New-York tribune., 1920-12-28
Hypnotic Eye
W oman Faces
Many Accusers
Mrs. Ruickholdt Begs for
Mercy as She Passes
Sister of One Victim
OH Way to Her Cell
Bail Raised to $4,000
jewelers. and Merchants
Charge Frauds Totaling
Thousands of Dollars

When Mrs. Ruth Ruickhoidt. wife of
New Haven physician, was nrrajgned
yesterday in Jefferson Market court
on charge Of grand larceny, which
caused her arrest in this city last Fri
day, several additional complainants
were present TO testify regarding her
alleged swindling operations in this
and other cities. It developed from
statements of the witnesses and the
police that she is wanted in connection
with dozen or more frauds.
After hearing the additional com
plants Magistrate Max Levine in
creased Mrs. Ruickholdt's bal from
$4,000 to $4,000, in default Of which
she was sent back to her cell to await
trial next Thursday.
Newspaper accounts of Mrs. Ruick-
holdt's arrest resulted in the deluge o.
complaints made against her yester
day. The specific complaint on which
she was arraigncd was made by DR.. f.
T. Sharpe, of Derby, Conn, who charged
that she obtained $1,000 from him re-
Gently hv telephoning from this city
that she was Charlotte Sharpe, his Sis
ter, and was in distress as the result
Of being robbed of her valise and con-
tents valued at $4,000. Although she
is said to have told the doctor that
she needed $500 immediately, Dr..
Sharpe said he felt such sympathy for
her that he tclegraphcd her $1,000.
jewelers. Complaint
The complaint which caused Mrs
Ruickholdt's arrest was made by Stone
g. Perry, New London, Conn, jewelers.,
who telegraphed the police here that
she had obtained a gold watch and
diamond ring from them by represent
ing herself to be Mrs. Alfred Mitchell
daughter Of the late Charles A. Tif-
fany
Samuel J. Hunter, a diamond cutter,
of 13 Maiden Lane, rushed into Jeffer-
son Market court yesterday and asked
| if he could see the alleged swindler.
He said he thought she was the woman
who represented herself to him as
Charlotte Sharpe, colsetier. and
thereby had robbed him Of a diamond
ring worth $500. Hunter picked out
Mrs. Ruickholdt as the woman who, he
says, swindled him.
Other complainants and the swim
ding operations charged by them
were:
Harry c. Brown, Nineteenth Street
and Broadway, Flush ng, who said Mrs.
Ruickh oldt had swindled him out Of
5000 by pretending she was a friend of
his sister; J. c. Houston, Of 124 South
/ Fourth Avenue, Mt. Vernon, who sent
word that the woman got me for
$685. but that he would not be able to
I appear against her before Friday :
George Bell Company, jewellers, of
East Forty-second Street, who alleged
the concern had been defrauded of
$3.50 worth Of jewelry; George Langan
Il dress manufacturer with a store in
the Hotel Commodore, who said the
prisoner came into his place last week
ordered an outfit worth 5000 and, leav-
ing her old clothes in the dressing
room, walked off without paying and r
G. Roth, manager of the Davega Sport
Shop, in the Hotel Commodore, who
herself to be Miss Sharpe had obtained
credit at the place since December ]
Of nearly $1,000 in women's sport
APPAREL.
DR.. Sharpe Present
According to Mr.. Roth, she sale
! Charlotte Sharpe was her maiden name
ana thaC Snc COnuuCCeO corset ShOI
under that name at Prov deNce r.
She gave her address as the Murray
Hill Hotel, at which place the articles
purchased had been delivered to her
DR.. Sharpe, who had never seen the
defendant before, and Miss Charlott,
Sharpe, who became acquainted will
her about ten years ago, but had moi
seen her for three years, were in tn;
courtroom when the ce Sc was called.
Dr. Sharpe said the defendant called
him up on the day in question and sait
she was in terrible predicament. 81
have just been defrauded by a crippl(
outside the Hotel McAlpin," she !.
quoted as having told the doctor
When I opened my purse to get hin
g dollar some one seized my valise. con
tanning $4,000 in cash and jewelry.
am heartbroken. Please send me $780,
immediately" Later, when DR.. Sharp,
communicated with the real Mis-:
Sharpe, the deception was revealed
"Have mercy on mel" cried Mrs
Ruickholdt as she passed Miss Sharpe
on the way back to her cell. Mis-
Sharpe said the defendant was Mis-
Ruth Champlin, Of South Lyme, Conn,
prior to her marriage to DR.. Ruickholdt
The defendants family, she said. wer