Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1916-09-21
Have Enough Evidence To
Convict Without Exposing
Wealthy Victims.
TWO MORE ARE ARRESTED
Members Of Gang Confess Re-
vealing Startling Details Of
Big Society Swindlers.

authorities prepared to arraign for a
preliminary hearing, seven members
Of an alleged blackmail gang who
used the Mann act as their chief
weapon, detectives fortified with in
formation obtained from two alleged
members of the gang who confessed,
made arrests in other cities and spread
a dragnet for H. c. Woodward,
sought as director-in-chief of the sym
dictate.
Hinton G. Clabaugh, of the United
States department of justice declared
he had secured sufficient evidence to
convict the gang without exposing
the names of their wealthy victims.
These victims, principally wealthy
men whose flirtations with pretty
women led them into traps from which
they escaped only on payment of
large sums, will be shielded from
publicity except as a last resort, it is
said.
The evidence secured in two cases
already generally known authorities
said together with mass Of incrim-
mating evidence found in the raid on
the apartment where the seven were
arrested will be presented to the fed
eral commissioner.
TWO WERE ARRESTED.
| Developments in the case reported
to Clabaugh included the arrest in
New York of Frank Croker, alleged
former member of the gang, who is
said TO have confessed to part in the
swindlng of Mrs. Regina Klipper, of
Philadelphia, and the arrest at Phila-
delphia of William Butler held there
in connection with an alleged black
mail plot against the late Mrs. Susan
G. S. Winpenny.
Clabaugh also revealed the source
of the information that led to the raid.
He said that "Dick" Barrett and Ed
ward J. Thompson, two members of
the syndicate had confessed. They
probably will be given immunity.
INTERPRETATIONS, said Clabaugh, were
replete with stories of shrewd black
mail, new and clever race track swim
dies and other ruSeS with which
members of the gang, beautiful wo-
men and debohair, handsome men,
bled their victims.
BONDS TOTAL 100000.
The bonds asked for the seven total
approximately 100000. The men
refused to talk.
Mrs. Helen Evers, said by federal
authorities to have been used as the
'lure" in the bogus Mann act cases,
stamped her feet and said there is not
a word of truth in the charges.
Mrs. Frances Chapman said nothing.
Mrs. Evers said Mrs. Chapman's ar
rest was an outrage-that she was
visiting at the apartment.
THOSE UNDER ARREST.
Among those under arrest and the
bail they will be required TO give are:
Edward Donahue, alias DOC" Dom
ahue, $4,000.
Mrs. Helen Evers, alias Mrs. Geo.
w. Brown, $25, ZOO.
Henry Russell, alias H. j. Russell,
S25, 900.
Mrs. Edward Donahue, 5000.
James Christian, alias James Rob- !
erts, $1,000
George Bland, alias Joseph Pearl, |
S., 900.
Mrs. Frances Allen, alias Mrs.
Frances Chapman, $1,000
Elaborate opium smoking layouts,
expensive silks and satin gowns and
dresses, costly furs and jewelry were
found in one of the elegantly furnish
ed apartments in which the arrests
were made.
Fifty suits of clothes hung in the
closet OF Henry Russell. A mass of |,
alleged discriminating evidence