The Topeka state journal., 1908-11-13
MATRICIOE PLOT
Is Charged Against Miss Mae
Otis Of Chicago.
Alleged to Have Contracted to
Pay $500.
BARGAIN WITH THUGS
To Put Her Mother Out of the
Way Is Accusation.
A Receipt for $1OO on Account
Offered in Evidence.

chicago, NOV. -Further action IN
the case of Miss Mae Otis, arrested
here last night, charged with plotting
to bring about the murder of her
mother, will depend upon the result of
| an examination to determine the priS-
oner's natural condition. This state
ment was made today by Chief of De-
| tectives O'Brien, after he had seen
Miss Otis who was pale and hysterical
| calling constantly for her mother.
Mrs Sarah Otis, Miss Otis's mother,
was interviewed by telephone at Maus-
ton, Wis, today. With reference to the
| statement made by detectives who
| made the arrest that Mrs. Otis was 10
be murdered by hired thugs upon her
return to Chicago Saturday night Mrs.
/ Otis declared that she had not intend
/ ed to come to chicago on that day and
| had made no plans and in fact had not
been urged by her daughter to come.
Macs last letter. said Mrs. Otis,
was quite as usual, and made no ref
erence to my coming home. She was
| a cheerful normal girl and am sure
! that she is the victim of some pre-
posterous mistake. 1 gave her some
money at times, but she seldom seemed
to need it. She was sick a great deal
last summer and wanted her to stop
work, but she did not care to follow
my advice. 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 daughters arrest
and she expressed her intention of
| coming at once to Chicago to the girls
aid.
Miss Otis is alleged to have approach
ed Robert c. Stolpnlan, private de-
tective, with proposition to do away
with her mother for consideration OF
500 to bind the bargain and 81. 400 when
the deed had been accomplished. Stolp-
man informed the city police and De-
tective Mackay was. detailed to assume
the role of a thug willing and com
petent to do a job which would have
ment had been completed with the
thugs last night and Miss Otis is
said to have paid over 800 to bind the
bargain. The following receipr was
taken from her after her arrest:
Received of Mae l.. Otis, GAO East
Forty-sixth place, 500; balance due
81, 400.
(signed) ROBERT c. sToLPMAN."
1t is also alleged that Miss Otis gave
Stolpman promissory note for the ST.
400 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 prisoners first visitor today was
Miss Anna Stuvinga, a cashier of a
restaurant near the Rock Island sta
ton. She declared that she had pur-
suaded her employer to loan to 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
a woman who four days ago, came to
the station and complained somewhat
vaguely that her mother thought more
of her money than she did of her
daughter. She told the lieutenant that
her mother had several thousand dol
lars left by her husband and that she
refused to share it with her daughter.
II went to Detective Stolpman's office
for advice" said Miss Otis. Il wanted
to look into my mothers financial af-
fairs and 1 told him that my mother
thought more of her money than she
did of me. 1 thought 1 would be hap
pier if 1 had control of the money
Stolpman promised me that my moth
er should 'mysteriously disappear
When 1 asked what he meant, he said
he would get my mother out of the way
and keep her away if I was willing to
pay the price. He suggested various
methods and finally 1 agreed. I don't
know why. We quarreled, my mother
and I, but I loved her and certainly
would not want her killed, although
she has not treated me right
During the interview Captain O'Brien
sent for the city physician to observe
the prisoners manner in view of stories
as to her sanity.