The Washington times., 1915-07-26
WIDOW" MAY PROVE
ACASS|E CHADWICK
Papers Seized at Bath Beach
Reveal "Mrs. FIagIer's"
Operations In Capital.

New York dispatches today assert
that Investigation Of the affairs Of
Mrs. John Johnson. formerly of this
city. who is under arrest in New
York, accused Of obtaining money on
the pretense that she is the widow
OF Henry NJ. Flagler. have revealed
that the elderly woman apparently
owes large sums OF money and had
launched upon a career to rival that
Of Cassie Chadwick.
The authorities have seized letters
and documents belonging to Mrs
Johnson at the Bensonhurst Hotel,
Bath Beach. In these papers were
found letters negotiating for the pur-
chase of a $4,000 residence.
from persons from whom the accused
money. and "duns" from the trades.
men with whom she had contracted
to be the widow and one Of the heirs
OF the Standard Oil and railroad mag
nate.
Checks Drawn Here.
Among the documents also were
found eleven checks drawn upon the
Commercial National Bank Of this
city. One OF these, dated October 2S.
1914, and signed 'Zora Emma Flag
ler," was for $1,000.
Officials Of the Commercial Bank
admit that Mrs. Flagler." during her
account but say that her only de-
posit was the one made when the &C.
count was opened, and was OF small
proportions.
About two-and a half years ago Mrs.
johnson came to Washington and
rented from Terrell & Little. real
estate brokers, through Samuel E.
Stonebraker. one Of their agents. the
n t,ryac acf
formerly the Russian embassy.
The lease was signed by the tenant
as Mrs. John Johnson" though Mrs.
johnson then represented herself to
have been married at one time to Mr..
Flagler and claimed to be awaiting
a large fortune from his estate.
Behind In Her Rent.
Mr.. Stonebraker today said that dur
ing her occupancy Mrs. Johnson was
continually behind in her rent and
that on numerous occasions he had
to resort to the courts to obtain 1t. In
each instance. however. the suit was
docketed, Mrs. Johnson, according to
Mr.. Stonebraker. would have 1t dis
missed through the payment of the
claim.
After several such experiences Mr.,
Stonebraker says he accepted the ex-
cuses, and put some credence in the
claims made to the Flagler fortune
Eventually. however, when the rent
bill had reached large proportions Mr.
Stonebraker took action to dispossess
his tenant and Mrs. Johnson left the
city.
Later she made further efforts to
buy the property. and 1t was while IN
Washington to conduct negotiations
as her secretary for the purchase OF
the property that F. !. Mahoney. on
whose complaint Mrs. johnson was
arrested. became enlightened as to
the business methods OF his employer.
Husband Lives Here.
s John Johnson. the husband of the al
legged Mrs. Flagler Is now residing at
1714 Fourteenth street northwest. During
the occupancy of the NJ street residence
Mr.. Johnson lived there. but when his
life left the city he was forced to Geek
livelihood. and accepted such work as
came TO hand.
Frederick c. Bryan, attorney for the
Key West Railroad. and the Flagler es-
tate, Is endeavoring to induce Mr.. John
son to go to New York and tell what he
knows of his wife's relations with Flag
Ter. Mr.. johnson Is loath to discuss
the case. but has always been firm in
the belief that he married the widow of
Flaglcr.
Reports from New York allege Mrs.
Johnson has renounced Johnson, con-
tending that he was never married to
her. but did marry her daughter, ac-
cording to reports here.