davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1922-11-19

she was about to become .
mother, and he suggested the
ceremony as a matter Of chivalry,
he said, since he was responsible
for the girls condition.
GANG DESERTS HER.
Through the grapevine tele-
graph system Of the ring 1t was
learned that Eleanor was talk.
ing. and forthwith an attempt
was made to close her mouth.
Tho wife Of one Of the lawyers
involved In the girls statements
called on her in the hospital and
found that 1t was too late.
When she returned to Boston
there was a general conference
among the ringleaders, and Miss
Barnes name was dropped from
the weekly payroll. Then Eleanor
made a complete, definite state
ment to Prosecutor Schaatz, of
Hartford, telling in affidavit
form all that she knew Of the
makeup and machinery Of the
blackmailing band.
Here. told for the first time, 10
Eleanor Barnes own story of the
manner in which Albert Victor
Searles. the Boston millionaire
artist, who obtained a fortune
after the settlement of the estate
of his uncle, Edward Searles,
owner Of the New York Globe.
was duped and delivered into the
hands Of the extortion ring:
Il first met Vic Searles through
a man named Rogers, an engineer
for the United Drug Company.
This was four or five years ago.
when he was poor and struggling.
could have been his wife and
had millions at my disposal II I
had wanted 1t. But 1 never cared
for him or his company the way
a wife should.
He cooked meals for me many
times in his apartment and I in
troduced him to Blanche Paul,
but / never tried to blackmail
him. I was drugged that night.
and I've always suspected who
drugged me.
"Searles was with Blanche and
I was entertaining his secretary,
Capt. Arthur e. Austin. I took
The Washington herald., 1922-11-19
Beauty Of Many
Aliases FleeS After
Giving Bail, Stabs
Herself when Re-
arrested, and Now
Promises to "Connc
Clean"
BOSTON, Nov. IL.

BOSTON, Nov. IL.
"HE Queen Bee of the black
mailers IL trapped at last
- and she Ii leading Attorney
General Allen, Of Massachusetts,
to the hive where an organization
Of lawyers and their lures have
been singing scores of college
students. manufacturers and pro-
fessional men for years past.
The Attorney General IL already
investigating the activities Of the
band. and II is believed that ssv.
sral indictments viii follow.
The Queen Bee 10 Eleanor n.
Barnes, alias Esther Levy. alias
Marian Saunders. alias . dozen
other aliases. and her range Of
activity covers New England,
New York. Chicago and points
between This girl is twenty-five
years old. slim. pretty and quite
constituencies. She was caught
IN Hartford. Conn. with Abram
Levy. son Of q wealthy manufao-
turer, who revealed that they
were married. The revelation was
followed by the young woman's
arrest on a charge Of bigamy. for
she is still legally the wife of
Myron Groom. Of New York.
ATTEMPTS SUICIDE.
She was freed on 500 bail and
promptly fled to Springfield,
Mass. Recaptured there, she stab
bed herself, and for a week was
expected. to die. When she recov-
cred she agreed to come clean
through" to the Attorney General,
promising that her revelations
would shake Boston to its social
foundations.
The girl has given up enough
already to show that her testi-
mony will prove of paramount
importance in the pending investi-
cation, from which indictments
are expected. Miss Barnes said
that the inner ring of blackmail-
ers in Boston was composed Of a
number of lawyers. who found
honesty unremunerative and de-
cided to develop a side line OF ex-
tortion.
She gave their names, tracing
the origin of the idea back to the
mulcting of Albert Victor Searles.
The Washington herald., 1922-11-19

get anywhere, the way I'd have
it-snd have the best doctSTs in
the world working over II and try
ing to save ii as IL il was their
own child-or the kings childr'
WED all want to be king. that's
itr' said a laughing voice.
NO" the woman named Abigail
corrected her quickly. 1T would
have to be that every house in the
land had these magic boxes and
wires and cooking places and such
things. Men can be kings, IL they
like. but there won't be any real
kingdom for women until the lit
tlest child in the littlest house of
all has as good a chance as the
richest
WHAT EASE WON'T TOUCH.
Thy kingdom come" quoted
a reverent voice softly. II guess
that'd pretty near be the King
uoiu Al VIC hd0 GAL liaAg WOuioh
it7"
Yes. It might be-" said a
cracked old voice suddenly. and
the grandmother, who was dream
ing. huddled in a "paddysoy" by
the log fire. suddenly entered the
conversation. You'd have the
Kingdom, 'Lizabeth Ann, and
Abby and Henrietta. IL folks took
It like they oughterr' she said.
You teach your children the
Commandments now. and to be
meek. and honest. and Godfearin'.
and thrifty. and to help their
neighbors-you1l send 'em back
five miles to the store to pay
three shillin's on the day YOU
promised IL and you strap 'em
good when they lie. or act cruel,
or take the Lords name in vain,
And il the children of them
days you all are dreamin' about
do the same. and use their new
magic to make the world better
and cleaner and safer for the
children and bear in mind that
life is short, then you may well
have the Kingdom come-though
there won't none of US live to
see II!
But worldly ease and luxury
The Washington herald., 1922-11-19
BLACKMAIL., QUEEN TRAPPED,
i REVEALS WOMEN LURES

