Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-01-05
MATRIMONIAL AD
TRAPS HUNDREDS
Illinois Woman of 45 Says She
Is Orphan of 20 Seeking
Kind Companion"

Bloomington, ILL.,, Jan. ST want
home. i am an orphan and would
appreciate a kind, loving, and indus
trious companion Some people say
/ am pretty. Am 20 years of age, 5
feet, inches tall, and weigh lis
pounds, brown hair and eyes, good
form. and kind, loving disposition;
American; Protestant; play the piano,
and will shortly inherit $4,000"
This matrimonial bait. published in
numerous papers throughout the Unit
ed States. proved alIuring to hundreds
of bachelors, widowers and other mas
culine eligibles seeking a wife.
A prisoner in the Vermilion county
Jail. Mrs. Emma r. Burkett, charged
by the postoffice authorities with using
the mails to defraud. is unable to
raise $1,000 bonds pending action by
the federal grand jury.
According to the evidence of the post
office inspectors, Mrs. Burkett, using
the name Miss Emma Burkett," has
been carrying on her matrimonial bu-
reau for two years.
The first intimation given to the
pcstoffice authorities that Mrs. Burkett
was carrying on a campaign OF mis-
representation came from the landlord
of the house formerly occupied by
the woman and her family. The land
lord. by mistake, opened letter in
tended for Mrs. Burkett which
stated the writer. a Canadian, had for
warded her $50 to purchase her we'd
ding dress, but she had failed to ac-
knowledge receipt of the money.
Knowing Mrs. Burkett was mar
ried. the landlord turned the letter
ever TO the postmaster and an nves-
tigation was commenced.
Mrs. Burkett is 45 years old and
weighs about 175 pounds. She Is in
marked contrast to the description in
the advertisements in the matrimonial
papers. She admits having bee mar
ried three times and has son and
two daughters. Her father ana moth
er are living near Rilesburg, Ind.
a humorous sequel 10 the eXtraor- !
dinary case came this week when a
letter was received from J. II. Evans !
Of Shoshone, Idaho. stating he wished
TO erect a monument TO the memory of
Miss Emma Burkett." He wrote TO /
the county physician of Nermilion /
stating he had been cores I
pending with Miss Burkett" for some 4
line and on Nov. 2S she he'd informed /
him that she was i'll and. being with /
,ut funds to go to hospital. she was /
forced TO go to the county farm.
Evans said he Immediately forward
I'd the woman money to cover her ex-
1enses and thus avert the calamity 1
II her becoming q county charge.
to receive any acknowledge
nent OF the money. he feared she was
lead. He asked for full information
20 that he could place a shaft over her
crave.
Dr. Winslow, the county physician.
informed Evans no person OF the name
,iven ever had received any attention
rom the county. but that Mrs. Bur
lett had been placed in Jail charged
With intent to defraud.
A mass OF forty-eight exhibits. CON
listing OF letters, money orders, tele-
rams. checks. registered letters, etc.
we're presented by the government at
he hearing In addition two victims,
Edward Glow OF Collinsville, Okla,
nd Algernon Alsip OF Ada. Okla. were
resent as Witnesses for the depart
nent.
II was shown marriage bureaus.
clubs, ard matrimoni-