Evening journal., 1910-12-15
rATIruT AT THE
UHUUuI HI IHL
BADGER GAME
How A Washington Merchant
Was Trapped, But Turned
the Tables
HAD MAN ARRESTED WHEN
HE CAME FOX THE MONEY

BY United Press Leased Special Wire
WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.-The same
old badger game, worked in the most
sensational mooern way is respon-
sible for the presence in the district
Jail to-day of three men and pretty
girl, and great mental anguish for
Henry Rosenthal, a wealthy sporting
goods merchant.
Rosenthal told the police a story Of a
romance with the young woman, Mrs
James b. Knott, which terminated in
an exciting announcement at her hand
some apartment In the fashionable
Cairo apartment house with her hus-
band holding a pistol to the temple OF
Rosenthal, with a demand for $4,000
Rosenthal declared that he was con-
fronted with a series of photographs
of himself and Mrs. Knott in various
compromising positions and was told
that If he did not pay the money, he
would be ruined in Washington.
The husband, weeping over the stu
alton declared nothing but $4,000 could
assuage his grief. Whereupon Rosen-
thai, who had been bound and gagged
signed a check and was released.
Later Rosenthal told Knott he would
be unable to pay the $4,000 and offered
to give him $4,000 If he would call at
his store When Knott appeared to
claim the money he was arrested.
Mrs. Knott was found in a suburb
evidently prepared to leave town as
soon as her husband joined her with
the money. At the Cairo apartments
the police found Knott's brother, Ben
L.. q. 80
were arrested.
Did Not Know Woman Was Married
Rosenthal declares 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 gel
the pictures" said the girl to-day. "Ht
Is an expert electrician. He fitted up {
mercury light in the middle of tn,
ceiling. Then he bored a hole in tn,
wall, and rigged the camera up in al
adjoining room. 1t was easy enough
for me to persuade Rosenthal to ST
where the camera could have full
sweep at us. To make sure, got hin
to sit in almost every part of th'
room. Every one OF the pictures turned
out good. My husband worked the cam
era. He is a good photographer"
A desire for luxury which they coult
not afford, led Knott and his wife t
try the badger game, according to Mrs
Knott who says she is the daughter o
well-to-do parents living in Detroit
| Mich. She declares Armstrong origi
mated the scheme and persuaded he
to try It,
my home is in Detroit" said she
81 won't tell the name of my fathei
He Is a respectable business man, an
don't care to disgrace him.
Rosenthal the Victim.
2Apput nine months ago ran ava
from home with a man named Wes
4 thought we we're to be married "
came to Washington and lived togetf
er about three months. His none
gave out and we we're unable TO bu
! food, so left him. A few weeks late
met Mr. Knott. He told me his pee
pie were rich, and that they sent hii
= plenty OF, money. A few days later W
we're married
1--WE rented a furnished apartmer
that cost us $135 per month. A fe'
weeks ago Mr.. Knott told me he ha
no money and that his people had nj
sent him any. He wasn't sure he coul
get any more.
b Zone evening when Armstrong wa
visiting us, we were trying to map oil
+ some plan to get money. Armstron
said he knew a way to get big none
: easy Then he told us about the badge
game. We had to have money to pa
the rent, and to buy food and clothinl
, and so finally consented.
MIR. Rosenthal happened to be th
victim, because he was the first me-
chant who fiirted with me after "
had decided to work the game. W
looked him up and found that he ha
/ some money. Then I telephoned hi
and made an engagement. You kno
the rest"
Apparently Indifferent to the serior
charges which they would have
face In court, James b. Knott, his wifi
who was formerly known as FlorenC
Bernett. and Alfred H. Armstror
we're taken to-day 10 police hea,
quarters, where they were phot
graphed and measured for the "ga
lery."
Tomorrow the trio will be arraig
. ed for ATTEMPTED blackmail"
Benjamin Knott. who is held as
witness protested his innocence of al
connection with theNplot to blackma
Rosenthal. but the police say tn,
found a letter in his possession whi,
indicated that he was implicated
the conspiracy.
"Thev are the most cold-blood,
: crowd have ever seen," said Inspec