New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-22
Dragged and Forced to
Change Will, Miss
ClaypoOl Charges.
LAWYER AND WOMAN
ARE INDICTED
District Attorney Swami Is Max.
ing Inquiry Into the
Strange Case.

Miss Gertrude Claypool, niece OF the
late Governor John W. Bookwalter of
Ohio and a legatee 10 his estate of
sl2,OO0,000. through her attorney.
James F. Mckinney, of 115 Broadway.
mas complained to District Attorney
Swami that she was Kidnapped from
her home in the Great Northern Hotel
by man and a woman on June 4 last
and while under the influence Of drugs
was taken to the Office of Alexander s.
kosenthal, lawyer, at 299 Broadway,
ard induced to sign certain papers rela-
tive to her will.
while she was still in helpless con-
dltlon, according to her lawyers afi-
davit, Miss Clsypool was taken in a
ta%lcab to the Hotel Cumberland and
later to Newark, where she was kept
IN suite on the eleventh floor Of the
new Robert Treat Hotel. In order to
avoid private detectives employed by
her wealthy relatives who had traced
her to the hotel, the man and woman
before daybreak on June carried Miss
Claypool down eleven fights on the
fire escape, placed her in a taxicab and
took her back TO New York.
AT o'clock that same morning, Mr.
McKinney's affidavit says, Miss Clay
pool was left at the door of her dress
maker, Miss Grace II. Cannon, loo East
Eighty-first Street, by a chauffeur
Miss Cannon in statement made last
night TO Assistant District Attorney
John T. Dooling said Miss Claypool
was huddled in the bottom of the cab
IN her nightdress. over which had been
placed her skirt and street coat. Her
stockings, she said. were hanging By
her ankles, and she appeared 70 be
daZed and helpless. Miss Cannon is a
beneficiary for $4,000 in the original
Claypool will.
Story Told by Woman.
Miss Cannon told Assistant District
Attorney DColing that Miss Claypool
after she had been revived, told hen
that the woman who induced her "a
take the taXicab ride was a Mrs. Mar.
gGret Hill, of POS West Fifty-fourth
Street, who, she said, had made her
acquaintance by claiming friendship
with some of Miss ClaypooPs relatives
in Indiana. According 10 Mr.. McKin
ney, the Hill woman led Miss Claypoo
to believe her relatives, in order t.
prevent her from trying 10 break the
Bookwa.ter will, were planning 10 kid
nap her.
The affidavit also charges that fals'
and slandercus charges against J. W
| Baxter, of Greenwich. a relative o.
Miss ClayDooPs. were used to alenat,
her against her kin. These. it is
charged, brought about a rupture be
tween Miss Claypool and DR.. l.. l.
Seaman. the explorer. of 247 Fifth Ave.
nue., who held the power Of attorney
by Miss Claypool's will, and whose wife
was a beneficiary under the will. Ac.
cording to The affidavit, Miss Claypoo
signed papers in Rosenthaps office re.
yoking Or. Seaman's power of attorney
and the new will. which it IS charged
that Miss Claypool signed In the law.
yer's Office and made Augustus Clay
pool, her father, her chief beneficiary.
According TO Charles A. Carrigan
manager Of the Robert Treat Hotel. in
Newark, Miss Claypool's companion
registered as Miss Margaret Hill, and
below her name was registered "and
chauffeur" The chauffeur was or
dered 20 leave the hotel. and when the
house detectives went up 90 ask tho
TWO women TO quit their apartments
he found the room empty. Their suit
cases were left behind.