The Express.
London, England, 1862-08-05 00:00:00

[simapid, id. Additional

Arrsarr TO rarozr MONEY ?BOX M 5,88.118.

-11627a8a11-1;b:

A respectably dreamed middle-egad man, who
pv6 Mie name of Charles Reynolds, lint warn real cams is
supposed to be Davis, was yesterday charged at the Man-
sion-lionse with an attempt to extort merry by moos of
threats from Baran Rothschild.
Mr. Woataar, solicitor, appeared for the prosecution;
and Mr. Beard for the prisoner.
Mr. Wontoer said that in May last Messrs. Rothschild
nrogived the following letter :

" Logsdon, May, 1862.
"Gentlemen—To Baron Lionel Rothschild, Baron Meyer,
Sir Anthony Rothschild—We have written this letter to
you, soliciting the loan of 2001. It is a desperate OM Ili
you do not lead it to us, one of yen will be dead hakes 1
loog, and one of us will die by the hands of the law. As
soon as we can we will return it.
(Signed) "A. sad B.
" If you consent to advance it, insert en advertisenaugla
the Daily Telegraph as follows:—"lb. letter rioted A.
sad B. duly received, sad the favour imaligted shall be com-
plied with.' If we do not see the advertisement in a fort-
night, what is written will come to par. If you can com-
ply with it we will write and let you know the way is
which we will receive it. If yen lend it you will have no
cause to regret it."
This was the first letter which was received by the firm,
and thinking it was written by some sane persoo, no
=dm was taken of it. In Jane, however, another letter
wee Received, which ran as follows :
" London, June, 1862.
Me the Heron Lionel Rotbsolaild,—We sent a letter last
mesa asking for a loan of wor. If them does sot appear
a nada to the following effect in the Daily Telegraph in a
fortaight, the first time either of us three get an opporto-
laity (we know you well by right), yea shall be a dead
man, and one of us will die by the hands of the law. If we
same meet you we will assassinate the first we gin
an opportunity, either Sir Anthony or Baron Meyer. Yon
ought to let them have notice. We have about 4004 between
ne ; we shall be able to pay you back with interest in six
years, we having an opportunity of going into tsunami"
you consider one of your lives of more value than the
loan, leant it; for as certain as this latter was written, so
sure. If this luau is not granted, one of you will be mew
United. if you comply we will write and let you know
how we will receive the money. " A. and B.
" Insert the following in the Daily Telegraph:—. The
letter signed A. and B. was duly received, and the favour
requested will be complied with.' '
Upon the receipt el the sewed, Messrs. Rothschild placed
the matter in the hands of the police ; and in July a third
letter was received by the firm, as follows :
" Leedom, July, 1862.
" To Sir Anthony Rothschild, Bart.—Your brother, the
Baron Lionel, has had two letters* sent to Kingston-hour,
Knightsbridge, asking for a loan of 3001., and telling him
if he did Dot seed it, either you or Baron Meyer should be
asseesinated the first opportunity we get. One of us will
be on the look out for you every day in the week. If you
wonder one of your lives of more consequence than the
loan of 2001., send it. We do not wish to cheat you ;we
only require it for six years. We write this letter, thinking
that by some accident you may not have heard of the other
two letters, that when it is too late you may not have any
excuse for saying we wish we had known of the impending
catastrophe. If there is not inserted in the Daily Telegraph
newspaper by the (25th erased) what is written will some to
" A. and B.
The letter signed A. end B. was received, and the
favour shall be complied with.' We will you know how
we will motive it if you comply with it.
To Sir A. Rothschild, Bast.—lf it appears' in the Daily
Telegraph by the 28th it will be in time.
A note* was inserted in the Daily Telearaph according
to the request, adding that they would not go to the full
extent, but would advance 15W., when the following letter
was received by the firm :
" London, July 23.
"To Sir Anthony Rothschild, Bart., and your respected
brother, for there is not a bootie in the City of London so
much respected as the house of Rothschild, and we are glad
to learn that your brother, the Baron Lionel, has recovered
from his severe indisposition. flat any time it should be in
our power to save one of your lives at the coat of one of
ours, we should most cheerfully do it, but when men are
driven to desperation they willdo what at any othertime they
would shrink from doing. The writer of this letter and a 1
friend of his, about ten years since. had about 25001.
betwesa us, being then about twenty-five years of age, both
being nearly the mama age, when we were induced to join a
person who had taken out • patent for rice and starch. We
were to and the money as an equivalent for his experience.
When we had expended about half of it we mew if we
went on we should lose all our money, so to release our-
selves from him we told him he might have the hasn't of
all the moray we had expended, and he did so, and be sold
it for about 500/., and he congratulated himself in thinking
be bad been acquainted with us ; but if we had known so
much as now we should not have had anything to do with
