The Washington herald., 1910-12-15


thai he first saw Mrs. Knott several
weeks ago when she entered his store
and made a purchase. The girl was
friendly 10 the merchant and began vis-
iting the store at intervals and sending
Rosenthai notes.
Accepts Invitation 20 Call.
Rosenthal was finally led to believe
that the stylishly gowned girl with pretty
face and manners loved him, and. al
though he says he did not reciproeate her
affections, he allowed her 10 show him
attentions
Within the past week. Rosenthai says.
he accepted the girls invitation to call on
her in her apartments at the Cairo. She
pointed 10 the costly furniture and fit
tings told her visitor she was married.
and laughed gayly. saying there was no
danger of hubby" returning home.
RosenthaI admits he called at the apart
ments three nights. His partner in bust
ness. Joseph Levy. warned Rosenthal
against the girl. but Rosenthal laughed
at Leyys fear
Signs Check at Point of Gun.
1t was not until late Tuesday night that
Rosenthal realized the predieament in
which he had placed himself. He was in
the apartment, supposedly alone with the
girl, when a door was suddenly thrown
open and an iraJe husband appeared.
brandishing a 3S-caliber revolver and a
dagger. The husband grappled with Ros-
enthal, overcame him. and bound him in
d kxo1 4, n1tvar
then placed TO his temple and he was told
10 write and sign a check for $780, with
the threat that his brains would be blown
out n he refused to comply with the de-
mand
RosenthaI wrote the check and signed
ii. The husband looked at the paper and-
then. with an exclamation, tore 1t In
saying: ITO h-- with that: want real
money" Arrangements were then made
FOR Rosenthal to deliver s2Oo0 in cash TO
James Knott in the sporting goods store
Of Rosenthal & Levy at noon yesterday.
Rosenthal was released. and accom-
panied by Armstrong, whom he met in
corridor. left the apartments. Armstrong.
to Rosenthal's surprise. was familiar
with a number of details and advised
Rosenthal to pay the money without de-
mur to hush the thing up"
Detectives Lie In Wait.
Rosenthal told his partner of his trou-
bic and Joseph Levy told Detectives
Cornwell and Bauer. The detectives Sc
creted themselves in Rosenthal & Levy's
store. and waited for the blackmailer.
James Knott. the police say. appeared
at the store shortly after noon yester-
day. The alleged blaekmailer was weep
ing and showed eight photographs of
Rosenthal and Mrs. James Knott alone in
the latter's room. The hidden detectives
,.~@-d the conversation. and when Knott
said: 7 want 5000 cash or nothing"
they appeared and placed him under ar
rest.
The detectives took possession OF the I
photographs and placed the prisoner be-
hind bars Then they started after
Knott's eonfederates.
In the apartment at the Cairo they |
found Armstrong and Benjamin Knott, |
who declared he was innocent OF wrong |
doing, but the detectives took him in Gus
tody until they could learn whether his
statements were true. They searched the |
apartments ana discovered the ingenious
device by which the photographs Of Mrs. !
James Knott and Rosenthal were taken. !
Pictures Obtained InEeniOasIy.
Mercury lights of the style used by
photographers at night were fixed TO the
ceiling in Mrs. Knott's room in such
manner that no part OF the room was in
darkness when the lights were burning.
A hole had been cut through the door
of a closet in the room so that a per-
son inside the closet had a view of the
bedroom. From this hole in the door,
the police say, Armstrong took the photo
graphs of the girl and Rosenthal The
victim of the plot recalls that Mrs, Knott
was fond of light.
In another room was found the revolver
which the police believe was the weapon
used by James Knott In intimidating
RosenthaL The dagger was not found.
The police will not disclose other dis !
coveries made in the apartment.
From Benjamin Knott and Armstrong /
the detectives learned that Mrs. Knott /
had planned to leave the city with her
money from Rosenthal. She was waiting |
for him in the railroad station at Ia |
koma. and had her most valuable pos
sessions in a satchel which she carried. 4
The girl took her arrest calmly.
The detectives questioned the quartet /
at the First precinct station. where the
prisoners confessed.
Face Heavy Penalty.
Benjamin Knott told the police that he |
is a farmer at North. Orangeburg county
S. c. lie said he had been trying to per- /
suade his brother, James Knott. TO re- /
turn TO the family home or the farm in /
South Carolina for several weeks. II /
was for the purpose Of inducing James /
Knott to give up city life that Benja- /
min Knott came to Washington about a /
week ago, ne told the police. Benjamin /
Knott said he stopped with his brother I
and his sister-in-law at the Cairo, but
the South Csrolinian declares he had no 1
knowledge Of the plot His first sus-
pieion that something was wrong entered 1
his mind when he returned to the apart
ment after attending the theater Tues /
day night. He heard words between
James Knott and Rosenthal, and gath
cred that there was something in the
air
The management of the Cairo was
dumfounded by the arrests, and told the
police that the conduct OF the occupants
of James Knott's apartments had been
above suspicion. Knott and his wife.
brother, and friend had conducted them /
selves with the utmost propriety, the DO |