Author Topic: The Mystery Of Catherine Creta - An Event In The Life Of George Damon - August 1891  (Read 1341 times)

Howard Brown

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 I came across this short article concerning a woman named Catherine Creta
last night while perusing the papers & completely by accident.

Ironically, it was found in the NY Evening Post, a metropolitan newspaper which
contained very little about the murder, inquest, or trial.

 Creta, apparently, had some sort of relationship with George Damon. Nina
spent hours last night, using every available tool in the arsenal to find out if
she was related to George or his wife to no avail. It is as if she only existed in
this one little article. I looked into an 1890-1891 New York register ( names in
alphabetical order and residence) and two major newspaper archives with no
success. No other reference to this woman has been found to date from either
Nina or myself.......we began searching yesterday and continue doing so today.

 The address, 59 West 45th Street, is considered Midtown Manhattan,
relatively close to Central Park and Times Square. It is also 5.5 miles from 44
Beekman Street.


First of all, here's the article in the Evening Post, August 18, 1891...less than
three months after the conclusion of the Ali Trial.

New York Evening Post
August 18, 1891
**************




$ 1,000 in 1891 dollars equals $32,748.57 today.

This is unusual, to say the least, considering Damon brought charges against a
man over a $ 1.98 vase in the summer of 1897 and took a man to court over $
10 in Cranford in August of 1901. The former was dropped and the latter case
found him not only having his complaint dismissed in Union County but being
needled over his role in the eventual release of Ameer Ben Ali.

 Why is George Damon doling out $ 1,000 in cash for a woman ( serving time
since the 4th of July, 1891 in The Tombs) who robbed a bookie ( the 'bookmaker') ?

 I've added East River Echo Number 174 which contains the two other stories
about the cheapskate who, for one shining moment, was Mr. Considerate in
August 1891 to a a young woman who ran a boarding house.

 Your thoughts are most welcome.

« Last Edit: November 27, 2022, 03:33:26 pm by Howard Brown »

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Howard Brown

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    Nina finally found other articles about Catherine or Kate Creta.


NY Evening World

July 8, 1891
***********




I've added the Evening World and NY Sun in PDF at the bottom of this post.

This from the NY Sun, July 8th








Howard Brown

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One earlier article in the NY Sun.....this time regarding the alleged or real theft of the ring.  PDF at bottom.

NY Sun
June 19, 1891
***********

Howard Brown

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Well, well, well....

    Without proof, it might be a case of Creta's 'sugar daddies' or just one of her older male friends coming to her rescue .  Of all the people in that area of Manhattan, why is a man with a business 5.5 miles away from that 'boarding house' the only one who stepped forward with a huge chunk of cash ?

    It is remarkable that in the same year...4 months earlier.....Damon has the ability to potentially derail the State of New York's case against Ali, who was convicted on essentially circumstantial evidence, in late April or May by merely taking the key to authorities.  He doesn't.

On the other hand, here's a case where he supports a woman twice charged with the crime of felony theft....  and who is by the time the 'solid citizen' Damon as he is referred to in one circle comes to her aid already 5 weeks or so into a jail term in The Tombs.... and he has no problem coming forward with an extraordinary amount of money.   His name and business address were published. Apparently, he wasn't concerned about any adverse effects on his sterling reputation.

   This clearly shows his value system.  Supporting a woman who would have stood trial for theft had the complainant shown up for a trial....and hanging on to a key as a souvenir while another person stews in jail.

  Put yourself in Creta's shoes.  She's in The Tombs..she's young...she envisions being convicted of the theft of Reid's money.  She somehow gets into contact with Cranford's finest unless Damon was a frequenter of her 45th Street 'boarding house' and was keeping an eye on the situation,....and suggests it would be to his and possibly other old fellows advantage to get her out of jail.  It's a common method of extortion.

  It might also be a case of Damon learning that the complainant deciding against pressing charges and then coming up with the necessary cash....or, perhaps, maybe he was paid off to not show at the hearing.

  This one is pregnant with possibilities.

« Last Edit: November 27, 2022, 03:34:04 pm by Howard Brown »

Howard Brown

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New York Sun

July 9, 1891
**********




Kattrup

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Very interesting, Howard.
At present I don’t have anything to add, I’ll look out for mentions of her.
As you say, without knowing their relationship, it’s all speculation. An alternative to the seedy story you propose could be thee good doctor mobilizing his friend or acquaintance Damon to help out. The doctor’s relationship with Miss Creta might be open to speculation too, but he apparently fronted the money for her business, the longer she’s locked up the riskier his investment gets?

Howard Brown

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Kattrup:

 Good points.

The plot just thickened....

New York Sun
May 22, 1892
*************


Howard Brown

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Kraushaar ( Not Kranshaar) was a reputable art dealer

Wall Street Journal
December 10, 1898
****************

Howard Brown

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In this 1895 article, A.J. Peet's 17 year old wife is seen complaining about the attention given to Ms. De Revere ( see previous article )....a woman who had been a friend and/or accomplice in crime back in 1892....when Peet's new wife was 14 years old.

Peet was born in 1856 and 38 or 39 when he robbed the cradle and married Augusta, his teen-aged bride.  He died in December of 1914.

The teenaged wife hired Abe Hummel....of the infamous ambulance chasing but very successful firm of Howe and Hummel....as her attorney.


New York Herald
September 21, 1895
****************

« Last Edit: November 27, 2022, 04:55:28 pm by Howard Brown »
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Michael Banks

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Intriguing find How. I wonder how long Creta had owned her boarding house? I’m getting a bit ‘Grassy Knoll’ on this one. Could she have been the Damon’s missing servant girl who Damon set up with a boarding house in payment for keeping her mouth shut about something?

Sorry How. Blame a lifetime of reading Sherlock Holmes stories.

Kattrup

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Howard, considering Damon was in business with a Peet, it seems likely to me that Dr. Alexander J. Peet was a relative of Damon's business partner and that is how the relation was established?


Howard Brown

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That's possible , Kattrup....but wasn't it Damon and Peets ?
I haven't seen Peets with an apostrophe...nevertheless, excellent observation.
« Last Edit: November 28, 2022, 09:37:06 am by Howard Brown »

Howard Brown

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Kattrup:

 The name of Damon's business partner of 40 years was E. Spencer Peets.  Elias Spencer Peets, born 1842 in Vermont.

 However, Nina just told me that E. Spencer Peets had a brother with the initials A. J.       Dr. Peet's first and middle name was Alexander James.

 More to follow.

 

Mike:

  Although it doesn't mention how long Catherine Creta had been in charge of the boarding house, I'd wager it was somewhat earlier than what you were inferring.
Plus Dr. Peet said he knew Creta for several years.
« Last Edit: November 28, 2022, 02:38:20 pm by Howard Brown »

Howard Brown

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Hats off to Kattrup !!

You were right, Katt....A.J. Peet ( with a dropped 's') was E. Spencer Peets' brother.

He was born in 1847 and died in 1914.

He fibbed on the physician register at Albany Medical College of Union University ( Grad. 1877 ) by claiming to be younger,

Well done, dude !

Makes sense that Damon, Peets' partner, would go pay the bail if requested.  No mystery, no chicanery on Damon's part, and no scandal.

 >:( Dammit !


Howard Brown

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I spent a lotta time yesterday trying to find Catherine Creta......Catherine Crete appears to be her real name ( **** newspapers are deplorable for supplying the correct names, ain't they ?).

Nina went in the Manhattan city registry for 1891 and found her.......on a side note, living a few blocks away from a guy with a great surname.  Cretin.

« Last Edit: November 28, 2022, 03:23:41 pm by Howard Brown »