Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-09-18

has been made by two members
of the alleged syndicate of black
mailers, eight of whom are under
arrest here, that operations of the
swindlers has Melted them $1,000
900 within the last year, federal
officials announced today.
The confessions, IL was declared,
disclosed that the alleged band num-
bers at least sixty-a third Of whom
are said to be women, young, pretty
and crafty. A dispute over the divi-
sion of spoils, It was said, led to the
confession. Arrest of a score or more
members of the syndicate is expected
within week.
The men who confessed are Dick"
Barratt and Edward J. Thompson, &C
cording to Hinton G.. Clabaugh, head
of the Chicago bureau of the federal
department of justice. Both are at
liberty, he said. They will become
witnesses for the government, how
ever, when the eight members OF the
syndicate arrested in raid on
fashionable apartment hotel Saturday
night are brought to trial.
Fear that they would receive long
prison sentences caused Thompson
and Barratt to confess, Clabaugh said.
Bail aggregating 100000 has been
fixed for the eight members OF the al
legged band now under arrest. They
are to be given a hearing tomorrow.
Those under arrest and the ball they
will be required to give are:
! Edward Donahue, alias Doc" Dona-
hue, $25 200.
Mrs. Helen Evers, alias Mrs. George
W. Brown, $4,000.
Henry Russell, alias H. ]. Russell.
| $25, 900.
Mrs. Edward Donahue, $4,000.
| James Christian, alias James Rob-
erts, $4,000.
George Bland, alias Joseph Pearl,
| SIS 900.
Mrs. Frances Allen, Alias Frances
Chapman. $4,000.
FIirted With Rich Men.
Explaining the methods of the black
maiIers, Mr.. Clabaugh said:
, Members OF the band have fleeced
at least Is prominent Boston, Phila-
delphia and New York persons.
"The women members fiirted with
wealthy men, got them into compro-
missing positions and then demanded
money on threat of exposure. The
men did likewise with wealthy wo-
men"
| Frank Crocker, former member OF
! the gang, is now in custody in Phil
/ adelphia, officials said. William But
/ Ter, alleged ringleader OF the band,
also is reported under arrest in Phil
adelphia.
| Elaborate opium smoking layouts,
! Expensive silks and satin gowns and
/ dresses, costly furs and jewelry were
| found in the elegantly furnished apart
ment in which the arrests were made.
! Fifty suits of clothes hung in the
| ~
! discriminating eyidence-letters, tele-
grams and other papers we're found,
Off Gals said.
! The operations Of the band Is de-
cIared to have extended from coast to
coast. Men and women alike have
been victims. Persons of wealth were
the objects in every case.
Five wealthy and social promi-
nent members of Chicago's society are
declared to have been blackmailed out
| of $40, 1000. Their names were with
held. Persons also are declared to
have been fieeced in New York, Bal
timore and Philadelphia. Only three
victims have declared themselves
ready 10 testify in the case. Mr..
! Clabaugh said One OF these ready Is
Mrs. Regina Clipper OF Philadelphia
The five under arrest declined 10
discuss the charges against them The
three women, however. ridiculed the
/ charges. Our arrest is an outrage
we are innocent. We know nothing
of blackmailing," declared Mrs. Evers.
More Arrests Soon to Follow.
Further arrests were expect
| ed today in connection with
which raids by United States depart
ment of justice officials here Saturday
night exposed. A woman member OF
the Syndicate" was believed to be in
st. Louis and the Los Angeles author
| tiles were asked to locate the sender
| OF a telegram addressed 10 Helen
| Evers, one of the wo-4en arrested here.
which read:
Simon says thumbs up, Two men
are holding me. Watch the fire escape.
Operations OF the syndicate, which