To Avenge A Wrong Done His Sister ... Thomas A. Moore

TO AVENGE A WRONG DONE HIS SISTER
THOMAS A. MOORE PUMMELED WILLIAM J. RIGG, A TYPEWRITER CONCERN EMPLOYE
SAYS THAT RIGG AND MISS OLENDORFF MADE STRANGE OFFERS TO HER

St. Louis Star | May 19, 1898

Thomas A. Moore Pummeled William J. Rigg, a Typewriters Concern Employe
Under Pretext of Engaging Her as a Stenographer,
An Insulting Proposition was Made to Miss Mabel Moore."

Mr. Thomas A Moore of the Aetna Life Insurance Company's local offices, has saved his sister, Miss Mabel Moore, an innocent girl of seventeen years from what he believes was a cruel wrong.

William J. Rigg, an employe of the Remington Typewriter Company, on Locust street, whose residence is 4350 Laclede avenue is the man whom Miss Moore, who is a stenographer by profession, accused of making an immoral offer to her, ostensibly for some other person.

Miss Olendorff, a stenographer in the office of Louis A. Rosen & Co., manufacturers' agents, at 411 Union Trust Building, is the woman Miss Moore met. She saw her in response to an inquiry for a stenographer, made at a well-known shorthand college in the city.

The whole story as told my Mr. Moore and his sister is as follows: Miss Moore is an orphan and has only one legal protector in the world, Mr. T.A. Moore. With tears of degradation over the interviews she had been subjected to with Rigg and the Olendorf woman last Thursday afternoon, Miss Moore called on her brother at his office in the Odd Fellow's Building and told him of insults offered her.

The same afternoon Moore began to run down the startling story that had been told by his sister. It resulted in interviews between himself, Miss Olendorff and Rigg, reaching a sensational climax in front of Wyckoff Seaman and Benedict's office on Locust street where young Moore thrashed Rigg soundly before a crowd of nearly 100 people.

RIGGS BEGS FOR MERCY

This morning Mr. Moore says that Rigg called on him at his office accompanied by one of Moore's life-long friends, and in his presence begged him to suppress the story with which his name was connected and which he understood the newspapers had gotten hold of. Moore says that Rigg told him that he was a married man and that the disgrace by the publication of Miss Moore's charge would result in disgrace to his wife and children. Mr. Moore promised out of sympathy for Mr. Rigg's family, but not out of respect for Mr. Rigg himself to remain silent and he was only induced to talk about the affair when he learned that the insults heaped upon his sister had become gossip. Mr. Moore then consented to tell the story.

It appears that Miss Moore answered an inquiry which was made at the shorthand college where she has been a student. It requested the applicant to apply at room 411 Union Trust Building between the house of 2 and 3 p.m. Thursday May 12 Miss Moore was punctual in the appointment. On arriving at the office of Louis Rosen & Co., which is the room of the above number, she inquired whether that was the place the stenographer was wanted.

A young woman, who was seated at a typewriter, wheeled around quickly at this, and holding up her finger as a warning, said in a low voice: "Yes this is the place, but keep quiet and I will talk to you in a moment." She got up from her seat without delay and took Miss Moore outside into the public hall, where she made a proposal that was so little understood by Miss Moore (who is young and unsuspecting) at the time, that it was not then regarded as anything more than the most peculiar business offer she had ever heard.

"Yes, Know a gentleman who wants a good looking stenographer," said this young woman. "There was a girl here just before you, but she was not very good looking and did not suit. I think you will answer as you are handsome and seem to be about what is desired. I suppose you have no objection to becoming private secretary for a very handsome gentleman, who wants a young lady he can take out in the evening, for a good time. You understand what I mean."

"No, I don't understand," replied Miss Moore. "It seems to me very strange that a business man would want to occupy his time in taking a stenographer to the theater and elsewhere, by which I suppose you mean a 'good time.'"

"No, you do not comprehend my meaning. I mean-but there. I will take you to the gentleman, introduce you and he can explain himself, but before we go in I would suggest that you remove your glasses. as you look younger without them."

