The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1916-09-18
BLACkMAIL GANG
FALLS OUT OVER
Sp0|LS' DIVISION
Arrest of Score or More With
in Week Expected,
WEALTHY PEOPLE VICTIMS
Operations Of International
Proportions,

CHICAGO, Sept l8--Confess;on has
been made by two members of the al
legged syndicate Of blacknailers, eight
OF whom are under arrest here, that
operations of the swindlers has netter
them 81 600 600 within the last year,
federal officials announced today.
The confession, it was said, disclosed.
that the alleged band numbers sixty
persons. a third OF them women
A dispute over the division of spoils,
i, was said led to the confession Ar.
rests OF score or more members OF
the syndicate it is expected will be
made within week
Feared Prison Terms.
The men who confessed are Dick"
Barrett and Edward J. Thompson, ac-
cording to Hinton G. Clabaugh, head
Of the Chicago bureau OF the depart.
u,eir of justice Both are at liberty,
he .said. They will BECOME witnessed
for the government, however, when tl,ss
eight members of the alleged syndicate.
arrested in a raid on fashionable
apartment hotel Saturday night. arc
brough: to trial. Fear that they would
receive long prison sentences caused
Thompson and Barrett to confess.
Bail Aggregates 100000.
Bail, aggregating Sl0000 has been
fixed for the eight members Of tho
alleged bandnow under arrest They
are to be given a hearing Tuesday.
Those under arrest are;
Edward Donahue, alias DOC" Dona-
hue, $4,000.
Mrs Helen Evers, alias Mrs. Geo.
w. Brown, $4,000
Henry Russell, alias H. J. Russell.
S25.600
Mrs. Edward Donahue, 5000.
James Christian, alias James Rob-
erts. 5000
George Bland, alias Joseph Pearl.
5000.
Mrs Frances Allen, alias Mrs. Fran
ces Chapman, 5000
Expensive Gowns Found.
Elaborate opium smoking layouts
expensive gowns and costly furs and
jewelry were found in the elegantly
furnished apartment in which the ar
, rests were made Fifty suits OF clothes
hung in the closet OF Henry Russell. A
| mass OF incJimnatng evidence--letters,
$ kilograms and other papers were found,
{ officials saA
o The operations OF the band are de-
s clared to have extended from coast to
5 coast Men and women alike have been
e victims. Persons with wealth were
objects in every case. Five wealthy
D and socially prominent residents OF
, Chicago are declared to have been
, blackmailcd out OF $4,000 Their names
e are withheld
, The five men under arrest declined
to discuss the charges against them.
The three women, however ridiculed
the charges
: believed TO be in ST Louis and the Los
: Angeles authorities were asked To To-
cate the sender OF telegram addressed
to Helen EvcrS, one Of the women ar
rested here, which read, Simon says
thumbs up, Two men are holding me.
Watch the fire escape"
OF International Proportions.
Operations of the syndicate, which
now appears to have been OF interna-
tional proportions, were not confined to
the blackmail OF wealthy men and WON.
en-, according TO developments today.
Among the effects in the office OF
doc" Edward Donahue, one OF the
men caught in the Saturday night raid.
, was stationary of the United Turf ex.
change with headquarters in New
York and offices all over the world"
There were also cipher codes for de.
. ciphering messages received by wire,
telling what horses to be on. how much
to bet what races and positions to play.
, Pake Clippings Used.
Fake newspaper clippings detailing
the wonderful clean-ups made by
young eastern plunger in poolrooms, ap-
parently had been used 10 lure victims.
| One letter found in Donahue's room at
a fashionable South Side apartment
house was from the "Horseman's asso-
citation" OF l46S Market street, Louis.
vile, KY, signed J. c. Saulsberry, sec.
retary, and addressed TO A. T. Karger.
| The secretary said be was sorry TO
hear OF Mr.. karRer'S notsriety lately
and hoped he wouldn't have another oc-
| currenoe like that again"
| II seemed that Mr.. Karger's" pic.
ture had appeared in newspaper in
connection with bookmaking activities
at the races. -
Full Drsss Required.
According to department Of Justice
officials. here today. the United Turf
exchange must hive been an exclu-
sIve affair The rules stated that mem
bets using the club rooms in the eve
ming must appear in full dress.
Il Evidently the "Horscman's associa-
ton" was known in Louisville a.
grain brokerage house Code books
showed how wagers on horse racer
could be placed and there apparently