New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-08
ARREST OF A BLAOKMAILER,
ATTEMPT TO GET MONEY FROM MRS. RICH
LETTERS SENT TO HER BY THE pRIsoNER-How HE
WAS CAPTuRrn

ATTEMPT TO GET MONEY FROM MRS. RICH.
LETTERS SENT TO HER BY THE pRsoNER-How HE
WAS CAPTURED.
well-dressed, intelligent looking man, who said
that he was William Harrison, hotel-keeper,
thirty-four years old, was arrested In Broad
way last evening and locked up at Police
Headquarters on charge of attempted blackmail.
He refused to tell where he lived, and the police
thought that he had given wrong account Of him
self, as the name Hcwett" was
stamped his underclothing He had
been trapped IN an attempt to extort
money from the family of Henry Rich, the merchant
who disappeared mysterously from bis home. at No.
252 East Fifty -third-st. on December, 4.
Mrs. Rich received letter on December 20, which
caused her to think at the time that her husband
had been abducted by persons who were holding
him for reward Portions Of the letter read fol-
lows,
foul play has been the cause OF Mr.. Rich's dis.
The Writer i has PRESUMED you had
The person who has him is well known to you. We
have tried hard to have hun write TO you or go with him
10 you and deliver Mr. Rich. and get the reward yon
have offered, but he says you afford to pay more,
and then We presume he ID afraid to do 1t
Sd mot htahsp but
has been keeping hun since Mr. Rich Is partly de;
ranged at me but has good care and plenty to eat
tves that also know Of bis location and II i were known
TO others our lives would be IN danger The institute
you some good or put you Ii the way Of getting him
There many around you that you cannot trust and
We cannot.
There was no signature. Relatives of Mrs. Rich
showed the letter to superintendent Wailing and
Inspector Byrnes, who said that the writer evil
IDENTIFY was blackmaller. BY the advice of the
police, the following personal notice was pub
AsYLuM-Cal or write for information dead secret.
On the day after the notice was published,
another letter from the blackmaiier was received.
portion of IL was as folows:
lind II impossible TO call on you to-day as think I
am suspected L may be mistaken. but I cannot
run any chances at the present time. and to
be premature The principal Of the asylum has had
close watch kept over me for twentyfour hours The
n ne sa tt Try could dnd Be See
two Of inmates be removed the coming week.
so one of our guards said, aud one would DO the
Know T to What locality he eH0" viii be- be-" sent
Did ever occur TO you that 1t might be to some ones
insane, that he could not transact any business
From. what 1 can learn the incarcerat on
by outside persons who have received more than the
offered reward for their dirty work.
After some further correspondence in the same
stTaln, the rascal wrote the 1OlOWlng on January "
MRS RICH: have tried all my persuasive power. but
the have to deal with IL like stone. He knows the
risk takes ana Will not do thing aid JUS
tlce. My little money offered bin would not move him.
and am done for at present unless you your rela
uyt5 willing 10 advance enough 70 let me carry out
my plans. II you think YOU cannot trust me, don't
do it, might carry II through tonight or tomorrow
night or Monday night but don't think for a moment
that any detective md anything OF this asylum IL
Is not one which the masses seek, but
outside of say three or four disreputable lawyers
aud doctors, none know of its existence.
a kg known
work done and by its agents, many the sudden
disappcarances be traced TO such places
aud II lt comes to the necessity the Morgue
Is tho final place of their discovery. For
my parf its business to me IS revolving.
II can bsrae Mr.. Rich and then get away from IL,
shall IL Will be last experience In this business
am not seeking any reward but OF course, anything.
you give uo Will 0e accepted II can have the Of
$500 IN mOney-nO cnecks-by Sunday Or Monday will
bring Mr. r. 10 named place perish In the attempt.
must pay tins man $3.50 nc once.
Yesterday messenger was sent TO Mrs. Rchs
house for the $500. he carried letter In which
the following instructions were laid down.
Tonight. not sooner Than 2 a. M, with one or two
trusted friends in carriage closed the foot
down you will boat coming from above with three
persons 1t, huggng the shore. Call out Ward"
The boat Will land the person you want
Detective. Scrgeants Haley and Rutland followed
tho messenger, who was met by the black
mailer at Broadway and Eleyenth-st. The latter
WAS arrested there.