The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-12-21
Rlnck Mail.


account of the attempt of black
mailer of that city to operate
upon ore of their business men. The in
tended victim proved toe much for the
sharper; the operation fizzled and the
operator landed in Jail. We give the
DispatcFs account:
Quite an interesting case of black
mailing was developed at the Mayors
office yesterday, a system of cool extor-
tion being revealed which eclipses any
thing of the kind we have heard of for
some time. Mr.. James Scott, a we'll
known jeweler doing business on Lib
erty street, appeared before Mayor
Blackmore on Wednesday last, and in
formed him that he had been the re-
cipient of number of threatening let
ters from an unknown indivual who
had signed himself I'D. C.. Worthing
ton" He then proceeded to detail the
character of the missives. They were
dated in Pittsburgh, and the first re-
ceived was written on the Sth of this
month. 1t went on to inform Mr.. Scott
that the writer, Worthington, was cog
infant of facts concerning his reputa-
ton, which, if made public, would do
him very great damage. Of these
Worthington wrote that he was well
aware, and, that further, he would cx-
pose it unless Mr.. Scott should consent
to pay him hush money. The amount
he desired was only fifty dollars-a
small price he probably thought for a
mans good name. If that sum was
Forthcoming he would be content to hold
his peace forever.
Mr.. Scott, on receiving the letter con-
tanning the propositions referred to
above, saw it was an attempt to black
mail him. Confident that his charac-
ter was too we'll established with the
public to be injured by such an imputa-
ton, and desirous of bringing his un-
known correspondent to justice, he de-
termined TO send a reply to his threat
ening epistle, by way of decoying him
into a meeting. 1t had not the expect
ed effect, however, the individual mere
" wrote back and desired him to send
his letters to No. Liberty street-a
grocery kept by woman named Mrs.
Nash. He also urges speedy payment
of the fifty dollars as the best mode of
escaping the threatened "expose." On
the 10th he wrote Mr.. Scott a third let
ter, telling him to send the money at
once to "Box 4l5, care of David Wick
line, Pittsburgh postotfice." Mr.. Scott
then thought the time had come for in
forming the authorities, so he went to
the Mayor, as stated, and laid the par
ticulars before him.
The Mayor instructed officers Hoag
and McGrady to watch "Box AS" and
they kept guard on it through Thurs
day, but found no person to approach
il. Yesterday morning young man
went to it, and opening it, took from 1T
Mr.. Scott's letter addressed to I'D. G.
Worthington, care of David W. Wick.
line" The officers arrested him and
he gave his name as Joseph w. Jones'
He said he knew nothing about Il fur
ther than David w. Wickline, bar tend
er at the la Belle" saloon, on Smith
field street, had got him to hire it for
him (Wickline) a few days previous,
and Yesterday morning had sent him to
get out the letters. He was taken to
the watch house but was subsequently
allowed to visit Wickline and gave him
the letter. Wickline heard of his ar
rest and at once on receiving the letter
threw it into fire without opening it..
He himself was shortly afterwad ar
rested and taken to the Mayors office,
where Mr.. Scott charged him and Jones
with sending threatening letters. he
alleged that Wickline and "Worthing-
ton" were one and the same. At hear
ing had in the case before the Mayor
last evening, Wickline was required to
give bail for his appearance at Court in
the sum of $4,000, and in default thereof
was committed to Jail. Jones was held
for hearing on Tuesday next.