1t was then that the girls Identity
and occupation became known.
Fast following the Barnes girl's
disclosures came the unearthing Of
evidence IN Boston revealing that
the petite and pretty Ethel
Whelar. the feminine fence Of the
Hub. just sentenced to long
term In prison, was the central
figure in another ring Of sirens
who preyed on visiting business
men and college students.
Whether this ring operated In
connection with the circle that EN-.
pioyed Eleanor Barnes and Blanche
Paul 10 not yet established. but the
methods were strikingiy similar. A.
witness this letter which Miss
Whelan had written to o friend,
Mildred Goodwin. Of Yarmouth,
Nova Scotia:
Dear Mildred:
why don't you come back TO
Boston? What can you see In Q
little town1ike Yarmouth You
ought to be here now. We are
making q lot Of soft money and
there is room for you to Join US.
college boys are paying our
bills and four Of them are com.
ing over Saturday night. the night
Of the Center game. Bug party.
have. acquired q big bank-roll
and we are doing a big business.
Come along up.
yours, ETHEL"
The coterie which circled around
Ethel Whelan operated q straw
bond business as well.' dealt In
stolen goods, but essentially they
played the roles Of sirens, with
the financial backing Of powerful
legal interests. But Miss whelan.
unlike Miss Barnes. declined 10
squeal on her associates, de-
spite the official pressure, and
she was sent away to prison.
Tho Hearst newspapers traced
the identity and connections Of
the Barnes woman and drew the
far-reaching confession from her.
She. married young Levy i'm
mediateiy after her arrest because
The Washington herald., 1922-11-19

DOOIO4N, NUVs To-
THE Queen Bee OF the black
mailers IL trapped at last
u and she Ii leading Attorney
The Washington herald., 1922-11-19

kitchen that was always full Of Ice.
even In July" she went on reck-
lessly, land I'd have a magic fire.
place. without ashes. and grease
to 1t, that'd heat my kettle in three
minutes, even in the middle Of the
night-
"I'd have something more than
that" said the wistful voice of a
newcomer. a young wife. 'I'd have
a kind of-well. a kind Of wire.
stretching out between here and
Boston, twenty miles away. and
when I wanted to, or when the
baby was sick, could go talk to
my mother and my sisters. all that
way-and hear their voices. too.
and hear 'em laugh as they used to
do! Seems IL I could hear 'em,
Just once"
"T'd have a sort Of box-I've
often thought of thisr' said an
older woman, in the sympathetic
pause. You know my second
boy is a cripple. and my mothers
old. and they don't get out Of the
house from October to May. And
I was thinking. suppose there was
q sort of box. full Of music, and
you could really hear the singers
voices. and the bands, right there
In cur kitchen. wouldn't that be
q wonderful thing for them"
A WISH FOR THE BABIES.
Wouldn't 1t be wonderful, Abb
gail Slocum, IL we didn't have to
have so many of the old folks and
the children sick and crippled?" a
woman in black said softly. "If
the big cities weren't so far away
and the big doctors 50 expensive
IL we had a king that wasn't so
busy amusing himself and spend
ing his money all the time, way
off across the ocean. and he'd pay
for some of them getting helped!
The babies die. and die. and we
break our hearts over 'em-little,
patient things that the world never
hears or cares about! I'd have my
wish. / think. that the mother of
a tiny baby just had to take it
somewhere-and it'd be easy to
The Washington herald., 1922-11-19

Despite his age, I must say
that he was a wonderful lover.
He even paid the girls at the hos
pital IS an hour for them to take
my place, so I could get off when
ever he wanted me.
GOT LICENSE TO WED.
when I told Mansfield about
my marriage he said it wouldn't
make any difference. He loved
me, he said, and would marry me.
He took out a license on what I
thought was going to be our bridal
trip. I have 1t today, duly signed.
On that occasion we stayed in the
tavern for two weeks.
Twice after that I got a call
from Mansfield. He sneered
when I told him about the mar
riage certificate.
"I attached his property and
fled to Canada. I entered suit
for $4,000. The attachment has
never been lifted. At the proper
day and place Frank Mansfield
and I will have our day in court.
I'VE used to know a lot OF
Harvard boys" Eleanor Barnes
said. in describing other esca-
pades of herself and Blanche
Paul, the rings" other lure.
e Blanche and 1 were particularly
chummy with two boys named
The Washington herald., 1922-11-19

