The Democratic pioneer. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1845-1853, 1849-04-13
From the Baltimore Sun.
Remarkable Attempt to Extort Money.

tTom me baltimore Suns
Remarkable Attempt to Extort Money.
FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS on
LIFE.
We learn from the New York Globe
that one Of the most remark BILE and cur
'ous schemest 20 extort a large amount Of
money by threats, from citizens, has
recently, been attempted in tha, city,
Ourreaders are mostly acquainted with
the fact. that the la'e John Jacob Astor
recently deceased, left the bulk of his
property--an immense sum, only to Be
counted in millionS--to his son, William
b. Astcr. The latter gentleman resides
at No. 81, lafayette place. and has an
office in the upper part OF the city. To
this Office, early in the present mouth.
came a letter, dated March 1st, Of which
the following is copy. 1t is las will be
perceived oD perusal of most strange,
snd-to a son ofthe individual principally
implicated-painful and a, artling charac.
ter.
New York March ], lS49.
To Mr. VIM. b. AsroR. No 80 Lafayette e
Place:
Your life depends upon your comply
ing strictly with the directions OF this
letter. in The Gcst place, will give you
the cause of your receiving this letter.
My father was mechanic, and was q
partner with you father from lSl4 to
/ 1917, in the manufacture of spurious
coins for trading in the fur and India
trade. This coin wasu used in those coun-
tries. hold all the statements made
and all the particulars ana instructions
given my father, aud the amonnt mapu-
factured, as was set forth by his account
and memorandum, signed by my father
and his brother. The whole amount man.
ufactured was $2s00,Ooo, the average
cost of which was Sl6e to the 900 and
your father Furnished the capital to carry
! on Tue business WIN, 10 Tue amount Ul
SO 500. The 6rst shipment wa. made
in the latter part of 1914; the amount
shipped this time was $36 600; in the
commen oemebt Of 1885, they shipped 1927 ;.
GEO; in July of the same year, they ship
ped goo coo, aud from that time TIL No
vember, lsi7, the whole amount shipped
including the above mentioned sums, as
$4,000 GOO. All the transactions were
done by your father, except the manu-
featuring Of the coin, aud that was done
by my father and 0ncle; the whole thai
was received BY my father amounted tc
only $l9S 600 for their expenditures, anu
support, Leaving a bullance in your faith
er'shauds of So COZ ,000 out of which my
! father and uncle were to have receiv ed
one sixth part, leaving the amoDnt due
them, $i33 1856, without interest, and
the profits that we're made in the bust
ness. Besides. my father made state
fac,ed. and expenditures, and remarks
upon the schedule. with all the particulars
| and signed his name to it, And my un'
Gle also signed the same pspers and seal
ed them up, and put them into the hands
of their sister, so that in case Of any de-
lection or clue to the nature Of their
business, they would not be discovered
In October, 1917, your father wanted my
uncle to go to Philadelphia to purchase
materials for the coin, as my uncle was a
good judge of the articles they wanted
)n the night Of their arrival 10 Phlladcl'
phia, my uncle was taken sick suddenly
died before eight o'clock on the following
morning. Physicisus pronounced him to
have been poisoned This Induced my
father to quit the business, as he had
been successful. 1t was agreed BY your
father and my father to qnltit at the end
of the end of 1917. Al this time your
father was generally supposed to be worth
/ Sl, sou 900 while my futher was supposed
20 be worth from $4,000 to SIS ,0l0.-
AT this time my father wished to pur-
chase some real estate. amounting to
SAT 600. Your father thinking that II
might create some surprise or suspicIon on
as to my fathers ability, advised the buy
ing OF it himself, in his own name: it was
accordingly douei with the understanding
that alter they had suspended their mann
featuring business in the early part of
1918 your father would give my father the
title to the property. Your father hold
ing tie proceeds of their business, he paid
for the real estate out Of those proceeds.
On the 18th December, 1877, my father
was also taken SICK, and on the 20th he
died, similar TO my uncle. Up to this
time, my father had left the full parucu>
lars ol all the transactions of his bnsi-
ness, and 10 his last account he set forth
the real estate above mentioned. lie al,
so stated all the particulars as 10 their