him. We lost about 1,4001. by it. My friend and I have
been together ever sines, sharing our fortunes and misfor-
tunes, and, if needs be, we will die together. The notional
our letter in the Telegraph has relieved us from a wegkt
of depression. We could do very well with a loan of 2001.
A smaller sum will not save us. We are in business. If
we do not have 2001. we shall be ruined. If you lend it
we shall have a profitable business. When we first took
it we did not understand much about it. Now we have
learnt it. If you lend it us in three years we shall be
able to repay you. W hen we say we will repay
you we mean it We have been brought up well, and re-
ceived a good edocatiou, but adversity has overtaken us.
What I have written is the truth. We are not trying to
impose upon you. When my father died he left me 2,W01.
If you send us the 200/., I have no doubt we shall be worth
that once more. We write to you knowing you to he cha-
ritable men, who earn feel for others. We must offer our
apology for having written is the manner we did, but ours is
a desperate case. Hoping you will lend us the 200/.. you
will not have any cause to regret it either in this world or
in that which is to come. " A. sod B.
" To Sir Anthony Rothschild, Bart., and Brothers.
" If you should be so kind as to ledit please insert the
following in the Daily Telegraph newspaper :—' A. and B.
—Your letter of the 23rdwas received. and the favour will
be complied with.'
"P.S.—lf you should send it we will let you know how
we shall receive it."
Other advertisemeots were inserted in the Daily Telegraph,
and the following letters were sent in answer :
" London, July 26.
"To Sir Anthony Rothschild, and your respected
brothers,—We thank you for your kind notice of our letter
in the Daily Telegraph of the 26th. We went immediately
to our principal creditor, to whom we owe about 5001.
_who
told us if we did not reduce the account to 2001. be should
proceed against US. His reason for doing so he said was
that he did not intend to have so much capital
employed in his huskies", and he intended all his
large creditors to reduce their accounts. We told him if
he looked at our books he would see that we had enough to
pay all our creditors more than 20s. in the pound. lie said
he did sot wish to look at them, be was quite satisfied with
our word. We tried all in our power to induce him to take
1001. He said the least be would take would be 1501., and
if we did sot let him have that amoent by the 6th August
he should proceed against us ; and he would sooner lose all
than take less. We should have been prepared to meet all
our regular engagements; this bad come upon us unex-
pectedly, and we shall not be able to extricate ourselves
without your Mod ocusideratioo. He said he did
not care if our amount did not exceed 3501.
We are two single men ; our Income last year
was 8001., and this year we expect it will be
more. We live as economical) y as we can. 11you
will be so kii.d as to lead us 150/ , it will save as from
being proceeded against. We must offer composition. If
there is not a eoesposition we shall be made bankrupts. If
they should swept compensation we shall loss our standing
in society ,• our names will be in the Tiede Protection So-
ciety's books. Up to the present time we have sever been
in difficulties before. We have always paid every osa
what was doe to them up to the present time ; and our
charities have been without reproach—Yours, truly
obliged, A. and B.
• We should be able to repay it in • year.
" The writer of this letter a a lieutenant is we of the
iter°litan Bile Volnsteer corps, having bees in
P°corps from its formation. If you are so kind
as to lend us the 11301. it will save Us from being in
difficulties. If you do not lend it we must offer oompeosa.
tine ;if that is not accepted we shall he bankrupts'. Is
either case I most resign my commiseion, fee I could not
associate with my brother officers afterwards. Than there
would not be anything io. this world that I should desire to
live for. If you are so kind as to lend it. the first opporte-
nity I have whim in uniform of sneakier( to either of you I
will do myself the honour ; then you will know, what I I
have written is the truth. If you have faith to led it I
shall net 011111 about your knowing my name. for I feel ma-
&lent you would not cast obloquy upon me or my corps by
taking notice of what I have written.—Yours reepestfully,
" A. and B.
" 11 yen should be so kind as to lend it. please have the fol-
lowing advertisement inserted in the Daily Teiereph
• Accord—Your letter of the 26th has been received, and
the Weer shall be complied with.' If you lead it we shall
LA yen
_know how to and it."
Mistime. advertisement having bees inserted on the 30th
J*, a latter wee missive& stating bow the money was tube
ica which was as follows:
" Lerida., July 30th. 1812.
11111 r Anthony Bollasehild and your respected broths's.
Ibsen Lineal and Saes Meyer (we sr* sot swam If you
hammy other brothms).—We return our sincere thanks for
your ►Wares is conesetieg to load us the 1501. It has
mimed us tress our aimisay. The inn time I bane
ne oppertasity et mmkbg to @Meer at yea, whether is
sulfa= or sot, I will do myself the bower, then you shall
knew my ewe sad oar pine el business, and in which