During their wanderines the les
sons the two women had learned
while under the tutelage of the
Boston lawyer stood them In good
stead and kept them well supplied
with money. She said:
We left Boston for New Hannp-
shire, where we remained several
days. We met a lot Of good fel-
lows in Concord. Manchester and
other places, and we sure STAGED
some parties.
From New Hampshire we went
to Springfield. Worcester and other
Massachusetts, cities. and then to
Detroit. Blanche bled several Of
ficials in the Ford plant.
I'VE used to 90 out TO the Bel
mont Country Club O lot.
Blanche took q shine to a golf
professional there who knew her
under the name Of May Bell.
They had many parties. Al usual.
Blanche wound up by threatening
him. She tried the same trick
on an investigator for q Boston
credit association"
The attorney general 10 also
using Lillian II. Rossee. Of East
Boston. as q witness against the
blaclmaiiing ring. but the exact
nature OF her evidence has not
yet bean revealed.
The Washington herald., 1922-11-19

three drinks. and then don't
remember what happened. When
I came to Captain Austin was
rubbing my hands and face and
telling mo that there had been a
raid.
"Vic Searles' wife, Miss Boulis-
ter, knew that / had no part In
the blackmail game that cost him
SO dearly after that raid. II she
were here she would substantiate
what I said.
II was single when Vic Searles
made love to me. But I didn't
care for him in that way.
Gee! Victor was a funny duck.
'Vickey' used to wear light pur-
pie socks. little brown shoes, O
red tie and a green suit. and when
met him on the street 1 used to
nearly die. He was a scream.
In describing how Frank K.
Mansfield. the silk manufacturer,
was caught and escaped from the
trap. the Barnes girl said:
IT first met Frank K. Mans
field on the old Fail River line
boat, New York to Boston. I was
then about sixteen years old. I
was sitting on one of the decks
when he came along and said:
Whose little cutie are you? I
told him I was unattached and
fancy frea-
The Washington herald., 1922-11-19

LeBarron and Adrian. LeBarron
was Blanche's fellow.
"They were only ''freshies." but
they certainly liked a good time
Blanche's friend. LeBarron, had
a Rolls-Royce. On one occosion
when we were off on an auto
trip. he tried to commit suicide.
drinking part of a bottle Of ether
before we could stop him. That's
what Blanche drove her easy
marks to.
ROUTED BY POLICEMAN.
I'll never forget the night
Adrian proposed to me in a door
way. All of us had been drink
ing. Adrian got down on his
knees with a fine courtesy and
said with all Of his best Harvard
English:
"'win you be mine, sweet
heartr This was at l. o'clock in
the morning. Just as Adrian was
doing his stuff. a policeman came
along and said:
Never mind the win you be
mine stuff. Get out Of here And
we did"
The Barnes girl said that the
break between Mrs. Paul and her
self came after Mrs. Paul had
threatened to shoot a former Yale
student unless he gave her money.
The Washington herald., 1922-11-19

from whom at least sol 900 was
extracted after . carefully staged
raid.
For the last two years, Mis-
Barnes said, she and the Paul wom-
an have been operating outside
Boston, but were continued on the
blackmailing rings payroll at $50
a week each. The envelopes in
which the money came. she said,
were always marked: From John
w. Harvey, Highland avenue, Som
erville. Mass"
Eleanor drifted to New Haven,
while Blanche Paul went West. The
Barnes girl developed a wide &C
quaintanceship among Yale stu
dents. following suggestions from
the Hub headquarters of the band.
At a time when she believed the
youth was carrying several thou
sands of dollars in currency, the
girl framed a fake raid, and the
boy gave up $500, all he had, to the
supposedly official raiders.
Eleanor said that she turned this
in to the Boston office, less deduc-
tions for incidental expenses, and
was notified in reply that she was
too cheap, and that the young
mans family would have to give
up more. When pressure was ap-
piled on Harris Levy. the students
father. he fought back and finally
arranged real raid in which both
his son and Eleanor were captured
The Washington herald., 1922-11-19
SIMPLE FAITH
BY KATHLEEN NORRIS:
and
HIGH IDEALS

