“CHICAGO MAY” TO MARRY

Hokitika Guardian, 11 July 1929, Page 7

“CHICAGO MAY” TO MARRY

FAAIOUS QUEEN" OF THE UNDERWORLD. NEW YORK, Atay 29. Alay Churchill, famous in her youth as “Chicago May,” the international . rook, intends in the evening of belli fe to marry. At the moment she is in a- Philadelphia hospital, where she may be >oliged to undergo a serious operation. Nevertheless, she is thinking of wedding her old partner, , Charlie Smith. The. two Appeared before Air Justice Darling at the Old Bailey in July, i. 907, charged with attempting to kill .xltiie Guerin, her erstwhile associate >f the Devil’s Island escape fame, Smith received a life sentence, with the recommendation that he be deport'd after a number of years, and “Chicago May” L 5 years’ penal servitude, vfter serving ten years the latter was discharged. Long ago Alay, who is now over 50 fled from the paths of crime, and her adventurous life has been told in her nvn writing. SAIITH’S IIE-APPEARANCE,

Since the publication of her hook she has lived in retirement, hut nothing was known of Smith until the present announcement that lie had rejoined his old companion and that they had decided to marry. “The worst woman in the world” was one comment in 1907 on “Chicago Alay,” and at her trial Inspector S'.ockley alleged that she had driven five men to suicide by blackmail. At the time of her arrest 4C\ letters from a nobleman, for instance, were found in her possession—some affectionate, others imploring. All pointed to the fact that she had threatened him with exposure unless she was well paid. In the intervals of her extensive black mailing operations the famous under world queen of Edwardian days indulged in other f'-rms of crime. She was convicted in Paris in 190"? Guerin and another man, tor robbing the American Express Company there after gagging the watchman and blowing up the safe.