TWOPENCE

me btu Waste' r Rifle corps lam a liestmast. If
you will be so kind as to enclose the halves of two bask
notes in the enclosed envelopes, we will send a lettm
acknowledging the receipt of it The envelopes are cot
very thick, I think it would be advisable to makes the
half notes to a piece of paper before placing them into the
envelope. —Yours truly obliged,—A. and IL"
The envelope enclosed was addressed to " Mr. Johnson,
Post-office Coffee-house, Bt. Mertin's-le-Grand, KC." The
leeks was put into the hoods of the Seerstary to Mama
Rotheehild, who sent the following in reply :
"Sir Anthony de Rothschild regrets be cannot comply
with Mr. Johnson'srequest en forward the half
bank-notes in so envelope to he called for eta coffee-house.
His *unity is never given to unknown mum, and unless
Mr. Johns's can call oo Sir Anthsay, or hie secretary, at
New Court, he moot have the mosey.
"July 31, 1862."
This letter was posted by one of the officers engaged in
investigating the affair, and was seen to be given to kiss.
He was followed and sees to open the latter and reed it.
When be had read it Sergeants GTOSII sad &de took
hold of his hands, and asked him what be bed got He
said nothing and crumpled the letter in his bead. Sergeant
Scott secured it, and the prisoner was oaken into custody.
Upon his apartmesta being searched, some papers and enve-
lopes were feud in a cupboard which exactly
with that on which the letters hid been writter tO.=.
Rothschild.
Mr. Wootner said that the evidence be should medium
be thought would be sufficient to prove beyond all doubt
that the prisoner was the party who wrote the letter in
question.
Mr. Alderman Humphrey, who sat for the Lord Mayor;
asked if anything wee Wawa of the primmer.
Mr. WooSaer sailsethiagmall /llama H to who or what
the prisoner was. Bow be bad brio getting a living was at
present involved in mystery.
The following evidence was then adduced :
Serjeant Webb said—l ham been eudeavouring, in com-
pany with Sergeants Soon and Green, to discover the writer
of the letters addzweesd to Sir Anthony Rothschild. Oa
Thursday last, the Slat July, 1 wee at the Pret-ellios Coffee-
house at about 2 o'clock. I saw the prisoner them, and saw
him leave at about a quarter past nine at night, and followed
him in comma with Scott, to No 5, Nerds-plass, Slop-
land-road. I did sot see him go in. I wee at Masers.
Rothschild's office on the 31st, anti saw Major Seen men
the letter signed "A. and 8.," and dated 30th July,
which contained an envelope addressed to Mr. V. Joho-
soo, Post-offios Coffee-bouse, 26, St. Marthem-loGriroL
Major Buell wrote a letter aid endowed it to
the envelope, and handed it to me, and I teak it ,
with four others to the Post-office Coffei-hoeterS
and showed the waiter there a mark upon them. Mien I
o'clock the same night I posted them at the General Pe* .
office. I went the next morning at eight o'clock to-the
Post-office Coffee-house, and saw the waiter who lied the
five letters 1 produce, and amongst them is the Wee
addressed to Mr. Johnson. They are all differently ad-
dressed. On Saturday afternoon I saw the prisoner in CAA-
tady at about twenty minutes part one I then went to
No. b, North-place, Kingsland.road, with Serpent Stott,
sad oa the first floor I found in a cupboard in the prisoner's
bedroom four sheen of paper and four envelopes
up in a piece of newspaper. The mark, Joyneoel",arg
no the paper, corresponds exactly with the mark on tie
paper on which the letters addressed to Messrs. Rothschild,
are written; and the stamps m the envelopes also sir.
resPood.