What had the mothers
Of 1722 that we have not
of simple faith, Of cour-
age, self sacrifice, high
ideals7
Whist was their concep-
ton Of maternal duty, and
shat Il ours7
Have we sold the hsri-
tage we had from them
the love Of God, Of home,
Of goodness, Of neighbor,
the strong and loyal love
Of country-for Q mess Of
pottage7
Suppose that we look
forward to that year that
win be .scribbled upon
Christmas thank-you let
ters as ''2121.
win they remember
that it was in the early
second quarter of the
twentieth century, 1926
The Washington herald., 1922-11-19

$780, that the newly enfrancsed women Of America sud-
denly awakened to patriotism to goodness of
long forgotten duty to God and nehbor and that they
made the world anew?
Or win generation be remembered indulging
in untold luxures untold extravagances untold impiees
and liberties disrespect for family ties contempt for
motherhood, idolatry of bodily beauties and appettes
and utter indifference to the glorious principles that make
nation different from any other nation in the world
and that the guiding star of those very colonial
fathers and mothers whose copley portraits thin old
spoons, Pembroke chairs and Mayflower highboys we
cherish so carefully in snobbish hearts?
The Washington herald., 1922-11-19

THE WOMAN WHO TOLD
II was Mrs. ROssee who gave the
Attorney General valuable infor-
nation by which the activities Of
Blanche Paul and other lures
were traced to the legal ring
through which they were d.
rected.
the millionaire artist. who gave up
se1 900 to avoid the exposure of
>his underworld intrigues-only to
find that the money had been
spent in vain.
Eleanor Barnes said that she
and Mrs. Blanche Paul were the
lures .who were used against
Searles so successfully. She also
participated, she said, in an at
tempt to badger Frank K. Mans
. field. a wealthy New York silk
manufacturer. and named two
Yale youths who had fallen for her
while she was working on a sal
ary under instructions from the
inner ring of extortionists in Bos-
ton.
BIG GAME BROUGHT DOWN.
In the Searles case It was proved
that Of the s61 900 which the mil
ionaire artist paid for silence $751;
900 went to William ]. Corcoran,
then District Attorney of MiddIesex
county, who was disbarred for par
ticipation in the negotiations. Will
liam J. Kelly and William j. Hart.
nett. two other Hub ATTORNEYS.
were also implicated.
The Washington herald., 1922-11-19

THE FEMININE FENCE AND
BOND BROKER-It was Ethel
whelan's province to bail out
girls who were trapped by the po-
lice and to handle the loot Of tho
band that fleeced some Of Bos-
toms wealthiest young men.
When Ethel wrote . letter inyft-
ing q friend to join the conspfr-
acy, she was herself trapped and
sent to prison.
The Washington herald., 1922-11-19

This Is one Of a series Of Woman
to-Woman Talks on present-day
family and social problems that
Mrs. Norris, Americas bestowed
and most popular woman writer,
is writing especially for The Wash
ington Times. Another talk win
be printed next Sunday.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1922-12-20

-Towner has new line Of French
Ivory. The most wonderful assert
ment ever shown in Viroqua.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1922-12-20
LETSGET THEFREE CLINIC

If Viroqua wants one of the thirty
six free chest clinics which are being
offered by the Wisconsin Association
as prizes in this years Christmas seal
sale, it will have to hustle.
Eight of these prizes will be award
ed to communities over 2100 popula-
ton and two of these prizes will go to
the communities between 2100 and
$500 population which rank first and
second for highest per capita sale of
Christmas seals. Viroqua also has a
chance to win one of the two clinics
which will be awarded to the two COM
munities in the entire group over 2100
population making the largest per-
centage of increase over their 1921
sales. Competition will be KEEN There
are nine communities in the group be-
tween 2100 and 1900 population. The
nine communities which will compete
in the high per capita sale contest are:
Columbus, Horizon, jefferson, Lam
caster, Mineral Point, Neillsville, New
Richmond, Spooner, Viroqua. For the
two clinics awarded as prizes for the
greatest gain over last year, the COM
petition will be even greater for there
will be three groups in the contest.
They are communities between 2100
to 2600 population; $500 to $500; and
$500 and over.
In each of these groups there will
be two clinics awarded for high per
capita sales which with the two gen.
eral prizes for gain in sales, will make
total of twelve in the entire group.
The free chest clinic is one of the
most popular prizes ever awarded in
the Christmas seal sale. Eighteen
communities have had this service DUR
ing the past. year as prize winners in
the 1921 sale. Proof of their value
and of the need for them has been so
convincing that this year the Wiscon-
sin Anti Tuberculosis Association has
doubled the number to be given as
prizes.
Chances of winning a clinic are
therefore twice as good this year as
they were last. On the other hand,
communities are more alive to the
value of the service and competition
win be keener.
There's only one way to win. Get
busy and keep busy.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1922-12-20
Stats
Diary

