Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-07
Attempt to Extort $4,000
From Capital Couple
Is Charged.
SCULPTOR AND WIFE
ARE INVOLVED IN CASE
Greatest Scandal in Country"
Threatened Unless Money Paid,
U. S. Warrant Claims.

conspiracy 10 OlaCRmdu MIS-. Cor
nelia D. B. Calhoun and her husband,
Capt. C. C. Calhoun, socially prominent
and officers of the Womans Universal
Alliance, out of $4,000, is charged in a
warrant sworn out today by an agent
of the Department of Justice before
United States Commissioner Needham
C. Turnage, against w. Clark Not!e. a
local sculptor, and his wife, Mrs. w.
Clark Noble, 1880 Sixteenth street; Mrs.
Anna M Hillenbrand, a nurse; James F.
Bird, an attorney in the Munsey Build
ing. and Stephen A. Armstrong, whose
address is not given.
Deputy United States Marshals Clark
son, Ceremile and Swami served the
warrants at the Office of the attorney
following conference arranged by the
Department of Justice agent, who took
with him a check of Capt. Calhoun'S
for 100000, which was to be turned
over when the accused had signed a
paper promising not to initiate a rival
organization and not to publish certain
letters derogatory to the organization
or to the Calhouns. The agreement
the surrender of all statements pre-
pared for publication regarding the al
lance and the Calhouns.
Wording of Warrant.
According to the warrant, 1t is
charged that on July 20. 1929, the de-
PENDANTS conspired to violate the black
mail statute and in furtherance thereof
each committed overt acts. Noble and
his wife are said TO have employed Mrs.
Hlllenbrand to act as agent for them
and that she threatened Mrs. CCrne.Ja
D. B. Calhoun and her husband with
what she described as 'one of the
greatest scandals LII the country" I'M
less the Calhouns, by paying a large
sum of money, would settle an alleged
claim of Noble against the CalhounS
and the Woman's Universal Alliance.
Bird is alleged to have stated that
unless settlement was made of Mobiles
alleged claim, he would. on behalf of
Noble, organize a rival organization
which would destroy the Woman's Uni
versal Alliance. and that in the course
of such organization of another alliance,
they were going to be very nasty about
as they could"
Armstrong; Part Is Charged.
Armstrong is alleged to have said
that If settlement was made he would
stop Mrs. Hillenbrand from carrying
out her alleged threats, otherwise he
| would do nothing"
The alleged overt acts are said to have
been committed at conferences at which
one or both of the Calhouns were pres
ent.
The five accused persons were taken
| to the Office of United States Attorney
Leo A. Rover and then were taken to
! the office of the United States commits
sioner. where Mr.. Rover said he would
ask for bond of $4,000 for four OF
them and ST 900 for Bird. All but Mrs.
Hillenbrand made bond.
Makes Statement.
Assistant United States Attorney
Charles B. Murray, to whom complaint
was made of the alleged threats made
by the accused, gave out statement Of
what the Calhouns had told him. Ac-
cording to this statement, Mrs. Calhoun
said she was introduced in June. 1924.
to w. Clark Noble. who has recently
! come to Washington and opened a
studio here. She was advised, she says,
that Noble had plan in his studio for
monument to American womanhood,
which might be adapted for use in the
literature of the Woman'S Universal
Alliance. She says she told Noble about
her plans for mothers memorial, and
| he was eager that she use his design
NLlICIl lie NUulu cUdtC0
! that he could bring financial backing to
the undertaking.
Noble. according to Mrs. Calhoun's
statement to the assistant prosecutor,
appeared before the executive commit
tee of the Woman's Universal Alliance,
repeated his offer. stated that he was
able to finance the issuance Of book
let. although he never provided the
money promised, she says, and his
model was never accepted by the execu-
tive committee nor did the Woman's
Universal Alliance accept it. The al
| lance, however. did accept his design
| in general outline for the purpose Of
| illustrating literature, which brought in
practically no return, she declares. For
this he was paid $4,000 from the funds
of the alliance. Mrs. Calhoun stated,
and she personally gave him financial
aid
In the Autumn of 1925. Mrs. Calhoun
said, Mr.. Noble withdrew his design,
and asked that it be not used by tho
alliance.
Submitted Draft of Contract.
Noble then made an attempt, Mrs.
Calhoun said, to organize a mothers
memorial group of his own, but was
unsuccessful in the attempt.
Noble submitted draft OF the con-
1Copt;nuod on pace Column 81