Worriers Mark Woman Victim

Iowa, 1914

Des Moines, Jan. 15. — Professional "worriers" have marked Mrs. Lena M. Ellis, 827 West Fifth street. She has appealed to the police. Here are some of the "things" that "happened" to her:

Between 5:30 and 6 o'clock yesterday afternoon, the following arrived at her home:

An undertaker looking for a dead person.
A woman masseur who "came to massage Edna."
Taxicab.
Packer of ice cream.
Case of pop.
Case of beer.
Box of flowers.
Telephone call for "Edna" to meet her "lover" at a downtown cafe right away.
About fifteen telephone calls from "women" asking for Mrs. Ellis' husband.

Mrs. Ellis says she is on the verge of nervous prostration. Her telephone rings almost constantly and sometimes a woman and sometimes a man addresses remarks to her. A local store called her yesterday, informing her she had ordered sherbet glasses and asked her to again state how many she wanted.

Mrs. Ellis admits she is acquainted with two sisters who were connected with similar deals several months ago. She declares, however, that she has not done anything to offend them. Who the man in the case is Mrs. Ellis says she does not know. The police, however, have suspicions. "Edna" is unknown to Mrs. Ellis.

Since two of the girls implicated in the former "worrying stunts" were caught in a trap set by detectives, residents have been at rest. However, this latest outbreak leads the police to believe that the "gang" is back in the city. For that reason people are urged to be on their guard.

Mrs. Ellis says that her husband has not been at her home for six months. She does not believe, however, that he knows anything of the case. She says that the things sent to her home were not ordered by her, but that the deliverymen always insisted that a woman who claimed to live at 827 Fifth street gave the order.