Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-08-14

men.
They have reelected their gubernatorial candi-
date, Governor Johnson, in Tennessee; in all
probability they have divided the Congressional
delegates with the ow-nothngs, and obtained
a majority in the popular branch Of the Legisla-
ture. What becomes Of the boasts Of the Know
nothings' They clean gone forever.
From The WalerviIle m " Journal, Aug, 4,
Curious Case-An Attempt 40 Extort
Money.
Our community nus been under great excite
ment during the past week, in consequence Of The
development of the particulars of base attempt
to extort money from Mrs. Emily Ferguson, a
respectable and quite wealthy widow lady, re-
siding two miles west Of this village. Mrs. Fer
guson lost her husband, after proracted illness,
about four months ago, since which her presence
has been almost constantly required at home, TO
minister to the wants Of an invalid and entirely
helpless daughter. While her mind was weighed
down by the grief caused by these severe affic-
tons and oppressed by numerous cares, some
fend or fends in human form attempted to ex-
tort from her, money to u considerable amount
by threats to take her lille, and the lives of her
children in she refused to comply with their
demands. 1t appears that on 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, a copy Of which fol-
lows:
g July 7, l855.-Dear Madame: write u few
lines concerning little deal with your husband.
| wrote him year ago if he would send me a
ohack Of I off,
not he should die slow death by poison. You
see how well kept my word. Now have took
your girl and she shall 90 too, and the rest of the
family, you with the rest for revenge, unless you
send where | direct $1,000 Immediately. You
will find am not to be trifed 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 i say. Say
no thing to any one | will murder you in cold
blood, but send the money directly. Send it in
letter to North Brookheld, Madison county
direct to Mrs. Juliet Fisk, and | will see that
get it, instead of her. if not, | rather she would
have it than anybody else. If ! ever hear that
you tell word of this, beware. | have called
your daughter lately, but you don't mistrust
who be; send it if you want to live in peace
long"
This threatening missive threw Mrs. Ferguson
into the deepest distress, and, as natural, she
Immediately sought the advice of friends, among
whom were DR.. Munger and ID. b. Goodwin,
esq, who concluded to make of decoy letter
in answer to the one Mrs. Ferguson had re-
ceivedf in the hope of exposing the authors of
this cruel villany. Accordingly a letter was
written by Mrs. Ferguson and directed to Mrs
Juliet Fisk, North Brookfield, enclosing two ten
dollar bills, marked by Mr. Goodwin, in which
it was stated in substance that she had forwarded
$40 of the sum required that she could not at
present command SO much money as 81 900, and
she begged her prosecutors to spare her own and
her children's lives. The letter was taken from
the post office by Sydney Fisk, husband of Ju-
lett, and by him taken home.
On the evening of the same day, Mr.. Fisk
called on Mrs Ferguson, and inquired of her if
she had written letter to his wife, and what the
meaning of it was. Mrs. Ferguson answered
the first question in the affirmative, and unsus-
pectingly gave Mr.. Fisk history of the whole
transaction up TO that time. MIR. Fisk also pro-
duced the letter written to his wife, and the
money contained therein, both of which he placed
in Mrs. Furguson's keeping.
DIR. Munger happening to be present at the
time, and believing Fisk to be entirely innocent,
induced him to come to Waterville, where after
another consultation, in which Fisk was one of
the consulting party, the returned letter, con-
tanning the marked $40, was placed in a new
: velope and re-drected to Mrs. Fisk at North
Brookfeld. A letter was also written by one of
Mrs. Furguson's friends, and forwarded by the
same mail to the postmaster, requesting him on
no account to deliver the letter directed to Mrs.
Fisk to her or any Of her family.
This was on Wednesday, 25th utimo, on the
Friday evening following, Fisk and his wife call
ed on Mrs. Ferguson, and Mrs. Fisk, in the
course of private interview with her in relation
to the events of the last few days stated in sub
stance, that during the afternoon before, when
she was entirely alone, a strange and dark indi-
vidual, evidently disguised, entered her house,
and inquired if she had received letter from
L.. Il a. - L i
and that it contained $50, the strange individual
said he appeared to be deeply offended at the lit
tleness of the sum sent, and remarked that had he
taken the letter from the Office instead of herself
he would have taken Mrs. Ferguson life before
morning; that the dark individual then presented
a loaded pistol at her, and under great excite
ment told her that she must see Mrs. Ferguson
Immediately, and inform her that he would not
now settle his difficulty with her late husband for
less than 81 500, and that the money must be
forthcoming, or he would murder Mrs. Furguson
and her whole family, well as herself and hus-
band
After some further conversation TO the same
effect, in which the dark and mysterious stranger
was made to assume an awfully threatening as
pect, and the imminent danger Of all the parties
concerned was strongly insisted upon, Mr. and
Mrs Fisk Withdrew. On the following morning.
Mr.. Fisk made his appearance at the North
Brookheld post office, and represented to the post
guson to take the letter directed to Mrs Fisk; il
was given TO him.
Under these circumstances, IL was deemed pro-
per 10 cause the arrest Of Fisk and wife aud they
were accordingly taken into custody on Tuesday
of this week by officer Clifford, on warrant is
sued by Justice Church.
Previous to the arrest however, the house Of
the accused was visited by Mr.. Goodwin, in the
hope Of getting some further clue TO the authors
of this base villainy. During this visit Mrs. Fisk
stated that on the Saturday evening previous she
had received another call from the strange indi-
vidual; that he made his appearance late in the
evening, and enticed her out Of doors; that with
threatening language and gestures, he demanded
the letter last received from Mrs. Ferguson, and
that she gave il and the 500 contained therein to
him; and that after an interview Of about an hour,
he left for parts unknown. The officer who made
the arrest was accompanied by ex-Sheriff Schuy-
Ter Hubbard.
II is proper TO add that they found in the house
Of the accused parties, evidences almost conclu-
sive Of their guilt; among which were the marked
bills that Mrs. Fisk stated she had given to the
strange gentleman who had acted so mysterious a
part in this dark transactions; alss some letter pa
per corresponding in size, texture, and tmill
mark" with that on which the letter to Mrs