Lower Sandusky freeman. (Lower Sandusky [i.e. Fremont, Ohio]) 1849-1849, 1849-03-31

my uncle was good Judge of the articles they
wanted On the night of their arrival in Philadel-
phia nv uncle was taken suddenly sick and died
before 5 O'Clock on the following morning. Physi-
clans pronounced him to have been poisoned
This induced my father to quit the business, as he
had been long in it. and had been successful 1t
was agreed by your father and my father to quit at
the end of 1917. AT this time your father was
generally supposed to be worth Sl,5oO,o 900, while
my father was supposed to be worth from $4,000
to $4,000. AT this time my father wished to pur-
chase some real estate, amounting to $4,000
Your father thinking that it might create some sur
prise suspicion of my fathers ability, advised the
buying of it himself in his own name. 1t was ac-
eordngly done, with the understanding that after
they had suspended their manufacturing business
in the early part of 1918, your father would give
my father the title to the property.
Your father holding the proceeds of their bus-
ness, he paid for the real estate out of those pro-
ceeds, On the 18th of Dec, 1917, my father was
also taken SICK and the goth he died, similar to
my uncle. Up to the time my father had left the
full particulars of all the transactions of his bus
ness and in his last account he set forth the real
tate above mentioned. He also stated all the par
ticulars to their settlement that to have ia
ken place the 1st of January, 1918.
This was the last account that have any knowl-
edge of his keeping Previous to his death he in
certain papers in his sister hands and instructed
her not to call for them or have them opened until
Mr.. John Jacob Astor came to see her and inform
her that they had unsettled business between them
and in he (Astor) did not communicate this to
her, then she was to ask him if there was any bust
ness between them that was unsettled. He also
instructed her that in case he said there was to
ask him how things stood between them as to
money matters and to get his statement; and if he
u
then see what he did show, and ask him what the
nature of their business was and how it was that
there was not large amount coming to us and if
his account did not appear satisfactory then to 90 to
my fathers sister and get all the papers which had
been left with her, and examine them and make
use of them in such way as my mother thought
proper.
Now sir, your father never gave my mother any
information respecting my fathers affairs and ac-
cording to his directions my mother called upon
your father for the information spoken of but your
father gave her no satisfaction. Ny mother there
fore went and got the papers and examined them,
and was astounded, and did not know what course
to pursue, but finally concluded to let the whole
matter remain, rather than to expose the business
to the world until became of age, which was in
1926. My mother then communicated to me the
nature of the business, and gave me the papers
and told me all in relation to my fathers DEATH
After had examined the papers, said that there
had been foul play, and that John Jacob Astor had
caused my fathers death, and that 1 would have
satisfaction
Soon after I secured the papers and called upon
your father, and spoke to him concerning the in
formation had received, not stating how. He
locked at me with astonishment and appeared to
say within himself that my father was not dead
and asked me were got my information from. l
informed him that that knowledge he could not
obtain from me. He said that he held no property
that ever belonged to my father and that if he had
held it he would have given it up to my mother
He said however, as you and your mother appear
to think | have property of yours, will give you
$4,000 to commence business with for yourself
as have always had a high regard for your father
if that amount will be satisfactory to you both.
told him about the business generally, and said that
would consult with my mother about it did So
and received the $4,000.
In the year 1927 / commenced business, and in
1921 my business had increased to 100000; but
in 1882 failed owing to my business being too
largely extended and the existence of the cholera
1t took all my property and all my mother received
to settle with my creditors at 20 cents the dol
lar. then applied to your father, for farther aid ;
he said "No, all business between us is settled"-
"Very WELL" said II l was about leaving, when
he asked me how much wanted or expected
-
At that moment met you coming in the office
Your father asked me to wait said no, I will set
tie it in another way, and left him.
From that time was determined to have salts
faction, and every exerton has been made to accom-
plish that object; l have furnished you and your
relations with tenants and servants and every thing
is now ready to cause the immediate death of your
self and family and destroy large amount of your
property, and it is entirely out of the power of this
community to detect or apprehend the why or the
wherefore, to obtain any evidence that will pre-
vent what is set forth and will take place, unless
the following is complied with in strict accordance
with the directions
Now, sir, you are strictly forbidden giving any
information to any in relation to receiving this
letter. or investigating this matter and also asking
any questions of any one for information, it will
be of no use to you any one else while you live,
as am intimate with you and your family and your
relatives, and shall know of ii in case you do and
you will only know the result by seeing and feeling
the consequences, which will be too late TO recall
Now sir, my demands of you are as follows: On
Tuesday morning, March 6, l849, l wish you to
stand at your office door on the outside, with well
sealed package containing $4,000 in current funds
of this city, in bills from $50 to $780, none larger
And at the time above e-mentioned, person will
call upon you and ask if this is Mr. Astor? Your
answer is, Yes. He will hand you package; at
that moment you are to hand him the above pack.
age containing $780, 900 and say nothing except that
ornntIenoap will coll ,,o,, norco,