The Washington times., 1911-01-20
WOMAN DISAPPEARS,
CLIENTS CLAhOR|NG
Washington Men and Wo-
men Victims of An Al
legged Swindler.
Continued from First Page-)

Continued from First Page)
counting Mrs. Wade claimed that
Mrs. Harris had the book showing how
the money had been invested and
loaned.
Received Only a Commission.
Mrs. Harris said that she would pro-
duce the book, but the following
night, while on her way to her home
at Capitol Heights. she was attacked,
she said, by negro, and robbed of
her handbag, which contained the ac-
count book. Mrs. Harris, however,
worked simply as an agent for Mrs.
wade, receiving a commission on the
money collected, which she promptly
turned over to Mrs. Wade.
Andrew w. Lukei, the tailor, and
several members Of his family are
sad to be among the heavier in
vestors in Mrs. Wades operations.
Mr.. Lukei says he gave the woman
about $IO Two of his sisters gave her
$500 each, while his mother let her have
$I5. Several of the employees of the tail
orlng establishment also let the woman
have small summs.
Mrs. Wade's whereabouts have been a
mystery since last Monday night, when
deputy United States marshal found
her in bed in her home and served
papers in a civil suit. The next day she
disappeared. The curtains were drawn,
the blinds closed, and on the door was
card, which read:
Ill in hospital
me following morning, however, the
card was gone and in its place was
another, which read:
Gone to Baltimore"
This morning there was no card on
the door. The house had every appear
ance OF being deserted, although II Is
said the Uoman's husband was about
the place yesterday. All day long at
torneys, collectors and others who SEEM
ed interested in locating the woman.
called at the house. At the front and
back door a deputy marshal stood on
guard
Woman's Home Besieged.
Groups of persons who were interested
in getting back the money they had let
the woman have gathered in front of
the house. Men who claimed the
woman owed them anywhere from SO
to $500 asserted they would leave moth
ing undOne in an effort to find her and
learn what had become of their money.
Fred J. Brennan, an attorney, with
offices in the Baltic building, was
among those who tried to find Mrs.
Wade today. Mr.. Brennan says he
claims against her, but he declined to
give their names. The amount which
his clients are seeking to recover, he
said, is several thousand dollars.
L have the evidence said Mr.. Bren-
han, "and unless she puts In an appear
ance and pays up j intend to put the
matter UP TO the District Attorney"
Woman's Checks Not Honored.
Mr.. Lukei said that he knew of
! twenty seven persons from whom the
woman had borrowed money. The list,
however, was not available. He has
put the matter in the hands of an at
torney and did not care to make any
statement for publication. He said,
however, that he had about twelve of
Mrs. Wades checks which the bank
had failed to honor.
Mrs. .~Wade's attention was called to
these checks several days ago by Mr..
Lukei, and she explained the transac-
ton by saying she had given the money
to cover the checks to a woman to de-
posit for her. This woman, she said,
had evidently converted the money TO
her own use, and not put II in the
bank. She promised TO straighten the
checks out, claiming that it was simply
an overdraft on her account.
II. Dickey, of Dickey Brothers, flour
among those who loaned Mrs. Wade
money.
Il regarded the transaction as some
thing of a risk at the time" he said
lOUdN, out Tie gave
made II seem worth while. l am not a
heavy investor, however"
Formerly a School Teacher.
Mrs Wade, who is about thirty-five
years old, was formerly a school teach
er in Baltimore. Coming to Washing
ton with her husband about ten years
ago, she assisted him in a small shoe
store, which he formerly conducted in
Pennsylvania avenue southeast. Wade
gave up the business some time ago,
and since then has been employed by
caterer.
Last spring Mrs. Wade worked as
agent for a perfumery manufacturer. 1t
was while she was engaged in this busi-
ness, 1t is said, that she borrowed her
first 500, ostensibly to go into the loan
business. She said that she knew many
people who borrowed money from loan
companies. whose business she could
get.
She would give promissory notes in
some instances, while some of the per-
sons who let her have money are said
to have nothing to show for the trans
action. Most of the notes she gave
were indorsed. Several of them bear
the signature of an employe of the
District government, who denied today
tha notes