The Washington times., 1932-05-20
How Thatcher Colt Solved
a Spectacular Crime


widow, whom the world now
knows as Lola Carewe, and told
her what l mad done. She took
pity on me with what seemed
to me then a great compassion.
She told me that she could FIND
it in the heart to forgive and
forget, but that she felt in JUS
tice to herself a should write
out a statement and give it
to her.
Incident Closed
This I did. I thought the
matter was over. The door was
closed on that incident and I
breathed freely. In a little
while, it was to me as II 1t
had never happened. But how
wrong I was! Suddenly I had
to open that door in my life
again. For Lola Carewe now
began to take advantage OF my
position to hold over me a
power that practically made
me her slave. She made me
invest my savings in her worth
less schemes. And worse than
that she had me do!
"At the time her husband
died, I had the moral courage
to face the world and acknow-
ledge my mistake. I could
have begun life all over again
if not in my profession, then
in some other work where new
success did not depend upon
the trust of people who would
commit their safety, their very
lives, to my hands. In the
exaltation Of my remorse I
could have given up being a
doctor and started life anew.
But now that inspired mood
had passed. I had been for
given. did not have the
courage to defy Lola when she
made these demands on me.
Now my career, my profession,
my work. had become dearer to
me than anything else. am
a good physician and I am
proud Of my record in spite Of
that one fatal mistake. But I
have been a weak tool in this
woman's hands.
"It was thus that I came to
know the real mystery of Lola
Carewe. I was one of the few
men in New York who ever
knew the truth about her. OF
course did not know all. Prob
ably no one but Lola could
claim that sinister distinction.
But I knew enough to under
stand the amazing practices
which she introduced into New
York. I learned how Lola kept
herself INCREASINGLY in funds,
although she was notoriously
one Of the most extravagant
women in New York.
Her Big Gard
Lola Carewe was a black
mailer. That was the only
card she knew how to play.
She would not gamble or steal,
and I do not believe she had it
in her heart to love any man.
No other crime interested her
except extortion. In that grisly
and awful business she seemed
to take an unholy pleasure.
From this came her money, in
a secret, underground river Of
gold. The number of men and
women in New York city who
have paid tribute to this black
mailing beauty would astoniSh
the rest of the town.
Lola introduced no fancy
sleights of her own into her
blackmailing schemes. She used
the time-worn methods. She first
led her victim into some vicious
practice or pursuit, got over
whelming evidence, and then
bled him for the rest of his life.
1t is a game probably as old as
the Bible courtesans. There is
nothing new in it. But it con-
tinues to be terribly effective.
How, then. did I fit into such
a picture? How could I help
her in her infamous conduct?
The answer is simple and hor-
rible-I provided drugs for her
friends. She seduced and made
them everlasting victims of CO.
caine, morphine, hasheeSh and
opium. She generally began with
the use of marihuana cigarettes.
I provided the drugs.
LIT. n HnnA;-L nO.N