Mr. Alderman Humphrey—Was anything known of the
prisoner at the house where he lodged !
Webb—Nothiog ; be has lived there with his wife and
family six weeks, and the lsodlord has not seen him yet. He
said he SSW his back mice, and that was all. Hs went out
in the morning, and returned at eight.
Sergeant Scott, detective—Os Thursday last I was in sou-
pany with Webb iu the Poet-office Coffee-home. I saw the
prisoner between two and three o'clock, and saw him leave
at about a quarter to nine. I was in 'Dempsey with Webb
and Green. We followed the primmer, and saw him
go into Cheepaide, and after walking about twenty
yards he turned round and steed and looked back as
if he wen lookteg for some cue. Be repeated this about
every two or three hundred yards before he reached his
home. He primed No. 5, North-place, on the opposite side
of the way, and after proceeding about twenty yards tossed
back and stood for some minutes with his bask to the doer
looking in the direction in which be bad come. Hs rang
the bell at last and went in. On Friday debt at 10 o'clock
I wee with Green in the Rinplaadiend whoa we met the
prisoner. He passed No. 5, oa the opposite sided the
road, and after going 20 or 30 yard* he turned back and
looked up at the windows, and after waiting a few moments,
Tapparently to see if say one were watehisg be,
ear rie Dll and went in. On Saturday at 12 0'
I was at the coffee-home. I saw the primmer, and mw him
leave. Hollowed bins, in °Dempsey with Webb and Onus,
to Perthistl-etrest, and I maw berm opts a letter, and, after
reading it, crumple it in Ms bmi sad 6$ sem as be did se
&mead Green, who was bee caught bind el loth
his ernes. 1 immediately caught held of hie left
brad, sod asked him what he had got. He said "Nethil'
I opened his hand and took out the letter produced
Webb, sod asked him if he called that soiling. Be •
"It is not nine." The letter is addressed, " Mr. Jobame,
Post-,Sloe Coffee-house, St. Martin's-le-OmM. 11.. C."
We took him to the station, where be said his MAN was
Cheeks Reynolds, and that he had no fixed resides**;
he slept at a coffee-house. I went with Webb to 5,
North-place, and oe my return to the station I told the
prisoner I had been to his house then and bed found that
he was living there in the name of Davis. He said Davis
was his right name, and the reason he did not tell what it
was at fink was because he thought we did ad know him,
and he expected he should get discharged.
Sir Anthony Nathan Rothschild said —1 received the throe
letters produced. dated July, 1862 ; July 29rd, 1882 ; and
July 26th. 1862. The letter produoed, addressed to Mr.
Johnson, is in Major Seal's. my secretary's, handwriting;
the envelope is the same which was enclosed in the letter
of the 30th. I have sever men the primmer before to my

knowlcdpr.
Mr. Wontner asked that the prisoner might be remanded
upon that evidence.
Mr. Heard mid he bed no objection on behalf of his client
to have the aim remanded, but he hoped his lordship would
adroit the prisoner to bell.
Mr. Alderman Humphrey, however, said he certainly
should wet think of mach a thing.
Mr. Beard said there was nothing proved as yet.
Mr. Alderman Humphrey, however, said be thought
everything was proved that could he. The prisoner was
seen to go and get the letter and open it, and was taken with
it in his posiewnen.
Mr. Beard said he had a good answer to that, but he
should net put it forward on that 00:111600. He hoped his
lordship would accept responsible bail.
Mr. Alderman Humphrey said he ooald not think of doing
se. sad
The primmer was mreordingly remanded for a week.