Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-03
Two New York Girls Reported
Stranded in Germany After
Free Passage.
WITNESS IN MARYLAND
EN- ROUTE TO CAPITAL
Miss Alzina Howells Booked for
Investigation Pending
End of Probe.

While another alleged victim of Miss
Alzina Howells was on the way this
morning from Frederick, Md, to con-
fer with local detectives, the investi-
gators admitted that Miss Howells,
who is under arrest here for investiga-
ton In a reputed $4,000 fraud, has
disclosed to them the identity of two
New York girls, now supposed to be
stranded in Germany after they had
been deeced Of their savings and sent
abroad with passages paid by bogus
checks.
It was further admitted by Miss
HowellS, detectives say, that she received
$4,000 from two English nurses here,
who were sent abroad, and $500 from
the Veterans Bureau living at the
Chastleton Apartments. Detectives quote
the woman as confeSSing she received
the money, and did not return any
part Of it, although refusing point blank
to say what disposition was made Of the
sums involved.
The accused woman, who is being
held at the House of Detention for in
investigation, told Headquarters Detec-
tives Ira w. Keck and B. w. Thompson
of the check and fraud squad that the
two girls in Germany were Martha
Emily Butt and Magda Hagen, both
formerly residing at lot East Thirty
fifth street, New York City. They are
supposed to have sailed for Germany on
July 4, taking passage on the steamship
Muenchen OF the North German Line
Lloyd Steamboat Co.
Unable to Return.
The woman indicated to detectives
that these two girls were without funds
and unable to return from the con-
tinent. She refused, however, to say
whether she had accepted any money
from them, although admitting she In
duced them to go on the voyage and ar
ranged for their passage.
July was also the date on which
Miss Howells is alleged to have sent the
local young women to Havre, France
on the French Line steamer De Grasse,
and whose subsequent return resulted In
the arrest OF Miss HowellS here Thurs
day afternoon. The girls are Miss LIZ
iian Gerard and Irene Biggs OF the To-
ronto Apartments, both natives Of Eng
land, who have been residing in Wash
ington for about 10 years.
The two young women complained TO
detectives on their return from France
and Miss Howells was subsequently ar
rested. The two nurses here say Miss
Howells gave them free" excursion 70
Europe paid for by worthless checks
and that they were arrested en- route
and detained at Havre until they could
raise funds to defray the passage over
and a return trip. This action of Miss
HowellS terminated the business aSSocia-
ton between them during which the
younger women turned over $4,000 on
Miss Howells' pretense that she would
invest it profitably for them.
Decline Voyage.
Miss Rouse says she was also offered
trip to Europe by Miss Howells, but
declined to make the voyage. Detec-
tives have information that a third
Washingtonian, an italian, identified
only as Michael Messina, was sent to
italy by Miss Howells in similar man
ner during the Spring. They do not
know II he has returned.
Detectives would not disclose the
identity of the complainant from
Frederick prior to an expected confer
ence with the party today.
Throughout the investigation Miss
Howells, a dignif1ed portly woman Of
middle age, has defeated the efforts Of
detectives to elicit a full story from
her, consenting only to inform them
on minor details of the case, and for
the most part maintaining a tight
Tipped silence.
Miss Howells lives at 3505 Thirteenth
street. She has a wide acquaintance
among church workers of two denomi-
nations here and is said to have per-
sonality which wins the confidence OF
her friends and acquaintances. Dur
ing the past 10 years Of her residence
here, Miss Howells is understood to
have made frequent visits to New York,
and detectives believe that an investi-
CATION of her activities there will dis
close additional victims of her alleged
confidence scheme.