Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-09-19
CONFESSIONS BARE
GREAT BLACKMAIL
PLOT AT CHICAGO
Band of Alleged SwindIerS,
Numbering 90 Persons,
Third of Them Women,
Cleaned Up 100000
CBy Associated Press

CHICAGO, Sept. 1s,-Confession has
been made by two members of the al
legged syndicate of blackmailers, eight of
whom arc under arrest here, that opera
tions of the swindlers netted them
100000 during the last year, federal
officials announced today.
The confessions, it was said. disclosed
that the alleged band numbers sixty per-
sons. n third of them women. dis
pute over the division of spoils. IT was
said, led TO the confessions. Arrest of
a score or more members of the syndi-
cate are expected within a week.
The men who confessed are Dick
Barrett and Edward ]. Thompson, &C
cording 10 Hinton G. Clabaugh. head of
the Chicago bureau of the federal de-
partment OF justice. Both are at liberty,
but are expected to pe witnesses for
the government when the eight members
OF the alleged syndicate. arrested in the
said in a fashionable apartment hotel
Saturday night are brought to trial
Those under arrest are: Edward Dom
ahue, alias DOC" Donahue; Mrs. Helen
Evers, alias Mrs. George w. Brown
j.
Edward Donahue; James Christian, alias
James Roberts; George Bland, alias
Joseph Pearl; Frank Croker; Mrs.
Frances Allen, alias Mrs. Francis Chap
man. The prisoners are charged with
conspiracy and the total bail asked of
them is 100000.
Elaborate opium smoking layouts, eX-
pensive silk and satin gowns, costly
furs and jewelry were found in one
of the elegantly furnished apartments
in which theF arrests were made. Fifty
suits of clothes hung i'm the closet of
Henry Russell
WORKED WHOLE COUNTRY.
Operations of the band are declared
TO have extended from coast to coast
Five wealthy and socially prominent
members of Chicago's society are de-
clared to have been blackmailed out of
100000. Only three victims of the syn
G.cate have declared themselves ready
to face the publicity and testify in the
case. Mr.. Clabaugh saIG. One of these
is Mrs. Regina Clipper, of Philadelphia
a woman member of the syn
dictate" was believed to be in st, Louis
and the Los Angeles authorities were
asked TO locate the sender of a telegram,
addressed to Helen Evers. one of the
women arrested here, which read: Isl
nun says lnuAlpS up. Il WO men are
holding me. Watch the fire escape"
Operations or the syndicate. which
now appear 10 nave been of international
proportions, were not confined TO the
blackmaIl of wealthy men and women,
according to information developed TO-
day. Among the effects i'm the office of
Doc" Edward Donahue, one of the men
caught in the Saturday night raid, was
stationery of the United Turf Elk
change" with headquarters i'm New
York and offices all over the world
There were also cipher codes for de-
ciphering messages received by wire,
telling what horses to bet on, how much
10 bet, what races and positions to play.
Fake newspaper clippings disclosing
the wonderful cleanup made by a young
eastern plunger in pool rooms apparent
ly had been used to lure victims. One
Letter found 'inv Donahue's room, at the
fashionable south side apartment house
was from the "horseman's association"
of Louisville, KY, signed by ]. c. Sauls-
berry. secretary, and addressed to A. T.
Karger. The secretary said he was
sorry TO hear Of Mr.. Karger's notoriety
lately, and hoped he wouldn't have an
ether occurrence like that again.