The Washington times., 1921-05-23
BLACKMA|L king
CONNECTED WITH
REDS SHOOTING
Same Band Extorted $4,000
From A. G. Vanderbilt, Who
Died on Lusitania.

NEW YORK, May 23.-Alfred
Gwynne Vanderbilt. who died q
hsro's death when the. Lusitania was
sunk by q German U-boat, was one
Of the victims OF the gang of black
mailers uncovered by the shooting
of John II. Reid.
His name was brought into the
investigation of the shooting today
by District Attorney Edward ]. Glen
non. of the Bronx.
PLAYED NO FAvORITEs.
Vanderbilt's narrowing experience
was disclosed by the district attorney
to show that no matter how high q
mans position might be he could not
be secure from the reach OF the extor-
tionists.
The leader Of this band. whom the
police have characterized as the
king of the Blackmailers," 10 now
under surveillance as a result Of evil
dence gathered in the Reid case.
Vanderbilt is shown to- have been
an unwilling victim OF the thorough
ly interruptions gang. 1t Is reported
to District Attorney Glennon that
Vanderbilt fought tho ckmailers
here and in Europe, and that his life
was threatened at the Horse Show In
Madison Square Garden in 1915. Att
erward he was protected by private
detectives.
For the sake OF his family, 1t Is
related, the threats OF the black
mailers having terrorized Vanderbilt's
close relatives, he Is said to have set
tied with the band through q law
yer for $4,000. The band is said to
have demanded a much larger sum.
ADVISED NOT To SETTLE.
He was advised not to settle, as
blaakmsilers, but anxiety for his
family because of the dire threats
is said to have urged him to COM
promise.
His name now comes Unexpectedly
into the investigation of the near
tragedy in the home OF Mrs Hazel
Davis Warner, 1892 University av-
enue, The Bronx, a week ago yes
terday.
"Dapper Don" Collins, as he is
known to the police, but whose real
name is Arthur Tourbillon. on that
occasion shot John II. Reid. the
police say. The Bronx District At
torney. looking for evidence to IN
dict Tourbillon. unexpectedly un-
earthed a nest of blackmailers.
many rlcn men are now IN tne
clutches of the blackmailers. There
are said to be many cases, and many
prominent lawyers involved either as
counsel for plaintiffs in extortion
suits or for defendant rich men
In questionable actions.
District Attorney Glennon said:
Mrs. Warner, the Misses Lila and
Audrey Lawrence and their friend
Charles leighton, and George Buri-
ger, Mrs. Warmers uncle. are all sub
poenaed to testify before the grand
jury on Tuesday. There may be other
witnesses, including the socalled King
OF the Blsckmailers. II this individ.
ual is not called on Tue sday he will
be taken before the grand jury within
a day OF so thereafter.
REID's CONDITION PUZZLES.
The question of getting Reid before
the grand jury Is a problem. He wal
removed from Fordham Hospital tc
Lloyd's Sanitarium last Tuesday night
under $4,000 bail as a material wit.
ness. His condition had been improv.
ing steadily. DR.. Alexander Nichols
the attending physician, said.
Strangely enough he had some kind
OF a setback yesterday or Saturday
night. DR.. Nicholas said yesterday he
expected to operate on Reid's eyes
and his fractured skull next Wednes.
day.