Tries To Collect For Gifts To Girl Who Weds Another

1920 (1919)

"As a Romeo, You're a Failure," Says Judge After Fining Man and Exacting His Promise Not to Molest Woman With Further Demands for Return of Presents.

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Jan. 1. — Justice Casimir J. Welch, occupying the bench in municipal court, surveyed the pair before him in the prisoners' dock with studied frigidity. Common disturbers of the peace in this, the holiday season, when every one should be happy and all serene, were finding little favor. But when Mrs. M. Bellos, the wife of a Greek restaurant owner, told her story the court sat up and took notice. This is the story Mrs. Bellos told:

While still a maiden she was the proprietor of a restaurant and rooming-house in Sayre, Pa. Business was good and there was little to worry her, when Bill Poulos became a guest at her rooming-house, and then a regular boarder. Bill was fairly handsome and likeable and soon he became attentive. As time passed his attentions became more pronounced, until he became a suitor.

Now the proprietress of the rooming-house, tho she liked Bill, had no thought of becoming involved matrimonially, since she had learned from some source, probably during one of Bill's unguarded moments, that Bill had a wife in "the old country." Consequently, when Bill's protestations became obnoxious she quietly sold out and came to Kansas City.

But Bill was not to be put off in that manner. He followed, arriving here two weeks ago, only to find that his "intended" had married.

He found her to be Mrs. M. Bellos.

But Bill was undaunted. Besides, there were the presents he had given her amounting in value to something like $200, as he figured it.

And that was where the disturbance of the peace charge had its origin.

When Bill found that she still spurned advances he resorted to demands for the return of the presents or $200 and, being balked in this direction, turned to the to the husband. There again he had no luck and, forthwith began making trouble, with the usual result. The police were called.

Justice Welch patiently listened thru it all. Then he turned on Poulos.

"As a Romeo you are a complete failure, Poulos. That kind of stuff may go in your country, but it won't go here. You are fined $50, but I'll give you a stay if you keep away from that restaurant."

Poulos promised to stay away.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Jan. 3, 1920, p. 4.

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.