MET MR. SMITH

This last advice was not heeded by Miss Moore, but she accompanied the young woman into the office of the Traveler's Protective Association, next door to 111 and there introduced her to "Mr. Smith."

"Mr. Smith" looked over the young woman approvingly and said that he presumed she understood what was wanted. Still more mystified, Miss Moore replied that she had no idea of what was wanted.

"Well you will learn soon enough," said Mr. Smith." You will answer the requirements, I am sure. You will not have to work hard and will act in the capacity of private secretary to a very handsome friend of mine, who is traveling a good deal. I don't suppose you have any objection to leaving town and traveling with him."

"Well, I don't know about that. I will have to see my brother," said Miss Moore, who was beginning to see through the thin veil of propriety used by this artful couple.

"No, no, for heaven's sake don't say anything to your family; don't tell your brother about it. That will be all right. We can arrange it without anything of that kind. I shall see the gentleman and you call here tomorrow about the same hour, when I shall introduce him to you."

Stinging under these subtle insults Miss Moore hurried to her brother's office and informed him of all that had taken place. Mr. Moore called at 411 Union Trust and asked for the name of the stenographer there. He was told by those in the office that her name was Miss Olendorff.

He waited for the young woman to come in and then asked if she had had a conversation with a young woman that afternoon about securing a position as a stenographer. She admitted it, and then he charged her with being unlawfully engaged as an immoral middle person. He demanded the name of the man to whom she had introduced his sister, and when she saw that he was in earnest she told him that it was William J. Rigg, and that he was employed at Wycokoff, Seaman & Benedicts's Remington typewriter people, on Locust street. She went to the telephone before his eyes and attempted to harm Rigg of his danger.

PUMMELED RIGG

Mr. Moore then proceeded to the Remington office, inquired for Mr. J. Rigg, who he claims responded to his invitation to go out on the sidewalk for a talk. When they arrived there Moore at once accused Rigg of making an immoral offer to his sister. he says that Rigg did not deny the charge, but explained the he was not responsible for anything that Miss Olendorff might have said.

"I am the brother of that young lady whom you insulted this afternoon and I intend to thrash you right now."

This last remark accompanied a smashing blow that he sent in upon Rigg's nose, following it up with a short arm punch under the ribs.

Rigg broke away from him, ran back into the typewriter office, where the door was closed by one of the other employes. Moore reached through the door and succeeded in gripping Rigg's coat, but was forced to let go by a savage lunge of Rigg's foot.

Rigg called through the door that he would not have any trouble with Moore because he knew that he was a pupil of Mike Mooney, and that he would not stand any show in a fight. Moore left with a a final threat that he intended to prosecute the case.

MR. ROSEN'S STATEMENT

During the scrimmage a large crowd gathered and cheered Moore, telling him that if anybody interfered they would help him out, and to go in and finish the blackguard. Mr. Moore stated to a "Star" reported that Rigg has been very much alarmed since the occurrence on Thursday, and has several times approached him through others not to prosecute the case.

Mr. Louis Rosen, who was dragged into the affair by reason of the fact that miss Olendorff was in his employ, told a "Star" reporter all he knew of the matter . "I discharged Miss Olendorff as soon as I heard of this unpleasant affair," he said, "although I was not convinced that she had committed wrong. She told me that Riggs had asked her to secure a stenographer for a business man, who wanted a girl who would not be averse to going to eaters or out buggy riding with her employer. Miss Olendorff telephoned to Miss Moore, and afterwards had an interview with her. That same day she took Miss Moore up to the Century building and introduced her to Riggs.

"Shortly afterwards Miss Moore's brother came to my office and unbraided Miss Olendorff, making all sorts of grave charges against her. Miss Olendorff told me that the next morning Moore came back and apologized saying he had made a mistake. I immediately told Miss Olendorff that in view of the circumstances I could not keep her in my employ any longer, and she left. I do not know where she lives. I was of the opinion that she was a good woman. She secured positions for a number of stenographers while here, but I did not think anything strange about that because that is a custom among stenographers."

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