Friday-Are teecher was tawking
about nineteen % being the Centennial
Of sumthing ruther and Pug and Bis
ters was haveing argument about
wether basket ball or futball was the
! usefullest to mans education and
suddenly she turned to Pug and she
says, What is q Centennial. Pug was
caught off of his gard as they say in
| Sporting Cirkles and ect and he scrac-
| he'd his ear mint and then up Il sed.
| A Centennial is a wirm with about a
| 1000 legs commonly called a 100 leg
ged wirm. Well we all had laf at
Pugs Expense.
Saturday-Cum out to Uncle Hens
home in the rural country helped him
feed the pigs and other animals. He
has got a new fountain pen witch was
give to him on his birthday anniver-
sity and he calls it true Love. When
asst him why he answered and reply
ed. Because it never runs smooth.
Time for bed at thirty. Well this is
country life. | CESS.
Sunday-Herd lot of queer noises
las mite. Remembered what pa sed
about hideing money when you are
sleeping in strange place. And TUX
my sixty 5 cents and put it in my
stocking and htrowed it over in the
corner kinda careless like. Then layed
awake prit nigh all mite watching the
old stocking. Rochellow and Ford
must have awe full time Citing to
sleep at mite.
Monday--Back to town and glad of
the same. Went to a social and herd
lady sing solo in Soprano and also
/ in French. Ma was crazy about it
parently and sed she sung like a
bird. Pa sed he wisht he wood of had
shot gun. | CESS he never viii ap-
recate art like ma does. Or me.
Tuesday-Well we got moved to are
new house finely at last and / gees pa
and me will never get to walk on the
flore only in are stocking IT. on acct.
of the way the old flores is fixed up.
Personally / wood ruther live in the
old homested and have personal lib
erty.
Wednesday--Well got reuse now
for not byeing Jane emmy Crismas
| presence after she went & Insulted
me the way she did at hte Camp fire
| girls dance tonite. A supple fellows
went home erly and Jane sed let en-
20. and / sed. But what IL all the
| gentlemen wood leave like that and
she sed they wood get along because
they wood be me and few others left
yet So ! am off Of the female ques-
| ton for Good and all.
Thursday-Mas cuzzen was here
this morning for vile and he sure did
tawk. He cuddent tawk about moth
| ing else than his parents. After he
had went pa sed be was such liar
- ,.ao 0Vss1ui AZ ne ever naa any
parents he was ouch a liar.
-Towner has a new line Of French
| Ivory. The most wonderful assort-
neut ever shown IN Vfroor1s
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1922-12-20
| REn cRnSs WINNING
The CHURCH notes
vIROQUA CIRCUIT

Liberty Pole, Sunday school at 10.
preaching service at H.
Springville-The young peoples So
ciety will meet at 2, to be led by Miss
Richardson. Preaching service at 7:45.
A Christmas message '4The Babe of
the Bethlehem Manger." A God bless
you and may we have the spirit of the
Man of Galilee this Christmas tide.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
Sunday school at 10, morning wor-
ship at IL; Christmas program 1880.
On account of the evening program
there viii be no C. E. meeting. We
urge every one to be on time for both
morning and evening services. Espe-
cially the children in the evening pro-
gram.
Eye shall His name Jesus. When
we search for an influence that is uni
versal, influencing and moulding deep
ly the hearts of men, We find it in the
little town of Bethlehem. Call Him by
any name you wish; He cannot be
bounded by name. Creeds cannot de-
fine Him. Our doctrines are pitfully
empty when we try to explain His full
ness. Back of the name Jesus is the
great divine personality. His human
body becoming the instrument of the
dlvlne nature revealing under the con-
ditions of earthly life the glories of
God.
METHODIST CHURCH
Christmas services next Sunday.
with the observance of the White
Cross. At the morning service the
choir will render two Christmas an
thems: "Glory to God" by Shipper. and
1T Came Upon the Midnight Clear"
Christmas hymns will be sung and an
appropriate address given by the pas
tor.
In the evening the Sunday school
and Junior choir will render COM
bined program. Each will give a Cam
tata. The Sunday school Cantata is
entitled: "A Journey to Christmas
Land" The choir Cantata is called
"The Christmas Spirit. This affords
a program of unusual merit. There
viii also be a tree and other decora-
tions.
Sunday school at 10 o'clock and Ep-
worth League at GAS.
As Sunday is Christmas Eve every
body should attend church and cele-
brate Christ's birthday