New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-04-09
WOMAN ALARMS A BANK .
Aston Trust Company Asks Police
to Remove Letter Writer.
TAFT AND DIX ON HER LIST
Complained of Persecution, Said
She Could Handle 100000,
Preached Christian Science.

\ woman Of apparent education and re-
fnement who gave her name as Miss Alma
Nj. Howard and said she lived with Mrs.
Gehl at No. $50 Claremont avenue, The
PronX, was taken from the Astor Trust
Company, Fifth avenue and Ssth street,
Yesterday afternoon to Bellevue Hospital
by way Of The West 30th street police sta
ton. Her malady was given ~ the police
as mental rather than physical, and I'm
this they We're backed mp by the opinions
OF DR.. Carlos /. Macdonald the alenist,
and Or Gregory, the mental specialist at
Bellevue
Christian Science was the topic on which
the woman dwelt most I'm her efforts to
convince the experts Of her sanity. and
when she found that she was about 10 see
the inside of a police station she called
Martin Jackson, of No. go West 1e5th street,
chairman of the board Of trustees ot the
Second Church Of Christ, Scientist. 6Sth
street and Central Park West, 10 her as
sistance He assisted her 10 the station
house.
Outside OF her knowledge Of Christian
Science It appeared that Miss Howard 8
forte was writing letters. They were eN-
cellent letters. the police said 50 far as
the diction was concerned. but they could
i'll Withstand scrutiny when IL came to CO.
herence and unity. in short. they ramhlcd
President Taft and Governor Dix were
among the prominent recipients Of Miss
Howard's letters according 10 her own ad-
missions
Act II Y
woman once placed deposit OF $500. had
been receiving such missives from her for
the better part Of three years, officers Of
the company said last night. Wien sh"
anoeaYed I'm tho Office yesterday afternoon
they Immediately communicated the fact TO
Police Headquarters. Il am perfectly capa-
BILE OF handling 100000 myself she an
nounced I'm tho trust company. blt she
didn't get tho chance. for she was tn"n
nersuaded BY Detective OHara and Mr..
Jackson. whom she summoned hy tel'
nbore 10 20 10 the station house. There
sho announced that she was the victim o'
persecution. Closeted in tho detective hN-
reau in the station. Acting Captain Ooou"N
caioled her into reading a letter when Fn'
had written - Governor Dix on March e"
lis heading showed that she was living az
No N West 4Gth street a. that time. mo
letter would have done credit 10 Opheha.
There was yibratory machine connected
with her brain, the letter resumed, which,
when n was turned on, made her scream
and sent the blood coursinG through hor
body. Not only that, but the amethyst
stone had powers Ike those 81 tho blue
diamond. which was lost. And II IN" Asi'r
Trust Company said thc letter .n 'IoslA-'
did not stop its delay In connection with
her real estate. there would follow bloody
and disastrous war, which would involve
Italy, Germany and the United states.
Miss Howard VS. finally persuaded 20 20
10 Bellevue to convince Or. Gregory that
she was sane, in which attempt she failed.
4 letter OF seventeen closely written pages
which she sent recently TO Thomas Coch-
ran, vice-president OF the Astor Trust was
put IN the hands Of DR. Macdonald