Smyrna times., 1860-03-22
Desperate Attempt at Extortion, with
Threats tp Kill, -

Threats To Kill, IS
Christopher B. Evans, employed - Freight
Agent on the Delaware Railroad, al Leipsic
S,.,ion. was arrested on lhe l4th inst-v By High
Constable Hawkins. Of Whining on. and WIN.
Pratt, Constable for Dack Creek Hundred.
upon charge ofhaying written TWO letters, adj
dressed TO Col. Daniel Cummins. of ibis place,
making demand for money. threatening bis
life, &c., and after hearing befsre Justice
Eaton, and in default OF bail for $2J00, was
committed to prison at Dover.
AT the hearing before the above mentioned
Justice the following testimony was eliciied
Col. Cummins received the first letter, dated
March 4.h, 1860. and post-marked Dover, March
9Th. 1860, signed n Seven Brothers." demand.
ing him to deposit, in the Bank of Smyrna,
$500, and forward his check, marked ,sgood''
by the Cashier OF said Bank. TO r. 8. Durand,
or order, Wilmington, Del, threatening his life
If not complied with by the inst, or il any
portion Of said lettersshould be divulgsd. Col.
C. answered it, declining TO comply with the
demand upon the ground ofi,s being unjust and
unwarrsntable. and enclosing il 10 an envelope
directed a. requested. Oh Friday. The 9th
inst. Col. c. received information from the
Postmaster at Wilmington that 8 man called
At the Post Office between ILL and 10 o'clock.
on Thursday. tho 9Th inst, and asked for . let
terfor r. 8. Durand. but as all the clerks, save
one, were absent, and no opportunity afforded
Co arrest or follow him, prudence dictated TO
him to reply there was no letter. On Saturday,
the 10th inst, Col. C. received another letter
signed as above, dated Philadelphia, March 9th.
1860, renewing the same demand, and the
Postmaster at Wilmington also received Ies-
ter of like date, signed R. s. Durand, request
ing him to forward any letters tha, may come
to bis Office for R, s. Durand to c. R. Evans,
Leipsic Station, Delaware Railroad, as he (Du-
randi had writtento Mr.. Evans all abont them;
whereupon the answer of Col. Cummins, direc-
ted R. s. Durand, was remaied as requested ON
Monday, 18th inst. In consequence of an err
ror made by one Of the clerks at the Post Of
fee in WILMINGTON, it was carried 10 Leipsic
and did not return to Leipsic Station until Tues
day, the 18th inst, in the afternoon of which
day Mr. Evans took the letter from the Post
Office. The clerk of the Wilmington P. o..
rode to Leipsc Station on Tuesday afternoon
TO see Mr.. Evans, and recognized him as the
man who called at the time at the Post Office
in Wilmington, and asked if there was letter
for r. s. Durand. Consequently the officers,
as before stated, arrested the said Evans. sf
Upon searching Mr.. Evans desk, al Leipsie
Ststion, letter was found derected to VIM.
H, sssytou. near Milford. Del," which. upon
being opened. was found TO bear the same date
as the frat letter received by Col. Cummins,
demanding Mr.. SIS check for $4,000. on the
Farmers Bank, at Dsver, to be endorsed "good'
by the cashier of said Bank, with similar threats
&c, &c. Other letters were found upon. Mr.
Evans person, signed r. s. Dlrand. offering
him $40 for his services, ia calling for aud at
tending to bis letters. Z. seli
| He acknowledged having called at Whining
ton, as before stated. and Of bis spending Tues.
day night in PhiladsIPhia, and returning home
Friday following (9th inst) by saiIroad. HI
alleges he gave the letter which he took Gu
4 ofthe Post Office, al Leipsic Station. to mar
who called early on "Wednesday morning al hi
Office for it, representing himself as Durand
and that said Durand walked of towards Dover
without bis having demanded or received com
pensatiou for bis trouble. as promised
4 MIR. Evans. heretofore. has sustained goo
character 70 this community, end Mr.. Cumnn'
as we are informed. as well as the entire con
muuisy, would be glad if he can yet establs
} his innocence; but the charge 10 of such Dol
! and grave character that justice to the publ
would be overlooked if the case is not prosecr
ted to its utirast extent in order to ascertain III
guilty party. s8