Plymouth advertiser. [volume] (Plymouth, Ohio) 1853-1988, 1855-09-01
Attempt 70 Extort Money.

Our esnmnnity has been under great
sxcii<meut during the past week, in con
sequence Of the development Of the par
tic1lsrs sf base attempt TO extort mo-
nsy from Mn. Emily Ferguson, respect
able and quite wealthy widow lady. re-
siding two miles west Of this village
Mrs. Ferguson lost her husband. after the
protracted illness, about four months ago,
sincs which her presence has been almost
constantly required at home to minister to
the wants OF an invalid and entirely help
less daughter. 1t appears that cu the 18th
day Of last July. Mrs. Ferguson received
from the post office in this village letter
mailed at Hubbard's Corners, in Madison
county, copy Of which follows:
July I, 1855.
DEAR MADAME Il write a few lines
concerning little deal with yOur husband.
wrote him year or more ago il he would
send me check of $4,000 would square
off with him if not he should die slow
death by poison. Iou see how well /
kept my word. Nov l have took your
girl and size shall 80 too, and the rest of
the family, you with tn, rest, for revenge,
unless YOU send where direct $1,000 i'm
Inediately. Iou will find am not to be
tria d with--if You have not already.
Send me the money and you are safe, if
not you shall suffer worse death than
your husband; remember what | say.
Say nothing to any one or wilt murder
ysu in cold blood, but send the money di-
rectly. Send it in letterto North Brook
field. Madison County direct to Mrs. Ju-
liette Fisk, and will see that get it, in
stead of hsr; if not, rather she would
have it than any body else. If ever hear
that you tell a word Of this, beware |
have called on your daughter lately, tut
you don't mistrut who | be; send it
soon if you want to live in peace long"
Mrs. Ferguson, by advice of friends,
forwarded $50, marked, promising to send
the other. Sidney Fisk, husband of Ju-
liet, took the letter ont of the Post office,
and subsequently called on Mrs. Ferguson
to know whether she had written the let
ter. Mrs. Ferguson now suspccting Fisk,
gave him an account of the transaction,
and after consultation with friends in
which Fisk was known, sent the money
again enclosed in letter re.directed to
Mrs. Fisk. A few days after, Fisk called
with his wife, on Mrs. Ferguson, and Mrs.
Fisk stated in substance that during the
afternoon before, when she was entirely
alone, strange and dark Individual, evil
IDENTIFY disguised, entered her house, and
inquired if she had received letter from
Mrs. Ferguson, and that on being told she
had, and that it contained $50, the strange
individual said the letter and the money
were intended tor him, but he appeared to
be deeply offended at the smallness of the
sum sent, and remarked that had he taken
the letter from the office instead of herself,
he would have taken Mrs. Ferguson's life
before morning that the dark Individual
then presented loaded pistol at her, and
under great excitement told her that he
would not now settle the difficulty with
her late husband for less than $1,000, and
that the money must be Forthcoming, or
he would murder Mrs. Ferguson and her
whole family, as well as herself and hus-
band.
The friends of Mrs. Ferguson had Fisk
and his wife arrested. They found in the
house Of the accused parties, evidences al
most conclusive of their guilt; among
which were the marked bills that Mrs.
Fisk stated that she had given to the
strange gentleman who had acted so mys-
terious part in this dark transaction al
50 some letter paper corresponding in
size, texture and "mill mark" with that
on which the letter to Mrs. Ferguson was
written. Fisk and wife are now under.
g,ing an examination WatervWe Y. y
Gazette.