"MAY" AND A WEALTHY MANCHESTER MERCHANT.

NZ Truth, Issue 120, 5 October 1907, Page 7

"MAY" AND A WEALTHY MANCHESTER MERCHANT.

Her methods at' the big hotels were simple. Well-dressed confederates "spotted" the new arrivals, and ascertained the number of their rooms. When the likely victims we're absent at dinner the confederates searched their bags for papers, and handed any useful ones to "May." One of her victims under this method was a retired Manchester merchant, who was staying m London. "May's" underlings were lucky enough to secure some somewhat compromising letters the old gentleman had secreted m his writing case. This old man was one of those she drove to suicide. At home he was an honest old gentleman of inspiring religious fervour. 'This, of course, made him only the more ideal victim, for "May's" heartless operations.

'A WEALTHY MAN'S RUIN. She first made the old. gentleman bankrupt. Then she let the sons into the secret and "bled" them. Two of ' the sons eventually "pooled" their money and bought the letters to destroy them. By a cruel stroke of Pate the old gentlman was found

dead, killed by his own hand, one hour after the letters had been handed over. The sons had not informed liim of their intention to buy the documents, and when once they had got them they returned from London only to find their poor old father dead. When the police got too "hot" for her m- hotels, she would give the places a rest and operate m one or other of her

SUMPTUOUS LONDON FLATS. The furniture and fittings were arranged specially for her nefarious business. She knew and used all the tricks of the secret panel and the curtain. In her bedroom there was only one chair. It was always placed either just m front of a large and long plush curtain concealing a door or m front of a secret panel. The wealthy victim she had secured was bound to place his clothing on the chair, it being the only one m the room. During the night

THE SECRET PANEL would be silently pushed, aside. A hand would stealthily emerge from the parting m the curtains, and the chair would be cleared of the clothes, which were placed back again after having been thoroughly searched.