Evening star., 1916-09-27
|PR|SON SENTENCE
FOR BLACKMA|[ER
William Butler, Chief Figure in
Countrywide Plot, Con-
fesses Guilt.
NOT RELIEVED FROM
FURTHER PROSECUTION
Refuses to Give Department of JUS
tice Valued Information-Buda
Goldman Gains Freedom.

NEW YORK, September 27.-William
Butler. chief figure in the countrywide
blackmailing conspiracy under investi-
cation in several cities, yesterday
pleaded guilty to blackmailing Mrs.
Regina Klipper of Philadelphia He
was at once sentenced to eighteen
months imprisonment in the Atlanta
penitentfary.
Butler is the first of the alleged black
mailers to get prison sentence. They
are accused of operating in various
cities. with many persons Of wealth as
their victims, using the Mann white
slave act as a means Of blackmail.
Butler was first arrested in Phila-
delphia in January on the charge of
having attempted to extort $1,000 from
Mrs. ]. Bolton Winpenny. a wealthy
sion of a fictitious white slave" COM
plant against her son, Marshall VIM
penny.
Charge Falls Through.
This charge fell through on the death
of Mrs. Winpenny three weeks ago.
Assistant United States District Attor-
ney John c. Knox of this city then took
steps to have Butler brought here for
prosecution on the Indictment charg-
ing him with having participated in
the conspiracy which resulted, It Is al
legged, in the extortion of $500 from
Mrs. Klipper.
Besides Butler, the Indictment returned
in the Klipper case names Frank Crocker.
otherwise known as the tango Don
Juan; Arthur l.. David. alias sir koo-
- nd du-ar ri
The latter is now under arrest In Chicago
charged with being concerned In the re-
cent KIDNAPPING of Mrs. Klipper from
Philadelphia to Montreal for the purpose
of obStructing justice.
Not Relieved From Other Counts.
Butler pleaded guilty to the conspiracy
count of the Indictment, and was told by
Federal Prosecutor Knox that 1t would
not relieve him from prosecution on other
counts or indictments yet to be found in
the biackmailing cases.
Explaining the situation to Judge Man
ton, Mr.. Knox stated that the conspiracy
to defraud Mrs. klipper was hatched in
Buffers home in Philadelphia, and al
though he was thoroughly familiar with
all the details of that and similar crimes,
he had not attempted to aid the govern
ment in the prosecution Of any of them.
Refuses Information.
He has it in his power to furnish the
Department of Justice with information
of inestimable value" said Prosecutor
Knox. but seemingly he does not choose
to do so. and, therefore. the acceptance
he is entitled to under the circum-
stances"
Buffers attorney, in urging light SEN
tence, remarked that his client was the
first of the defendants in the blacknailing
cases to plead guilty. and that the plea
on the conspiracy count did not cover
participation in the alleged extortion at
eighteen months was two months less
| than the limit for conspiracy.
Buda Goldman Released.
CHICAGO. September 27-Buda God
man, who is accused of having entrap-
ped Edward B. West, a wealthy mer-
chant here. into a violation of the Mann
white slave act, and paving the way for
three of her man confederates to ex-
tort $4,000 from him, was released on
$500 bond last night after being ques-
toned by investigators for the Depart
ment of Justice.
the arrest on state warrants of all
persons implicated in the swindling of
West. These are, according to govern
ment officials, George Irwin, Homer T.
French, DOC" Brady, James Christian
and Buda Goldman.
Refuses to Issue Warrants.
Chief Justice Harry Olson Of the
municipal court has refused to issue a
warrant for the arrest of States At
torney McLay Hoyne and FIVE of his
aids on charges of false Imprisonment
Of Mrs. Helen Evers. the alleged 'lure"
of the so-calied blackmail syndicate.
Judge Olson referred Charles E. Erb-
stein, counsel for Mrs. Evers, who is
seeking Hoyne's arrest. back to Munich
pal Judge Joseph La Buy. Judge La
Buy has twice refused to issue the war
rants.
In his complaint to Judge Olson, At
| torney Erhstein charged false imprison-
| ment instead Of kidnapping. as was
| charged in the complaint fled with
| Judge La Buy. Justice Olson ruled
| that as Erbstein had made new COM
| plants the case had been returned to
Judge la Buys court.
| Erbstein said he would appear be-
| fore Judge La Buy today and make a
| third attempt to obtain warrants for
| Hoyne's arrest.