Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-01
Police Charge Victims Were
Sent to Europe on "Free"
Excursions.
LIFE SAVINGS LOST,
DETECTIVES ARE TOLD
48-Year-Old Woman Taken Into
Custody After Check for
Passage Comes Back.

An alleged confidence scheme where
by the victims were fleeced of their en-
tire financial resources and then sent
to Europe on a free" excursion paid
for by alleged worthless checks was un-
covered in Washington this afternoon
by headquarters detectives.
They arrested Elzina Howells, 4a
years old, of the $500 block of Thirteenth
street and held her for investigation
at the House of Detention. Six of the
victims, mostly women, were f1eeced OF
$4,000 here since the first of the
month, according to information in the
hands of police.
The alleged plot was laid before po-
lice Tuesday by two English women
residents of Washington for the past
10 years, two days after their return
from one of the pleasure" excursions
to Havre, France. They identified
themselves as Lillian Gerard and Irene
Biggs.
The two young women claim Mrs
HowellS defrauded them of $4,000 on
a pretense of investing it.
Warrant Sworn Out.
One of the young women swore out
a warrant for Mrs. Howells charging
her with false pretenses. although the
prisoner is being held for investigation,
booked by Detectives Ira Keck and B
w. Thompson of the check and fraud
squad.
The middle-aged woman was arrested
this afternoon after detectives had
taken the stories of the nurses, which
they detailed as follows:
Some months ago we were ap-
preached by Mrs. Howells, who said
she would invest our money profitably
for us, and we turned over about $4,000
representing the entire amount of our
savings since we have been in Wash
ington.
Had a Surprise.
after all our money had passed into
Mrs. Howells hands, she said she had
a surprise for us and described a pleas
ure trip to Europe, which she offered
to finance personally. About the first
of June we understand Mrs. Howells
made reservations for us on the steam
ship De Grass, paying small cash de-
post at that time. On July 4, our
sailing date. Mrs. Howells gave the
French Line passenger office a $500
check for our passage and we sailed
for Havre. France, on that day.
In midatlantic, however, the captain
Of the De Grass received radio from
his New York office to the effect that
worthless check had been rendered
Tor payment of our passage, Whereupon
our passports and baggage were seized
and when we landed at Havre we we're
detained by authorities there for four
or five days. Fortunately one of us
had an account of several hundred dol
lars in a Paris bank and after several
days delay we were able to withdraw
this amount and book a return passage
as we'll as pay for the first one"
Associated With Church Members.
The two young women arrived in
Washington from New York Sunday
and laid the case before police two days
later, after they had been informed that
the money they had given Mrs. Howells
would not be forthcoming.
Police were informed that Mrs How
ellis associated with church members in
Washington, gaining the confidence of
various women by offering to advise
them financially and receiving their
savings.
Detectives say they have knowledge
Of two girls who are now in Germany
after similar experience. while a fifth
alleged victim here, an Italian, iden-
titled as Massino, was sent abroad in
the same way.
Still another woman victim. whose
name police have been asked to with
hold, charges that Mrs. Howell's victim
lied her to the extent of $4,000, repre-
Senting herself as an investment ad-
wiser, and that she offered to send her
to Europe, which was declined.