o
two women who visited him on Tues.
/ day of last week.
/ One gave the name Of Madame Lee
roy. and seemed to be absolutely ii
i control over the other. The other. h,
j saws was Mrs. Read. The woman
claiming to be Madame Leroy question
ed him concerning the cost of licenses
advertising, etc. In connection with tn
j practice OF his profession. saying tina
she contemplated engaging In thi
4 ni1rssIft in this city