The Washington herald., 1910-12-15

Lured to a handsomely appointed
apartment in the fashionable Cairo
by pretty seventeen-year-old girl,
attacked by her husband, tied to a
chair, and ordered to deliver $1,000,
under penalty of instant death,
Harry Rosenthal, a member of the
firm Of Rosenthal & Levy, dealers
in sporting goods, escaped from the
trap and gave the police informa-
ton which resulted yesterday after
noon in the capture of the most dar-
ing band Of blackmailers who have
operated in Washington in years.
The ingenious manner in which
the plotters obtained photographs Of
Rosenthal and the girl while to-
gether in the apartments is a new
angle to what IS known as the
badger game" and is said to be
the first time it has ever been en-
ployed.
Detective Sergeants. Frederick NJ.
Cornwell and Frank Baur. of the
Central Office, arrested the hus-
band, James B. Knott, twenty years
old, when he appeared at Rosen-
thaPs store, at 603-605 D street
northwest, shortly after noon to re-
ceive the money the merchant had
promised to pay.
ARREST GIRL IN TAKOMA.
The detectives then went TO the Cairo.
where they arrested Alton A. Armstrong.
twenty years old. alleged tnstigator OF the
plot, and Benjamin II. Knott, thirty-two
years old. brother of James Knott.
The girl was apprehended IN the rail-
road station at Takoma, D. C., where the
police say she had planned TO meet her
husband and hee from Washington.
James Knott. his wife. and Armstrong
are charged with blael1mail and each is
being held in 5000 bonds. BENJAMIN
Knott was arrested as a United States
witness and is held in $1,000 bonds. Ac-
cording to the police. the trio charged
with blackmaf confessed and by their
statements have exonerated Benjamin
Knott, who declares he had no knowledge
Of the scheme to rob Rosenthal
Prisoners Have Records.
Little has been learned by the police
Of the past OF the prisoners. but James
Knott, in his confession. charged Arm
strong with having obtained $500 by a
blaekmailing scheme in South Dakota,
and smaller sums in Richmond, Pitts
burg and Baltimore. Armstrong is also
accused OF planning the scheme to black
mail RosenthaI, and with inducing James
Knott and his wife TO join in the plot
by telling of "easy money he had
fiched from victims In other cities.
Although a bride OF less than a month.
Mrs. James Knott apparently entered
willingly into the scheme broached by
Armstrong and her husband and which
was impossible to execute without her
aid Mrs. Knott, by virtue Of her youth
and beauty. was a valuable instrument
for blaekmail plot OF the nature
planned. and according to the police, she
played her role with infinite success.
James Knott and Armstrong met in
this city about year ago at we'll
known electrical school. where they were
studying.
Married Last Month.
Mrs James Knott. who was Miss Flos-
sic Bennett. OF Flint Mich. came here
from Detroit about six months ago and
met James Knott and Armstrong. Knott
became infatuated with the girl and
wooed and won her. The couple went
TO Rockville and were married on No
venber g. Two days before they rented
an apartment OF four rooms at the
Cairo. for which they paid rent Of $is5
a month. They presented every appear
ance of respectability.
Armstrong lived in the apartment with
james Knott and his wife, and a Pc
culiar feature OF the case. the police say,
is that neither of the men has had en-
.sThe Regeneration Of Aunt Mary"