Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-11-15
FORMER SWEETHEART
BLACKMAHED HER, SAYS
HIGH FINANCE" WOMAN
Nemesis Found Her in Phila-
delphia When She Raised
Money Orders, Anne e.
Sharpley Asserts
SHE SHIELDS HIS NAME

former sweetheart got more than $780,
GOO by blackman from Annie f. Sharpley
chicken raiser. ex-convict and playwright
who has hled a petition In bankruptcy In
Chicago according 20 the dramatic story
she told Of her life. The woman, who has
borrowed more than $4,000 from WE'LL
known residents of that city. said that In
Philadelphia she found her Nemesis for the
nrst time.
In the once OF her attorney she calmly
admitted that she was the same woman who,
thirteen years ago. was convicted in Phla-
delphia OF raising United States postal
orders. but said all the money she obtained
was paid to her sweetheart, a soldier in the
English army, who was killed recently
while fighting somewhere In France"
II will pay every cent owe" she said. 'Hf
only am given time. I have paid all my
life IL seems for the one mistake I made
as girl In England" Her former sweet
heart and blackmaller, she said, was hand
some enough to turn any girls heart and
she had loved him dearly. From sVeetheart
he suddenly became her prosecutor. and by
threats obtained money from her, she said,
TO keep him from exposing her past life, and
later, the fact that she had served sem
tence in pententary
I'm all, 1 paid him between $50, 900 and
$4,000 at various times" she said.
1T was In 1908 in Philadelphia that my
Nemesis first found me out in this country.
He threatened me until the first thing |
knew 1 was doing his bidding-rasing
money orders and cashing them. He en-.
gineered it all and took all of the money.
Then l was caught. tried and convicted. I
Just took my medicine and said nothing
about him. When I was at liberty again
] came to Chicago to escape him. For the
last six or seven years ne bounded me and
took all the money
When heard Of his death felt a great
load had been lifted and that l could go
along and pay my debts. / tried to do 80
by borrowing money at high rates Of In
terest Soon my creditors were after me.
and did not know what to do. l turned
my chicken farm over TO Herman Cohen
a pawnbroker from whom had borrowed
$4,000. I agreed to pay him an annual
rental OF $500 a year"
Another statement Miss Sharpley made
ana which was confirmed by her attorney
was 10 the effect that while she has
scheduled liabilities to the extent of SS1 600
with virtually no assets she never received
more than .two.thrds Of that amount from
those from whom she borrowed money She
declared she was in the hands of loan
sharks as well as a blaCl5mailcr. and that
she had frequently, when pressed for money
py her blackmailing sweetheart, borrowed
$500 on a note for $500
FROM this list of creditors she excented
Mrs. L. B. Blackstone, widow of a former.
pIesiueht OF the Chicago and Alton Rail-
read from whom she borrowed $4,000.
The FIRST OF the money ] borrowed from,
Mrs Blackstone, $4,000, went to fiji the ever
graspng hand Of my prosecutor" she de-
clared. He came to me and demanded n
lafse amount OF money ] was despera te
he threatened to tell OF my penitentiary
term and of other things SO | went 10 Mrs
Blackstone whom J had met through Tbe
Rev. Mr.. Shaw. of the Second PRESBYTERIAN
Church, and she gave me the money"
L shall pay back first ilose that need
tae money most" she continued 81 will
not nave TO pay Mrs. Blackstone first she
is wealthy and does not need the money as
10 others"