Year: 1876




MAlLER.


The DOiss0s of Mrs. MOntclair In Read


inD-A Lovelv Woman Who acas Canvass.


ting fora Religious Paper, and hou She


Made Oat.


The Reading Eagle, of yesterday, contains
the following, and as it is intimated that
the woman intends attempting the same
game in this city, we publish it as warn
ing to the public:


"For the past week a strange woman has
appeared in this city, who has created
quite furry in some circles. She repre-
sented herself to be canvassing agent for
particular church publication and she
brought letters with her purporting to have
been written by prominent clergyman in
Harrisburg, Allentown and other cities of
this State. She made her business known,
and it was not lgng before she had several
families interested In her business welfare.


She is described as tall woman with
black hair and black eyes, fair complexion
and moderately well attired. She was ap-
parently very modest and reserved and
was successful in palming herself off as a
respectable married lady whose husband
had died two years ago in Boston. She was
brilliant In conversation, good singer, and
performer on the piano, ,and when sufficient
ly induced to take part, formed an attrac-
tive person in any social gathering.


She canvassed during the day for subscri-
bers and was quite successful. Mrs. Mont
clair visited the offices and private residen-
ces Of quite number Of people, and In
many instances she collected years sub
scription in advance. A certain gentleman,
hnu 1o1 10 Cuorr
the fact that at times she showed her true
nature to be dashy and forward rather than
modest and reserved, and that instead of
being what she wanted others to think and
believe, she was masquerading all the time.


He made it his business to ascertain the
facts If possible. 1t did not require great
length of time to do this, for the woman's
true character burst upon him like thun-
derclap from clear sky. He tried to set q
trap but it sprung long before he anticipa-
ted. He was alone in the parlor, the wife
being up stairs. All of sudden the wo-
man. screamed at the top of her voice, the
wife rushed down stairs, and the husband
was in a terrible plight for moment and
knew not what to do. The wife demanded
an explanation, the strange woman sat cry
ing in corner and the husband maddened
with rage paced the floor and ordered the
woman to leave the house Immediately.
Matters were fearfully mixed, and strong
dramatic situation followed. The strange
woman said That she had been terribly in-
suited, and that the man had offered her
serious insult and had attempted to take
improper liberties with her. ZOunds,
madame, you lie - exclaimed the husband,
forgetting his manhood in his passion.
" Slcnce!' said the cXaspernted wife. 'Is
this true or false 70 she asked of the
stranger.


'It is true, madam, and l shall take
care to tell people how was treated by
your husband, too ~ The wife seemed to
be nearing distraction aud she asked
piteously what could be done to avoid the
impending dishOnor of the family.


Strange to relate the female agent very
cody replied Madame, if you will give
me one hundred dollars will leave Reading
tonight and never say word about it,"


Monstrous ~ exclaimed the husband,
Here, madame, walk right out of this
house; do your worst; but never darken
this door again" He led the woman through
the vestibule and slammed the door as she
went down the front steps. He sent a per-
son Immediately to the telegraph office and
inquired of the publication house whether
they had certain Mrs. Montclair in their
employ canvassing for papers in Reading.
The store was closed in New York and q
reply was not received until ten O'Clock the
next day. The answer was mo, we know
of nobody by that name employed by US.
She is fraud"


The telegram was shownto the wife, who
then fully believed that the woman was a
heartlcss blackmailer. She must have left
the city either the same night or early the
next morning, as she has not been seen nor
heard Of since then. 1t has been ascert aim
ed, however, that Mrs. Montclair got away
with quite a sum of money, and that she
was successful in levying biackmail upon
at least two married men, who say that
they gave her money Just to shut her
mouth and get rid of her. Happily for
them, he stranger was proven TO he bad
character. The letters she had in her pos
session have siucc proved 10 be torgeries Of
the " orst character II is supposed a man
is travelling with her, who wrote the lotters,
siguing the names in imitation of those
written on her subscription book by the
preachers above alluded to. Matters in the
disturbed families are beginning to assume
their accustomed even tenor, but they will
not soon forget that handsome, deceptive
woman.


an Episode at tho Polise COMre.


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