Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-08-11
BLACKMAL PLOT
in HOTEL ROBBERY
Woman Vic tim Declares
Companion "Steered" Her
Into Room for Purpose
WAS BEATEN AND BOJrNn
Man With Her Is Held and po.
lice Are Searching for Two
Who Escaped

Alleged blackmallers were Responsible o..
the sensational robbery In the 81 Isr,or aor
Hotel today as the result of which NJ
Grace Welsh. of Atlantic City, losI ain nnn
worth Of iewelry and nearly $1,000 in cs,h
according to the police.
Harry C. Kelly, the woman's commands,
who gave addresses in New York. Chlcoss
and Atlantic CITY. was held in $4,000 baii ~
a further hearing by Magistrate Roors.
in the Fifteenth and Locust streets pol,c.
station. He was arrested on suspicion af,ss
the robbery occurred.
Within the space Of few hours CITY Han
detectives and the police have cleared i'm
they say, many Of the puzzling features ~
the case.
Among the features untangled, accord,n,
TO the p olice, are the following:
Fl st Mrs. Welsh Is believed to he
Miss Blanche Gray, Of Ill North Carolina
avenue, Atlantic City.
Second Kelly. who claims to he an
actor, was arrested in Atlantic City last
week for attempting to rob the woman.
according to detectives. City Hall De.
tective Frank O'Connor said that Kelly
was connected with a gang Of alleged
blackmailers.
Third The jewelry stolen included a
four-and-one-half karat diamond brooch
set with more than forty smaller stones,
two two-karat rings, two one-and-one-
half karat earrings. a bracelet. watch and
other articles valued at $4,000. Besides
these $3.50 in bills was stolen.
Fourth. Mrs. Welsh, or Miss Grey
motored to Philadelphia from Atlantic
City In response to a telegram from
Kelly, detectives say. They were regis.
tered as man and wife at the hotel. Kelly
had done the registering before the
woman arrived.
The robbery was the most sensational
I'm n he Of ha cit, In
years.
SCREAMS GIVE ALARM
Guests at the hotel employees, the police
and even outsiders had their first int.ma.
tior of the affair when shreks of murder
filed the air. They came from a room on
the twelfth floor. This happened just about
midnight. Two men were seen dashing
from the hotel They escaped.
When found Mrs. Welsh was bound and
gagged and was cut severely on the head,
evidently from blows from the butt Of
revolver. Rings and other jewelry had
been torn from her body and clothing She
was unconscious.
Kelly was trying to leave the room as
Policeman Boyle and others arrived. His
hand was bandaged. and there was some
evidence that he had been bound Mrs.
Welsh said that this part was q deliberate
frame.up"
Detective O'Connor said that the woman
told him that as soon as she and Kelly en-
tered the room she was pounced upon BY
two men who were concealed there.
SAYS SHE WAS "sTEERED" INTO TRAP
The detective said that, although the man
and woman have known each other for
some time she blames him for the whole
affair and claims that she was "steered"
into It.
Her condition today Is serious. She spent
the night in private ward at the hospital
Several stitches had to be taken in her
wounds On account Of her condition the
hearing against Kelly was postponed.
The police say that she failed to appear
against him when arrested in Atlantic City
last week hence he was discharged.
The police also are making widespread
search today for two men who escaped
from the hotel after the robbery. Accord
ing to what the woman told detectives. the
two men figured in the recent attack in
Dads Hotel on Frank L. Garbarino, spes
cial agent Of the Department Of Justice.
You are a tougher nut to crack !aan
Garbarino," one of the two Is alleged to
have said while trying to knock the woman
senseless.
Detectives said that Kelly figured to
some extent In the case of the wife OF an
upstate politician who recently was robbed
of $500 worth of jewelry by dappsr-
looking young man she met in Chestnut
street hotel lobby Kelly, Detective O'Con-
nor said. was acquainted with the woman.
This jewelry was recovered.
When he was searched ~ the station
house he had only a few cst.ars in his
pockets. together with newsps: er clippings
about the Atlantic City episode He is tall.
well-dressed, about twenty-sn years old
and good-looking
Mrs. Welsh also is good-looking. She was
dressed stunningly. according to detectives.