Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 111, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 May 1914 — TALES OF COTHAN AND OTHER CITIES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TALES OF COTHAN AND OTHER CITIES

Peacock Alley Gets Its Annual Spring Cleaning NSW YORK. —When George W. Boidt of the Waldorf-Astoria decided several years ago that he would put an end to the business of numerous individuals who were fleecing his patrons out of several millions a season, - he did

things thoroughly. He hired Joe Smith of Scotland Yard, and told him it was worth $25,000 a year to have the famous hostelry cleaned of vermin. Joe Smith organized a squad of ten _ men and women, known to Mr. Boidt and himself about the Waldorf, where they circulate in Fifth avenue clothes. Mr. Smith and his squad have Just finished their annual spring clean-up. Kitty Quick, “Lord Harry” Havens, and a third suave gentleman were at the head of the procession of ejected.

were soreiy nemea at oeing prevented lrom consummating a plot to aell stock in an imaginary gold mine for SIO,OOO. A week previous one of the Smith women agents, passing herself as a shopper who took tea in the Waldorf frequently, observed Kitty, “Lord Harry” and three others, two women and a man, very active in entertaining a wealthy patron. They had the plot so far along that the victim was about to consult a “lawyer.” She satisfied herself that the lawyer the wealthy patron would consult (of his own volition, as he thought) would be a confederate of “Lord Harry," he of the mauve spats and English walking suit and the elegantly gowned Kitty. Joe went into his office and studied the Waldorf collection of 5,000 photographs. These show faces of confidence persons, hotel thieves and international crooks, and Joe has been 20 years in assembling them. He also looked over the imposing finger-print art gallery of the hotel secret service, consisting largely of interesting duplicates from the police headquarters of the metropolises, ry Kitty was there, and so was Harry. A few hours later a captain of waiters removed from the table at which the confederates were dining a set of glasses of which they had just time to take one sip. He used gloves. The glasses were soon in Joe Smith’s studio. They were dusted with a prepared powder and photographed. Joe smiled. That afternoon Joe, who is a polished gentleman in appearance as well as In reality, strolled up Peacock alley and met Kitty of the $l5O Paris hat “Madam,” said the Scotland Yard man, quietly, “the management would Uke to know your precise business in this hotel?” “What have you got on me?” she replied, descending to the vernacular. “A photograph and two fine sets of finger prints.” 1 Peacock alley had had its annual spring cleaning.