Evening journal., 1916-09-19
ARA. .CN MEN CAUGHT
IN BLACKMAIL RAID
Two Brothers Get Hearing
in Federal Building, Phil
adelphia, Today
OTHERS HELD
IN CHICAGO

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Sept. 10
William Butler, Thirteenth street,
near Spring Garden, this city, said to
be the brains" of the gang Of alleged
blackmailers rounded up in Chicago
on Sunday. and his brother, George
Butler, will be given a hearing in
the Federal Building today, charged
with attempting to blackmail Mrs.
Regina A. Klipper. OF this city, and
also with constructing justice by
taking part in the kidnapping Of Mrs.
Klipper and her sequestration in
Montreal Canada, so that she could
not testify against George Irwin. a
member Of the gang, who was about
to be placed on trial in Chicago
The seven members Of the alleged
band. who were taken into custody
in Chicago, will be arraigned for a
hearing before United States Commits
sioner Foote there today, and it is
believed they will waive formalities
and consent 20 come to Philadelphia
for trial. Mrs. Klipper. who left for
Chicago yesterday afternoon, will be
the principal witness at the hearing
in that city.
this morning that in all probability a
continuance would be asked in the case
of tho Butler brothers until Mrs. Kip
per can return from Chicago.
In the meantime Federal detectives
arc hunting high and low for II. G
Woodward. a man Of many aliases and
whose real identity is shrouded in mys-
terry. Woodward is declared by minor
members of the band to have been a sort
Of director of the syndicate, remaining
in the background while William But
Ter posed as the chief. The detectives
arr somewhat inclined to think that
Woodward and William Butler are the
same person, but have not been able 10
settle that point definitely as yet.
The activities of the alleged black.
mailers covered nearly every branch OF
swindling. according to dispatches from
Chicago. They "framed up fake pool
rooms, worked the badger game, got up
fake commission houses TO deal In wheat
and corn: even handled fake mining
stocks at times. in addition TO working
the Mann White Slave act to the limit
in their successful attempts TO extort
money from men who would pay hand
somely rather than face exposure and
arrest.
The old saying about honor among
thieves" did not hold good with this
band OF up-to-date crooks. according
to Assistant United States District
Attorney Knox, of New York. who de-
clared that they varied the monoto-
ny Of "skinning suckers" by hold
ing out" on each other. George Ir-
win held out" on one of the men
engaged in the blackmailing of Mrs.
Klipper. said Mr. Knox, who is here
TO attend the hearing of the Butler
brothers today. and that made
Grocker so angry he turned States
evidence and made a full confession
hat really put the government agents
On the track of the band.
Last summer a man named VIII
liam Turner. who was connected with
the band, and another member. who
went under the name of James
Brown worked the badger game" on
A wealthy resident of Denver. Tur-
ner got $4,000, but did not split
aven" with Brown, holding out 81 500.
When Brown. by accident. discovered
that he had been trimmed" said Mr..
Knox, he went 10 camp in the noun
IdAuS OL Jthtl SUI NbuhA9f
ner was taking it easy. and shot his
pal"
According to Mr.. Knox. the trial Of
those members OF the band involved
IN the blackmailing Of Mrs Klipper
last January will take place in New
York city. where the offence was
staged. Frank Crocker. who later
turned States evidence. lured Mrs.
Klipper to a New York hotel. Other
members of the band, headed by
George Irwin. burst into the room and
threatened arrest Crocker gave Irwin
fake" check for $4,000 on a Boston
bank and Mrs. Klipper gave up her
jewels and later paid over $500 in
cash.
Mrs. Klipper is a divorcee and the
daughter OF former liquor dealer OF
this city She figured in the sensa-
t,onal Cluin divorce suit at Atlantic City
some time ago, in which she testified
for the husband. but was made CO.
respondent by Mrs. Cluin in coun-
ter. suit.
Mrs. Klipper was rescued from her
abductors by Frank Garbarino. local
agent for the Department Of Justice,
and has since been living at Mt Holly,
y. j.. with her three children. the
eldest a daughter. IA years old. The
trial of those concerned in her kid
mapping will take place in this city.