The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-12-15
DETROIT GIRL IS IN
JAIL FOR WORKING
BADGER CAME
Says She Eloped From Detroit With
Man Named Weiss and Later Mar
ried James B. Knott-Wont
Tell Fathers Name.
She and Her Husband Try To Black
mail Washington Man
Out of $4,000.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.-The old
badger game, worked in the most
sensational modern way, is respons-
ible for the presence in the District
jail today of three men and a pretty
girl, and great mental anguish for
Henry Rosenthal, a wealthy sporting
goods merchant. Rosenthal told the
police a story Of romance with the
young woman, Mrs. James b. Knott,
which terminated in an exciting de-
nouement at her handsome suite in
the fashionable Cairo apartment
house, with her husband holding a
pistol to the temple OF Rosenthal,
with demand Tor $4,000.
Rosenthal declared that he was
confronted with a series OF photo.
graphs OF himself and Mrs. Knott in
various compromising postures and
was told that il he did not pay the
money, he would be ruined in Wash.
ington.
The husband, weeping over the situ-
alton, declared nothing but $4,000
could assuage his grief. Whereupon
Rosenthal, who had been bound and
gagged, signed check, and was re-
leased.
Later Rosenthal told Knott he would
be unable to pay the $4,000, and OF
fered to give him $4,000 il he would
call at his store. When Knott ap-
peared to claim the money, he VAS
arrested
Mrs. Knott was found in n suburb.
evidently prepared TO leave town as
soon as her husband joined her with
the money. At the Cairo apartments,
the police found Knots brother, Ben
jamin, with Alton A Armstrong. Both
were arrested.
Rosenthal declared he did not know
the woman was married, and that he
became acquainted with her through
her buying various trinkets at his.
store.
Armstrong showed us how to get
the pictures" said the girl today. He
is an expert electrician. He fitted up
a mercury light in the middle OF the
ceiling. Then he bored a hole in the
wall, and rugged up the camera in an
adjoining room. 1t was easy enough
Tor me to persuade Rosenthal TO sit
where the camera could have full
sweep at us. To make sure. got him
TO sit in almost every part of the
room Every one OF the pictures
turned out good. My husband worked
tire camera. He is a good photog-
A.Dher."
A desire for luxury which they
could not afford led Knott and his
wife to try the badger game, accord
ing to Mrs. Knott, who says she is the
daughter of well-to-do parents living
in Detroit, Mich. She declared Arm
strong originated the scheme and per-
suaded her to try it.
my home Is in Detroit" said she.
Il went tell the name OF my father.
He is a respectable business man and
don't care to disgrace him.
About nine months ago, | ran
away from home with man named
Weiss. | thought we were TO be mar
rled. We came to Washington. His
money gave out and we were unable
to buy food so | left him. A few
weeks later met Mr.. Knott. He told
me his people were rich and that they
sent him plenty OF money. few
DAYS later we were married. We
rented furnished apartment that
cost us $135 per month A few weeks
ago MIR. Knott tod me he had no
money end that his peop.e had not |
srnt him any he wasn't sure he
could get any more.
'One egning when Armstrong was
visiting us, we were trying TO map |
cut come plan TO get money. Arm
strong said he knew way to get big |
money easy Then he told us about |
the badger game. We had 10 have !
money to pay the rent, and TO buy !
food and clothes, and so | finally con.
sented.
s.Mr. Rosenthai happened To be the |
victim. because he was the first !
merchant who fiirted with me after
we had decided 10 work the game
We looked him up and found that he
had some money. Then | tclephoned
him and made an engagement"