The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-01-14
BLACKMAIL TRUST
OPERATIONS ARE
NIPPED IN BUD

51S SW-. ok, jan i 4--When the pO-
lice of this city were busy yesterday
trying to find members of 1.-The
BlackmaiI Trust which Federal
s1euths say has obtained more than
$250,00O from wealthy residents of
New York, Washington and Ph1ladeI-
phia, William Butler was arrested in
the last named city. He was charged
with having tried to wiring $4,000
from Mrs. J. Bolton Winpenny for the
suppression of white slave case
against her son.. Marshall Winpenny
Department of Justice agents said
Butler was q ttfake'' wire Taper and
a leading spirit in the nationwide
blackmau scheme.
Mrs. Winpenny is the widow of a
banker and her fortune is estimated
at more than 100000. She lives at
1892 North Broad street. and is prom
inentl in society.
Local Federal agents say physicians
have been. easy prey to the blackmail-
ers in Manhattan, who made illegal
operations the basis Of blackmaiI in
these cases, dropping threats of pros
ecution under the Mann act.
Threats to Doctors Profitable
This phase of their activities is be
ing investigated by Capt. William
Jones of the Third Branch Detective
Bureau. The police say that the gang
obtained the names Of physicians who
had performed illegal operations and
by threatening arrest, got large sums
of money. Women members Of the
gang got the doctors into comprornis-
ing situations, acting as lures. as in
thee asses of the wealthy young men
whom they induced to accompany
them out Of the State.
Don Collins, whose arrest on a
charge of tampering with coin boxes
of the New Y ork Telephone Com
i A.. ~. -
disclose what they had learned about
the gangs operationA, was arraigned
today in the West Side Court. 1t was
said yesterday that no additional evil
dence had been obtained connecting
him with the gang.
Butler was held in $4,000 in Phil
adeIphia. He was unable to get bail.
He was confronted by Mrs Winpen-
ny in United States commissioners
Craig'ss office. She identified him as
the man who had approached her, but
said others were implicated.
~ She testified that the prisoner and
one. other man had come to- her home
last June and represented themselves
as Federal officers. They told her
that grave charges were about to be
made against her son., but the affair
could be hushed up for money At
first $4,000 wasy demanded, but when
she denurred at this Butler dropped
to $4,000, *she said.
Learned Witness of Scheme
Mrs. Wfnpenny took the matter up
with another son, an attorney, who
advised her to Inform the govern
ment authorities. Investigations were
irnfn ediately begun by Department of
Justice agents in Philadelphia, who
soon discovered blackmai1ers were
widely. More arrests are ex-
pected there today.
{ butler gave his age as twenty-eigft :
and his occupation as a salesman. In /
manners and dress he is q man who
could gain the confidence of those he |
! Federal Agent Frank Garbalino |
says Butler lived like millionaire.
He was always attired fashion
ably" said the officer. "He fire.
the best hotels and made I
friends with many persons of import
ance.'' |
When questioned Butler said the
case was one of mistaken identity, as
sorting he had never seen Mrs. Win |
penny before. He admitted he knew
Collins and had been with him in At
la ntic City last SUMMER, but insisted !
his arrest was due to this acquaint-
aneeship and nothing else.