Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-10-07
BLAoKMArLERs IN NEW HAVEN.
Attempts 10 ExtOrG Money by Threats
from Governor BigelOw.

Ne,o Haven Gonna Cor. NJ Y. Sunday Times.
Several weeks ago Governor Hobart
Bigelow was made the object of a very
daring Matchmaking scheme, which was
concocted by a gang of desperate young
men for the purpose of extorting money
by threats made against his life. A let
ter was sent to the Governor by a tele-
graph messenger boy named Flannery,
threatening that if large sum of money
was not paid by certain day he should
die. Governor Bigelow by police advice
opened correspondence with the con-
spirators. After one or two failures in
the correspondence, owing to the timidi-
ty of the blackmailer, it was arranged
that the Governor should write letter
to a certain address and deposit it in the
post Office. This was done. The letter
remained uncalled for. In the meantime
Detective James p Brewer was so con-
cealed in the post office that not even
the clerks knew of his being
there. The delivery clerk was instruct
ed that when a certain letter should be
called for he should press upon tele-
graphic button, fixed for the purpose.
near the delivery window. As the letter
was not called for it was put with the
list of advertised letters. About ten
days ago boy called for the letter. The
delivery clerk gave the signal, and the
detective arrested the boy and took him
to police headquarters. Nothing came
of it. The man who had procured the
services of the boy was watching him,
and when he saw the boy in custody
quietly walked away. The boy could
give no further information than that
while on the green the man employed
him to call for the letter. 1t was a sore
disappointment to the Chief and his
men. A few days after this F. G. Brad
ley, President of the Yale National Bank,
received a similar letter. He has a son,
and this letter threatened that unless a
certain large sum of money should be
paid on mentioned day the son should
be shot to death. Mr. Bradley, who
lives at the upper end of Chapel
street, was frightened He, too,
laid the matter before the Chief
of Police. 1t was evident that the con-
spiratOrs had turned their attention from
the Governor to the bank President In
one Of the letters the threats were so
alarming that the demand for money so
peremptOry and it was thought best to
conceal detective in the house. This
was over a week ago. The evening
came when the unknown blackmailer
was to call for the money. 1t is sup
posed that the detective had been
watched by a gang, for a number of
young fellows acting suspiciously were
seen in the neighbOrhood of Mr.. Brad
ley's dwelling. Their actions terrified
him to such an extent that he did not
dare to have the detective remain, and
while the suspicious persons were on the
lawn in front of the house the officer
was sent out of the back door to find
his way back to the police office as well
as he could. Appearances were that
| blOodshed was certainly intended.
About this time the Matchmaking BUSH
ness was renewed with Gov. Bigelow.
Things were in train for the apprehen-
| sion of the scOundrel who was at the
front in the nefarious plot An officer
not used to the detective service was sent
to watch the Governors house on Or
| ange street Either from not understand.
| ing his order, or for some other reason,
when the messenger of the blackmailers
arrived the officer simply ordered him
away, and a chance to make the arrest
was for the second time lost. All this
while the first messenger, who was a boy
in the service of the Rapid Telegraph
Company, has kept his eye open, and to
day young man named Wanderlee was
arrested. He is now in Gus .ody and
there is trouble about his Identification.
The Hon. n. d. Sperry, the postmaster,
was at the lookup tom 'ght to aid in the
identification. The man arrested is
thought to be only a tool of the gang.