The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-04-16
A Detective Kills a Blaekmailer.

A peculiarly boldattemptat blackmail came
to tragical end in New York last week The
New York papers give some interesting par
ticulars of the tragic occurrence. 1t seems
that about two weeks ago Mrs. Louis Stras-
burger, of l28 East Sixty-first street, the wife
of a wealthy dealer in watches at is Maiden
Lane, received a letter demanding $4,000
and threatening the abduction of her little
daughter Rosa in case of refusal. Mr.. Stras-
burger Immediately put the case in the hands
Of detectives. By their directions there was
a brief correspondence with the blackmailer.
The threatening letters, which were signed
Executive Committee, Third Avenue were
continued. In one of them it was said that
sixteen persons were engaged in the plot to
obtain money. Wednesday evening a boy
took letter to the Strasburger residence.
The governess, Miss Spelter, took the letter,
but when the boy learned that she was not
Mrs. Strasburger he snatehed it back, ex
planning that it must be delivered to Mrs.
Strasburger in person, and hurried away.
Capt. Gunner, of the twenty eighth precinct,
was notified, and he sent Detective Campbell,
a man with an excellent reputation on the
police force, to the house of Mrs. Strasburger,
with instructions to remain there until the
letter came again. About 10 clock the letter
came Ncontained directions for the delivery
of the money. They were that Miss Spelter,
the gOverness, should take the money in an
envelope, walk through Sixty-frst street to
Fifth avenue and thence to Central Park
When she heard a pistol shot she was to drop
the envelope and hurry home without looking
back. An envelope was prepared by the de-
teetive, and about noon Thursday Miss Spell
ter started on her mission. Detective Camp
bell went out the back way and followed her.
At Sixty first and Madison avenue he saw a
man following the lady, ahd on the opposite
side OF the street second man, who made
signals to the first. These signals were re-
peated and answered. When the young wo-
man was about midway between Madison av-
enue and Fifth avenue, on Sixty first street,
a pistol shot was heard and the governess
dropped the package and hurried home, glad
to be done of her part in the programme.
At the same instant Detective Campbell hur-
RED forward. He saw the first man pick up
the envelope. Just as he Strengthened up the
detective was upon him and reached forth his
hand to arrest him. The man started back,
threw his hand behind him, exclaiming:
Don't touch me, or I'll blow your brains
out.
The detective at eHee drew his revolver,
and presenting it at his head ordered him to
surrender and not to draw his pistol. The
man, with his right hand still behind him,
made grab at CamPbelis pistol and the de-
tective says the blow of his hand discharged
the pistol. Campbell insists that he did not
ire AT the man. At all events the detectives
revolver was discharged, and the big bullet
went crashing through the man S left eye and
into his brain. He dropped dead His body
was taken to the Twenty. eighth precinct sta.
6on-hOuse. 1t was that of man about 35
years old, with brown hair, long brown side
whiskers and light mustache. He was we'll
dressed. From papers in his pocket it was
evident tLat bis zame was Edward Hermann
Johannes Sagert, and that his mother resides
at Is Buelow street, Berlin, Prussia.
Rosa Strasburger is very pretty and in
teilgent child, eleven years old. A week ago
last Sunday attempt was made to entiee
her from Sunday school by forged note from
home. but the Rev. DIR. Huebseh, rabbi of
the Madison avenue Synagogue, suspected
something wrong and detained the child.
Mr.. Strasburger viewed the body Of the dead
man and said that he never saw him before.
He IS at loss 10 know why be should be
singled out for such an attempt at blsckmail.
The detective was exonerated at the in
quest. Sagert's accomplish was arrested and
made fall confession duplicating number
of others in the plot.