New-York tribune., 1920-03-21
Trail Of Checks,
All Forged, Laid to
"Marie the Vanp''
Woman Held Here Accused
by Philadelphia Police Of
Raising Money Under
Alias Mrs. J. j. Widener'
Special DispatcA to The Tribune


PHILADELPHIA. March TO- The
alias "Mrs. ]. J. Widener, of Philadel-
phia," known to the police of a dozen
cities as "Marie the Vamp," is ended
The New York police, acting for the
Philadelphia District Attorneys Office,
arrested her in New York to-day on a
warrant charging that she passed a bad
check.
The methods employed by Marie de
Saldi were peculiar and they were al
most always successful, as many per-
sons in this city, Baltimore, Washing
ton and New York will testify. A
limousine, with a negro chauffeur
figured in her escapades and backed up
with checks printed for Philadelphia
business men Marie proved irresistible.
The police here first heard of marie
the Vamp" in July, when she drove to a
fashionable Chestnut Street store with
hired limousine and hired negro
chauffeur. She purchased $35 worth
of apparel and gave as payment a check
that had been printed for a prominent
Philadelphia business man, who is in
the real estate and mortgage business.
Several hours later the woman ap-
peared at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel
arranged for dinner party for twenty
persons and rendered check for $780,
She received $50 change from the check,
which is said to have been a forgery
On the same afternoon she went to the
Adelphi and arranged for another ban
quet. giving check for 1926, but when
she asked the management for the
change they told her to come back the
next day. This check was also a forg-
cry, it is declared.
The next heard of Marie, according
to the police, was in Baltimore on Julv
8, where, posing as Mrs. .oJseph E.
Widener, of Philadelphia, she engaged
suite of rooms in the Southern Hotel.
Here for week she spent money Law
lshly. She presented a check for 81 900
for the $400 bill. Again Philadelphian
whose name the authorities will not
reveal came to the rescue. He swore
he knew the woman as Mrs. Widener,
of Philadelphia, and he endorsed the
check. The woman received $500
change, it is said, and disappeared. The
check was forgery, according to the
District Attorney, and the man who
endorsed it had to make good.
December was the last appearance
of "Marie the Vamp" in this city, ac-
cording to the police. On that day, in
her limousine and with her negro
section and went to the store of Fook
Kee, 1908 Race Street. Fook Kee ham
dies lichee nuts, carved jade and agate
jewelry, so when the beautiful woman
in furs swept into his establishment
with her negro chauffeur he was all
smiles and proceeded to show his
wares.
After selecting about $500 worth of
valuables, including great carved jade
and suggested that he select several
presents at her expense. The negro
did, and the total bill amounted to
about $500. Marie explained that she
didn't have enough money with her,
but that if Fook KEGS clerk would jump
into her limousine she would drive
home with her purchase and get the
money. This was agreeable to the
Chinese, and the clerk, seizing the big
lamp. followed Marie to he automo-
bile.
The chauffeur was instructed to drive
to big apartment house at Fifteenth
and Pine streets and as the car stopped
Marie told the Chinese to step out of
the machine, take the bundle into the
apartment house and her chauffeur
would follow with the rest of the pur-
chases. When the Chinese had hoped
out of the automobile Marie gave the
word to the chauffeur and he drove
away. The Chinese was left standing
with the big lamp in his hand and yell
ing for the police.
woman who said she was Marie de
Salvo is a prisoner in the West 135th
Street station. She is charged with
grand larceny for the alleged theft of
$3.50 worth of clothing from house in
the neighborhood. On the police blot
ter she is listed as negro. She gave
her birthplace as Spain, and detectives
who arrested her said she has appear
anco of dark oI white ,,o,no,