The Washington times., 1915-08-22
MAY Be BREEDING
FEMININE CROOKS
Lawyer Thinks Ease Of Bringing
Suits for Breach Of Promise
Leads to BIackmail.

NEW YORK. Aug. 22.-Several law
yers were discussing q certain breach
of promise case which recently at
tracted widespread attention, when enc
Of them said that he believed the ease
with which such cases could be brought
IN this State was creating large class
Of feminine crooks. AS an illustration
Of the manner in which these crooks
operate, the lawyer described an Incl
dent. in which he said a close personal
friend figured as the victim.
The friend who was well-to-do. ad-
vertised for a stenographer. At lunch
con time on the day the advertisement
appeared. when his office was practi-
cally deserted by his clerks. blonde
woman dressed In extreme style and
looking as II she were unaccustomed
to office work came to his private office
and applied for the position. He in
anirse answered ID noncSalantIy nc cha % that she had had
had none. He then asked where she
had learned shorthand and typewrit-
ing and was amazed to hear this cool
response:
II never touched a typewriter In my
life. I've heard Of shorthand rather
often, however"
Wanted . Stenographer.
the man exclaimed.
The woman did not seem surprised in
the least when he told her that he had
no place for her in his Office. and show
ed no signs of disappointment. In
stead, she calmly removed her coat
and, gripping one Of the sleeves OF her
shirtwaist, gave sharp tug and ripped
it half the length Of her arm. The man
looked on in amaxement and thought
that a lunatic had applied for work in
his office. He breathed a sigh OF re-
lief when she started for the door that
opened on the corridor Of the offlce
building. and was not greatly surprised
when, with a loud clatter. she kicked
The business man rose and went to-
ward her to prevent any further trouble,
but the woman started again for the
door peaceably. Suddenly. just as she
screamed at the top of her voice:
You'll pay for what you've done,
Robert"-it could be seen on the door
plate that Robert was the mans first
name-you'ii pay for this ,,,i,s insult" It" ,or,
sleeve as II it panied her. she burst into
a TRADE of abuse and threats for "thi:
insult" The man was now convinced
that she was crazy. and was emoar.
clerks and others from nearby offices.
returning from their luncheon. were wit
; Messing the scene. He slammed the door.
A few minutes later one Of his own
clerks returned and told him that tear
tul woman in the corridor was writing
down the names Of a number Of persons
there. but the clerk had just come up IN
the elevator and didn't know what 1t
was all about. The business man COM
lI.nced to have suspicious, but the wom-
an was gone when he looked into the
corridor and he did not call for the
police or the Bellevue ambulance.
Breach of Promise"
Next day a lawyer called him up and
tod him he had been retained by Miss
to handle her breach Of promise
sult. The business man fumed and
.Greatcneu 10 have both the woman and
...o lawyer arrested for blackmail.
10 you deny what these witnesses OF
oars Say they saw" the lawyer de.
...Lnled.
ne business man attempted to explain
situation as 1t had occurred.
a jury would split its sides laughing
d yarn like that" the lawyer advised
..-.l, and, OF course, your wife would
~..eNc every word OF it,
ne bC.ness man slammed the tele
l..Unc Iccen or and went home fumine
Il. :Iss. He thought 1t over during
: snt. Next day he called up the
"a. .,!e.. He knew that the woman's
..:CkLry couldn't convince any jury, bu1
49, vas anNIous to avoid the notoricty
Il appearing in such a case. especially
Il V.eW Of The tact that ne was mar
I'D and mad three children. The law
and finally succeeded in getting $75(
- ''CDl0DrOnliSe'' the