Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-08-29
Tells Pl1IFUL
STORY OF Crime
Former Watertown Girl, Victim
Of Circumstances, Now in
California Prison.

WATERFOWL, Aug. 2S.-Driven to
crime through love, Mrs. Kota Pierce
Helm, formerly Miss Kota Pierce Of
Watertown, well known throughout
this city by a host of friends, is now
in an Oregon Jail charged with being
an accomplish of a forger.-
Following her arrest after a sensa-
tional flight on a bicycle through "a
Gordon of police, the girl now known
in police 4 circles as "June, the
Blonde." made a confession which
holds a strong appeal to the mothers
Of the land.
The terrible story began four years
ago on the girls marriage to a Ger
man in the submarine fleet Of the
United States navy. Her married life
was an unhappy one, she being finely
educated and he was not, the hus-
band becoming morose and keeping
her in ignorance OF his business az
fairs. She finally left him and went
to Oregon, where she was to take up
a homestead.
Later she met Hammond, the al
legged forger, then known as Hender-
son. She became infatuated with
this mai and the twisted skein Of her
unhappy life became further snarled.
Forced Into Crime.
The story told by Kota. to repre-.
sentatives of the Los Angeles Exam
liner following her arrest strikes the
heart strings and makes strong ap'
peal to everyone. It is as follows,
ION the night of Good Friday l met
Doc as MI. Hammond was always
called, at a. card party at the hotel.
felt the strength Of his, will, the
magnetism Of his personality, and |
knew i loved him-the first time
had really loved any man. He was
using the name Of Henderson. ]
found him cultured, studious and gra-
cious. l believed him when he said
he was a timber surveyor.
"We went to Portland together and
early in June met the Carpenters. AT
that time we posed as Mr.. and Mrs
McNaughton. We never stayed long
in any place. 80 4,
ION the night Of July 16 Doc
while under the influence of liquor,
,told me what his real work was-he
laughed when he told me. l begged
him on my knees to give It up. I told
him u Was going back to mother and
that when he could come to me with
clean hands l would take him back.
4 "The next day he came to me and
rtasked me If was really going tt
leave him. l told him l was. Then
he said: If you try that IN kill you
You know too much. I'll make you
what / am
Then he gave me nine forged
achecks and told me to 60 out and
leash them. He told me how to do
it, and as he looked into my eyes my
determination failed and l assented.
Becomes Accompiice.
II passed five checks, the largest
for about $50, and ! took back over
5000 to Hammond. This pleased him;
it perturbed me. He said; Now I've
got the goods on you, and l guess you
won't run away
1--WE left that night for Shasta
ISprings, then went to San Francisco
Then Mrs. Carpenter and l came
south. They followed. I had gone
to San Diego. On Friday in response
to a telegram l came here and met
Doc under the name of c. L. Clark
Saturday morning Doc came into
my room with a paper in his hand
He seemed angry, not frightened, Al
he whispered tensely, Carp (mean
ing Ernest H. Carpenter who was ar
rested Friday night is caught. I'm
going to beat it, He handed me $50
and told me to pack up.
"At moo we went down stairs >to
get food. I went ahead and entered
the>manicure parlor on the same floor
heard Docs voice outside and then
another mans; l suppose it was Muir.