Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-03-12
Sister of Prosecutor
Mott Held, Charged
with Threatening to
Kill Banker.
HER DAUGHTER
ALSO DETAINED
Mrs. Gage Is Said to Have
Believed That Inventor
Bells Nephew Kept Her
and Child Out of Society.

Prosecutor Wilbur A. Mott Is In
Washington today to aid his sister.
Mrs. Harley Calvin Gage, who is
charged with threatening to kill
Charles ]. Bell, president Of the Amer
ican Security and Trust Company and
nephew of Alexander Graham Bell, In
ventor of the telephone.
Habeas corpus proceedings to obtain
her release from the Government Hos
pital for the Insane will be instituted
in the District Supreme Court this aft
ernoon.
Mrs. Gage, who with her beautiful
22-year-old daughter Margaret is
resident of Dupont circle, the most ex-
elusive section of Washington, was re-
manded yesterday, following her ar
rest.
Attorney William e. Ambrose ex-
pected to present the petition to the
District Supreme Court at 10 o'clock.
but the condition of Miss Gage pre-
vented her from being on hand at that
hour. 1t was stated that she was on
the verge of a nervous collapse
Prosecutor Mott arrived this morn
ing to confer with officials of the police
department. Accompanied by Police
man Kelly, of headquarters, Mr.. Mott
went to Mrs. Cages home to have
talk with her daughter, Miss Margaret
Calvin Gage. Mr. Mott said he expect
ed to visit his sister at the asylum and
then talk with Major Sylvester. super
intendent of police, as to what steps
would be taken.
No statement could be obtained as to
whether steps would be taken to have
Mrs. Gage released by habeas corpus
proceedings
Under the law it will be necessary to
give Mrs. Gage trial in open court
within the next thirty days in order
that the jury can pass on her sanity.
Mrs. Gage is alleged to have told
I number of her friends that she would
kill Bell land hang for it," because he
had been instrumental In keeping her
daughter Margaret and herself out of
society.
The Cages and Bells are neighbors.
but Mr.. Bell said he had never been
introduced to Mrs Gage and that he
would have laughed at the alleged
threats if his wife had not begged him
to make charge.
Miss Margaret Gage in long state
ment asserted that her mother is the
victim of a social black hand" used
ionable dwellings at large price and
then buy them back at an absurdly
4, deprecated value.
Immediately after Mrs. Gage was ar
, rested yesterday Miss Gage sent q
telegram to her uncle, Prosecutor Mott.
It read:
"Come at once or send assistance. I
am In the House of Detention at WASH
ington."
The Cages went to Washington from
New Jersey about seven years ago.
Miss Margaret attended the most exclu-
sive seminary in the city. Mrs. Gage.
who is 81 years old, established herself
In the winter colony of millionaires.
Shortly after she made her home
here she had a family tree compiled in
which her family and that of her hus-
band were traced back to Charlemagne
and to several Spanish kings This
was printed in little booklets, which
were mailed to the members of the
smart set, with her calling cards. This
was just before her daughter was
scheduled to make her debut
Mother and daughter were always
seen at the White House receptions
and at other semi-public affairs. but
the doors of the. exclusive. 1t is said.
did not swing open to them.
Margaret Gage has been seen con-
siderably in one of the sets which
comprise the diplomatic circle.
In defense of her mother Miss Gage
made the following statement at Wash
ington last night:
"My mother is the victim of a So
cial black hand, Malta that is vi
cious and deadly one. The cowardly
arrest of her today at the instigation
of Charles J. Bell. who is the head of
the organization of society real es-
Continued ON Second PaEe.)