The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1911-12-14
CUT WIDE SWATH
IN TOUCHING UP
SIOUX CITY men
Mitchell Girl Wanted
by Police for Get
ting Money
MISS SARAH SPEARS
Is Reported 10 Have Made In
roads on the Wealth OF
Sioux City Men
MISS SARAH SPEARS

Tho Sioux City journal of Tuesday
contained a sensational story of tn,
successful efforts OF Miss Saral
spears, OF this city, to cut n wild,
sWath in the Missouri river town, anE
alleging that She has touched IN /;
Tumbor of business men there ATTIC
she had got them into compromising
positions. The last escapada was the
securing of $a00 ?rom the panitor o
the Elks building, which she intended
TO use to pay OF q mortgage on ::
claim in the vici1i,y OF Murdo. The
sonng lady is Known to have had 4
claim out there. Miss Spears lef,
nero several months ago. 3Thesofnl
lowing is the Journal story NJ
Concluding q career of three
months in Sioux City, in which time
she is alleged TO have blackmailed
nearly q dozen prominent married
men after r awing them into com
promising situations, Miss Sarah
apears. OF Mitchell, s. d.. last week
occurred n sum. amounting to nearly
$500 from Bert Smith, janitor at the
Ha@keye club. o N q prctense OF in
ltent TO marry him in January, and
sincc Friday has cludcd all efforts OF
.he police to find her.
a warrant sworn out in the Justice
court Of O. r. Naglestad charges the
Spears woman specifically With OBJ,
tanning the sum of $432 from Smith
under false %pretenses. Smith ad-
its that he was in love with the
Spears wona and refused
10 believe she had left town Friday
until she had been given an opportu-
rity to make good her escape.
Boosted OF Conqucsts.
The Spears woman. according ,c
people who had looms at the Mrs.
Cora G, Merkel lodging place. 81.
Nebraska street: where she lodged
during the month OF November
boasted frequently OF her %conquests
Of men, and aver named specific sums
Of money which she had secured by
INSCRIPTIONS means. Before taking
rooms at the Mcrkel place the Spears
woman roomed for nearly two months
in the Massachusetts block, and was
requested TO leave those apartments,
il has been learned since the pres.
ont situation came to light.
In procuring the money from
Smith last week the woman, accord,
ing to the information which has
Deen filed against her, promised tc
mail q deed to a quarter section o,
valuable land which she claimed Il
own near Murdo S. D.. She needed
sle money, so she said, TO meet 6
small mortgage which soon was Il
TELL due"
During her stay at the Nebrask;
street house. the Spears oma was
employed at a d.essmaking establish
mcnt. Her hours we're from IL
o'clock in the morning until any time
tt night. say rormers at the Merkc
place.
Kept Telephone Busy.
"Phone calls from men came ever,
lew minutes duli ing the day, i
seemed" disgusteoly asserted n Of
the roomers today.
Tho flight Of the m iron
City first was suspected early Fri
day morning. She told Mrs. Merke
indiiIercntly to tell Smith ! wen
TO Greenvil!e to take care OF n sicl
sriend," but this the landlady refus
I'd to do. The woman is said to hav,
remarked that she didn't care wha
they tod him. then
Smith was notified OF the state o
affairs and went to the Merkel house
There he protested emphatleally tina
he would believe only Sarah. and 70
4 considerable time refused TO sane
lion a search by police. Finally. h
was persuaded to believe ne Nigh
have been dupcd. and n police repre-
sentative made 4 search at the dress
making place. She was not founC
; The officer reported that h
; searched the whole place except on
), room. in which q sick woman lay.
said Mrs. Mcrkel, yesterday.
Smith Watches Departure.
Later in the day, Smith. in con
rany with Officer Harvey, came upo
woman whom Harvey suspected {
{ heing their quarry at the Milwauke
. station Smith, however, after oil
0 serving her carefully, decided tn:
q they were wrong SO she was above
i, 10 leave town unmOlestcd. Once
t Harvey, who has seen the woman
+ sister, still thinks that the woma
a Who escaped at this time may hay
4 been tho Spears woman.
e A sister and brother OF the woma
: i've in Sioux City. Her parents al
I citizens Of Mitchell, S. d. Jane
o Spears, her father, is in the ice bus
G ness.
During the latter part OF her sta
in Sioux City the Spears m W;
Il friend of Mamie Washburn, tt
waitress who committed suicide Su!
II day night at the Jensen cafe, {
1t Fourth street, say Il number OF a
: cuaintances.
is Claimed Prominent Victims.
n In connection With the allegt
:,lackmailing schemes OF the Spea
woman in Sioux City a number
names OF prominent men were !
IT heated as having been mentioned
e the woman as victims whom s.
o could "bleed" fcr money.
q Once she is declared to have, ope
r. " admitted that she had just got s
from Bert Smith to pay room rent
S. and to have added some words
ID self accusation for her duplicity.
" The woman is a plump brunet'
i. 1oasting pretty eyes, dark hair al