The sun., 1913-12-07
ACCUSED OF PLOT TO
GET CHILDS'S ESTATE
Lawyer Clarke COnspired for
81, 100000 Fortune, Whit
man Is Told.
TO BEGIN INVESTIGATION
"PersecutiOn." Declares Clarke
When Told District At
tOrney Is to Act.
TO BEGIN INVESTIGATION

Charges that Frederick II. Clarke OF
Others unnamed" attempted through
fraud and conspiracy to get possession OF
the 81 .500.O 900 estate OF Irving W Childs
have been submitted to the District At
torney and an investigation will be begun
to- morrow.
The complainant against Mr.. Clarke is
William W. Niles of the law firm Of Niles
johnson OF II Wall street He said at
his home. - Washington Square, last
night that II was true that accusations
against MIR. Clarke would be pressed and
that he was acting for himself in making
the complaint
Mr.. Clarke said by telephone 10 a re-
porter for THE Sun that the charges were
baseless and Were due to the persistent
persecution Of himself by Mr.. Miles.
That man has been prosecuting me
for years. said Mr. Clarke.
In the lifetim. OF Irving ". Childs
h" went TO the District Attorney with
false charges. but these fell to the ground
when Mr.. Childs made Al statement to
the District Attorney that his relations
with me had always been satisfactory
and always to his advantage. I have
the highest standing as lawyer and as
a member OF the Bar Association and
III make it hot for anybody who tries
to make it appear that l was II trickster"
Assistant Attorney Leslie j. Lockhart
will begin the investigation by examining
letters now in the possession OF Mrs,
Gertrude Westfall Childs. Irving W.
childs's widow. II Is charged that some
of these letters prove conspiracy to
frighten Childs and 10 throw him under
the influence OF those who wanted TO
mould his will and get his estate.
Crossed DaRRrrs In Letter.
The most interesting OF these threaten
ing letters is "A so-called Black Hand let
ter which Clarke was accused OF writing,
When young Childs was In poor health
at Wolfboro. y. H.. he received "A scrawl
which was signed with two crossed dag
gers. Although the wording and spelling
might indicate that It was written by u
very iliterate person. the handwriting !
and the exaggerated misspelling and err
rors of grammar indicated the contrary.
The letter read
DEER SIR: am writinge You to told |
yop | must hav 600V dolas preety due+'ck
now and II YOU no Civ m.e will fix you
good member dssparet gang wee all over
coun,rey and urope Wee need money preety
uueeck now you varey reech man you
cannot ..scape uss ncvar money or life
Wee beeg gang Wee no fool wee meen bliss
mis- wee want you have 5000 dolas radey
all time Wee write you no more time and
say queeck ware TO put money maibee
wee Civ won or too hors time so bee all
time radey and wee maibee rite igen in
cuppel days wieck or munt maibee tonite
wee vary smart no won kan katch IN you
tell perlesse wee kill"
A photograph of this letter is in the
hands of the District Attorney. A hand
writing expert will be asked to examine II
Son of Rich Manufacturer.
Irving " Childs was one OF the sons
u fWilliam Henry Harrison Childs Of Brook
Iyn. who made fortune in manufacturing,
w n Childs died when Irving Childs
was II years old. leaving Irving's share
Of the estate In the hands Of another
son. Eversley Childs. the president of the
Oul NouipuHy' WIN
lives at $50 Clinton street. Brooklyn
Irving W. Chllds in March. 1906. married
Gertrude u. Westfall. the daughter OF
A. s. Westfall, president OF the Westfall
Fruit Company OF 30 Warren street. She
y living now with her parents at ls5
stratford road, brooklyn.
When the young man became OF age he
brought an action against HIS brother to
secure his part OF the estate. More than
1900, 900 was turned over to him. He
played a leading part In the extravagances
md gayeties OF broadway and was known
~ one OF the towns big spenders.
When 25 years old he received the rest
II the estate. enough to bring his share
ip to sl.6OO,O0O. His wife left him In
9O7 and In 1909 ne was ordered to pay
,er $500 IA year alimony. He set aside
C0xttx1sd on Eighth Page.