The Washington times., 1920-12-28
WEEPSA SHE
FACES DUPES
Mrs. RuickhoIdt, Alleged Swind-
Ter, Asks Mercy as She Is
Taken to Cell.

NEW 1Ofth, DoC. lo.-min' ANuSh
Ruickholdt. wife OF q New Haven
physician, wept yesterday before
Magistrate Levine In Jefferson
Market court when compliments
described how she used the tele-
phone TO effect alleged swindles.
The magistrate was told by detec-
tives OF complaints forwarded here
from individuals and firms In six
States that they had been victimized
by the woman.
SENT HER SI.OSo.
The specific complaint on which
she was arraigned yesterday was
made by DIR. L. T. Sharpe. Of Derby.
Conn. He charged she 'impersonated
Miss Charlotte Sharpe. his cousin.
In telephone request for funds
from the McAlpin Hotel In this city
on December 2. The physician tes-
tined he forwarded his supposed
cousin $1,000 by telegraph.
After hearing the statements OF
some OF the compliments and per-
sons who said they were swindled
by Mrs. Ruickholdt, Magistrate Lee
vine Increased her bail from $4,000
to $4,000, and committed her to the
Jefferson Market prison In default
of the sum.
ASKS MERCY OF VICTIM.
The case was adjourned until
Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock to
give the defendant time to engage
a criminal lawyer. John II. Donnelly.
an attorney. who represented Mrs.
Ruickholdt yesterday. explained ne
handled civil cases only.
M ha Md
the defendant until yesterday. Miss
Sharpe said she became acquainted
with her about ten years ago. but
had not seen her for three years.
Passing Miss Sharpe on the way
to her CELL Mrs. Ruickholdt weep
ingly exclaimed:
"Oh. Charlotte. have mercy on
me-"
DR.. Sharpe testified that the de-
PENDANT telephoned him from New
York. representing herself to be his
cousin, and said:
I'm in terrible predicament. I
just befriended q cripple outside the
McAipin. When / opened my purse
to get him u dollar someone seized
my valise containing $4,000 and my
jewelry. l am heartbroken. Please
send me $500 Immediately"
DOCTOR WIRED HER $1,000.
I. After consulting his wife, DR..
Sharpe said he telegraphed $1,000. He
did not discover he had been deceived
until he consulted with Mrs. Sharpe.
who told him she had made no re-
quest for money. Miss Sharpe said
that Mrs. Ruickholdt was Miss Ruth
Champlin. Of South Lyme. Conn. be-
fore her marriage. Tho defendants
a.. hioh
Sharpe said.
Complaints received by the police
concerning Mrs. RuIckholt-S's activi-
ties showed that lately she had OBJ
tanned about $1,000 in cash and val
uables. usually through impersonat-
ing others. IL was said. Representa-
tives Of the Hotels Biltmore and Com
modore said she had run up accounts
at both places.
Detectives said that they had re-
ceived a message from Boston that
the woman was wanted there on n
charge of having stolen a violin val
ued at $3.50 belonging to Franz
Burstaller. Harry c. Brown, of Flat
bush, telegraphed the woman had OBJ
tanned $500 from him by pretending
ter.
j. c. Houston, Of Mt Vernon, sent
word Mrs. Ruickholdt had obtained
$3.50 from him through a similar
trick.
OTHERS vICTIMIZED.
| "A representative OF George Bell &
Co. alleged his firm had been de.
frauded of $3.50 by the defendant
who, he charged, gave a fictitious
name.
Several hours after Mrs. Ruickholdt
had been taken to cell, George
Langan,. dress manufacturer, who
has a store in the Hotel Commodore,
appeared He said the woman en-
tered his place last week, tried on
a clothing outfit valued at 5000. and
walked out, leaving her old clothes
and neglecting to pay for the new
ones. The outfit included a dress and
squirrel fur hat. When Langan saw
Mrs. Ruickholdt in her cell she DOTTED
the hat and gave it to him.
At the afternoon session OF court,
]. Hunter, diamond cutter, OF
Maiden lane. requested permission to
see the prisoner. Taken to her cell
he identified her as woman who had
obtaind a $500 ring from him on
credit by representing herself to be
Charlotte Sharpe.
NEW HAVEN. Dec. 2S.-Mrs Ruick
holdt left here last summer with her
husband for Mantle, where they had
summer home. Neither has beer
seen here since. although friends say
they have had letters from DR.. Ruick.
holdt and are positive that the phys.
ician Is totally unaware OF most Of the
many financial operations of his wife
Mrs. Ruickholdt came to this city
about ten years ago. She was at one
time a waitress. Later she had q
boarding house for Yale students
which failed. She was arrested March
25. 1912, on charge Of defraudinp
the Hotel Taft by claiming to be q
wealthy Kentucky widow. She hao
run up a large bill for lodging and
meals. Friends went to her aid ana
the case was settled out of court
Soon afterward she was married t.
DR.. Ruickholdt. She was prominen
in court during the several years OF
! litigation over the estate OF DR.
Ruickholdts father, which ended In
an equal division OF about $1,000,
among three sons.
| Aha,,t WAR arc NJ.