Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1849-03-22
From The New York Tribune.
Curious Case of Attempted ExtOraiOn


Curious Case of Attempted ExtOriion.
I Officers Bowyer, Reed and Cole, Of the Chiefs
office on Tuesday night last arrested Franklin G..
Bragg of Morton st. aid Isaac A. Biggs of 81
Morton-st. under the following circumstances-lt
appears that for some time past VIM. B. Astor,
Esq. of 81 Lafayette place has received several
letters ola very extraordinary nature and demand
ing from him $4,000 in cash, and that in default
of which his life and property would be sacrificed.
These letters signed in the name of E. K.
Eastwood, and directing that the money should be
given on certain day at the house of Mr. Astor.
Mr.. Astor not complying with the requirements of
the first letter two others written and direct
ed to Mrs Astor stating that if the money which
had been demanded of Mr. Astor did not come to
hand by 10 o'clock of the morning of the 18th inst.
the threats which had beef made would be put
into execution. Mr.. Astor finally becoming con-
vinced that something might arise from these
threats. consulted the Chief of Police on the sub
jeci, who advised him to deliver package at the
time designated to the party who should call for it.,
at the same time he deputed the above named vig-
liant officers to watch the proceedings in the mat
ter. In accordance with the directions given an
advertisement was inserted in the Herald that The
person who had advertised for $4,000 could re-
ceve it by calling upon the person alluded to-
On the day the appearance of the advertisement
another communication was received by Mr.. As
tor to the effect that the writer of the former COM
municatlon would send person to his house on
the morning of the 18th inst. to receive the pack
age of money at the same time advised Mr. Astor
not to pay any more attention to the subject nor
communicate to any one that he had received
attempt to discover the writer On the morning
of the 18th, while the officers were stationed in
the vicinity of Mr.. Astor's house, Franklin G..
Bragg called upon Mr. Astor for package, and
package of worthless bills was handed him, with
which he left, and was followed bv the officers to
grocery store at the corner of Cliff and Fulton
sts where officer Bowyer accosted him and asked
him some questions in relation to the package he
had in his possession. He replied that it was a
package he had obtained in Lafayette place, and
which he was instructed to leave at the bar Of the
United States Hotel. addressed to A. r. d. Green
who would call for it in the course of the evening.
He was then told to 60 and deliver it as directed,
and at the same time warned against intimating in
any manner that he had been spoken to respect
ing it. He accordingly delivered it, and he
left the hotel he was arrested and placed in charge
of officer Cole. Officer Reed after waiting for a
short time at the hotel, observed Biggs approach
the bar and ask for the package in question: which
was handed him, and with which he left, followed
by officers Bowyer and Reed through several
streets to the Battery, and thence to the corner of
Maidenlane and Broadway where he entered an
omnibus into which officer Bowyer also took a
seat and officer Reed on the outside. On arriv-
ing at the corner Of Canal-st. and Broadway, Biggs
got out and entered an exchange Office near by.
His movements being still watched by the officers,
who took him into custody at the corner of Canal
and Mercer SITS. with the package in his posses
sion, and conducted him thence to the Chiefs Of
fee, where, on searching his person, letter was
found purporting to have been written to him by
Eastwood, directing him to follow the instructions
given in the communications, and that failure
would place his own life in jeopardy. The letter to
him set forth that he must GO to the United States
would contain $50 900 in bills, and that he must
get it exchanged for other money, and send it
through the Post Office to certain address; and
that he must under no circumstances whatever,
communicate any information respecting it unless
he should get into difficulty, in which case he was
liberty to tell all he knew. Since the arrest of
Biggs and Bragg, who by the way are brothers-in
law, information has been received by the Chief of
Police that Mr.. VIM. Smith of St. Georges Manor,
L. l. had also received similar threatening letters
purporting TO be signed by John George Jones,
stating that if he did not lend $4,000 to certain
direction his building would be burned down
On comparing the communication sent TO Nh
Astor; it became evident that they had been sent
by the same party and written by the same indi-
vidual. The accused were committed for exam
nation by the Chief of Police, and if convicted the
punishment for the offence is five years imprson-
ment in the State Prison. The first principal let
ter received by Mr.. Astor was dated March 6, Is19
of which the following is copy
To Mr. William b. Astor. No. "a Lafayette place
Your life depends upon your complying strictly
with the directions of this letter. In the first place
will give you the cause of your receiving this
letter. My father was mechanic and was
partner with your father from 1914 to 1917, in the
manufacture of spurious coin for trading in the In
dian trade. This coin was used in those coun-
tries. hold all the statements made and all the
] nor turtlo oalf G.,