The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-10-26
A BIackmailing Plot.
now 1T WAS FRUSTRATED AND HOW IT 0RTGI.
MATED.


A Sandusky special says: One OF the
most dabolical plots ever conceived to eX-
tort money from a man by stealing his
child and holding it for ransom, or by
placing him in fear Of personal violence,
has lust been unearthed here. On Tues
day afternoon, 10th instant, DR.. George
A. Gordon, one OF the leading ply
sicians of this city, was summoned
by telephone 10 call upon a sick
person ut house in the suburbs. The
Doctor drove at once to the house, and was
politely ushered in by a man in his shirt
sleeves. The do5l was quickly closed, and
the man instantly seized the Doctor by the
throat and held chilly" menacingly
above his head and demanded his money.
The Doctor only had so about him, and
offered that to the man, but the latter re-
fused it and compelled the Doctor TO give
him check for $500 and an order on Mrs.
Gordon for similar sum. The man then
tied the Doctors hands, locked him in the
house, took the Doctors horse and buggy,
and drove away.
The Doctor managed TO free his hands,
leaped from the window, ran to a store
near by and telephoned his wife not TO pay
the order and to summon the police to ar
rest the man If he presented it. The fel-
low drove to the Doctors house, but see
ing the police hurriedly approaching the
residence he turned and drove rapidly
into the country. DR.. Gordon had re-
cogniZed bis assailant as DR.. John Il.
Nathers, of Cleveland, formerly OF this
city. but he did not make that fact known
TO Maihers, who was disguised with a
heavy false beard. Detectives were put
upon his track and succeeded in fixing
things so that he gave himself up last Sun
day night under the impression that DIR.
Gordon could not identity him. DIR. Cor
don did identify him, however, but Ma
Tiers still stoutly maintained his inno-
cence. Detectives continued to work on
the case. and yesterday secured overwhelm-
ing evidence of Mathers's guilt, and at u
late hour last night he made full confess
sion TO the officers.
A Times representative saw Mathers
to-day and obtained the following state
ment: II planned the robbery OF DR.. Cor
don while was in Cleveland two weeks
ago. Two others were in the plot with me,
hut | will die rather than diyulgc their
names. We first put up job to steal DR..
Gordon's little daughter, aged nine years,
and hold her for heavy ransom. We knew
that the Doctor had recently come into
possession Of handsome fortune, and
that he would give up the last cent
| TO regain his child. 1t was hellish
| plot, but we knew there was big
money in it. When the time came to put it
into execution, however. my heart failed
me, and without disclosing my identity j
notified Gordon. Then decided to rob
him in another way. ! disguised myself
| in Cleveland, came 10 Sandusky, procured
the key OF vacant house under pretence OF
wanting to rent it, and then decoyed Cor
don into 1t and made him give me the check
and order on his wife,
Parties suspected OF being Nlathers's ac.
completes are now being Swallowed by the
police The prisoner was arraigned to-day
for hearing. He waived examination,
however, and in default OF $4,000 bail wa,
renanded to Jail. He is thirty years old,
and married. His wife is the daughter Of
Dr.. Craven, Il Cleveland.