The Washington herald., 1914-01-17
SAYS BLACKAAIL
CAUSED DEATH
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

Swift, threatening to expose alleged
champagne parties and other alleged
improper conduct on Mrs. Swift's part.
This coIored nurse. SO Mrs. Swift told
me shortly before her death, had robbed
Baby jacques bank and had been dis
charged. As a revenge she tried to
-blackmail' the child's mother on the
ground that Mrs. Swift owed her some
money. There is not a scintilla OF truth
In the colored woman's charges
'' If you do not send me some money
Mrs. Swift told me, some OF the negro
nurses letters read, I'm going to tell
your divorced husband on you and
will see to 1t that he gets the kid
Asked for AMdavits.
Mr. wendal added that the colored
nurse later had carried out her threat
and had been cited by the Swifts to At
ianta to make certain afiidavits against
Mrs. Swift, so as to establish ground
upon which to have Baby Jacque
turned over to Tom" Swift. Broken
In health and heart. as she was, and
In financial need. Mr.. Wendai asserted.
Mrs. Swift had little power of resist
ance and backbone" left to fight the
alleged '.blackmaiie.' In the proper way,
and have her punished.
The endless chain of threats. however.
Mr. wendal claims, were Immediately re-
sponsible for wrecking Mrs. swifts
health.
The will of Mrs. Swift. one of the most
remarkable ever filed In local coufts' ioi-
lows verbatim:
"I Jacque Bradley Swift. of 1874 Mary
land avenue northeast, Washington, ID.
c., being Of i'll health but sound mind,
do make and publish this my last and
only will and bequeath all the property,
real and personal or mixed, Of which L
shall die seized and possessed or to which
] shall be entitled to at the time OF my
decease, to my child, Lena Swift and 1
bequeath to my sister, Jennie Bell Wen
daI, my child. said Lena Swift, and ap-
point said Jennie Bell Wendal as sole
guardian of Lena Swift until she reach
the age OF twenty-one.
tSeaD
"JACQUE BRADLEY SWIFT"
Funeral services for Mrs. Swift were
held yesterday morning at the Wendal
residence and were conducted by Rev.
c. s. Abbott, rector of the Episcopal
Church of the Good Shepherd.
Child Now with Aunt.
Meanwhile Baby Jacque," whose real
name is Lena, is the center of interest.
The little girl, who is unusually beaut-
full, is with her aunt, Mrs. Wendal, at
the latter's home, and is in the care OF
a nurse who has orders not to allow
anyone 10 see the child.
A mysterious telephone call was re-
ceived at the Wendal home late Thurs |
day night, according to Mr.. Wendal who \
says that the caller claimed to be Tom"
Swift, and that he was talking from At
lanta, Ga.
Efforts to trace the call were futile. but
il was shown that no long-distance call
from Atlanta to the Wendal home had
been registered Thursday night. Mr.. Wen
isl said last night that the caller, after
SAYING he was Tom Swift, said he
was &c, start for Washington that night
and would be here in time for Mrs
Swift's funeral
How is my little girl? Where is Baby
Jacque? Is she in good care? am
coming to take her back with meT" were
some OF the quickly and excitedly spoken
sentences of the caller, according to Mr..
Wendal.
kilograms and letters of sympathy, as
we'll as floral pieces have been received
It the Wendal home from all parts Of the