The New York herald., 1920-12-28
FRAUD In 6 STATES
BY WOMAN ALLEGED
Bail Raised to $4,000 in
Case Of Mrs. Ruth
Ruickholdt.

On the strength of statements from
the police that Mrs. Ruth RuicKholdt,
wife of a New Haven, Conn.,, physician.
who was arrested Friday night charged
with fraud, had carried on operations
In not less than six States, Magistrate
Max s. Levine in Jefferson Market
Court YESTERDAY raised the woman
bail from 2.5O0 to $4,000. She had been
unable to furnish the former sum, fixed
after her arraignment on Saturday, and
at late hour last night she was still
in the court prison. Her case will come
up for further hearing Thursday AFTER
noon. Deacon Murphy. former Assist
ant District Attorney, has been retained
as counsel, succeeding John r. DON
nelly, at Mr.. Donnellys request
Mrs. Ruickholdt was arraigned yester-
day on charges preferred by Dr T. l.
Sharpe OF u Elizabeth street, DERBY
Conn, alleging that on or about De,
cember 2 she obtained from him $i,ooe
by telephoning from the McAipih no,ei
and stating that she was his COUSIN
Charlotte Sharpe of go Westminster
road. Brooklyn. According to DIR.
sharpe. she said that she had been
robbed Of her valise, containing so'VV'.
and needed $500 Immediately. He con-
suited his wife and sent cheek TOT
81. 900. When he later saw Miss Sharpe
he discovered that he had heen dupeu;
He said in court yesterday tnat ne
had never seen Mrs. Ruickhoidt pelo'e.
Miss Sharpe, however. had mace hei
acquaintance about ten years ago pu, wv
had not seen her for three years u'i'"
she was arraigned yesterday
"Oh. Charlotte, have mercy on me.
,be accused woman sobbed as she
passed Miss sharpe on the way to her
cell. She told reporters that her pligh'
was due to "a man with hypnotic
eyes, whom she has already described
10 the police. Counsel for the defence
promised TO develop something "star.-
ling" when the case is resumed on
Thursday.
Representatives OF two local mer-
chants appeared in court later to ex-
plain to John T. Hogan, Assistant Dis
trict Attorney, Irregularities which they
saw have arisen from the activities or
Mrs Ruickholdt in various roles. Sam
uel ]. Hunter. diamond merchant OF
.13 Maiden lane, reported the sale of a
$500 ring several weeks ago for whica
he had not received payment. even
though he had received many teiegrams
and sent several letters to addresses in
washington and New Orleans whence
the kilograms had come.
George a. llanean, representative or
sporting goods shop in the Hotel Com
modore, later came 10 the court room
with a package of what he said was
clothing which he wished to leave with
Mrs. Ruickholdt In exchange for a hat
she had purchased recently at his shop
with other articles of clothing whose
value was nearly $1,000, Much of the
clothing was recovered in the Murray
Hill Hotel after Mrs. Ruickholdt was
arrested. 1t Is said that she opened an
account early this month under the
name OF Charlotte Sharpe and stated
that she was stopping at the Murray
Hill with a Mrs. Porter.
One message to the police from Boston
indicates that Mrs. Ruickholdt is wanted
there for the theft OF q violin valued at
$3.50. The George Bell Company,
Jewellers Of 4 East Forty-second street,
are said to have reported sales amount
ing 10 1850 under fraudulent circIfn-
stances. other reports of sums varying
W to 5000 were Sjven by detectives in
court yesterday
DIR. Ruickholdt was not present when
his wife was arraigned. II was reported
later that he had arrived In the city,
although he did not go TO Jefferson MAJ p
lset before court adjourned.