Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-11-15
MONEY oR A cHILp,s LIFE.
A Cruel Attempt to Extort Money from
David A. de Lima.


Mr.. David A, de Lima, of the firm Of
ID. A. de Lima & Co., commission mer
chants in South American products, was
sitting in his office at No. IS William
street, about O'Clock on the afternoon
of Sept. IL, when a messenger-boy handed
him a letter. The letter said that Mr.. dc
Lima's daughter Lylia, years old, was
in the possession Of the writer, and un'
less $26, 600 was sent in bills in an envelope
to be delivered by David de Leon, law
yer. of No. 206 Broadway, to Mr.. Spon0rd
on the Mall in Central Park, at O'Clock,
the little girls throat would be cut from
ear to ear and her body sent to heI
fathers house. Mr.. de Lima at once sent
a clerk to his residence, No. 81 East FIFTY
seventh street. Mrs. de Lima and heI
| daughter Lylia were out at the time, but
both returned safely 10 minutes later, and
the clerk took word back that the little
girl was in her mothers care unlngured.
Mr.. de Leon called at Mr.. de Lima's
office after the messenger delivered the
letter. He told Mr.. de Lima that well
dressed man, evidently an American,
about 80 years old, with blue eyes, blonde
moustache and light complexion, came To
his office, and, saying he desired to retain
| him as counsel in case against a man
named Hungerford, placed in his hands
fee of so 90.
s'By the way" said the man to Mr.. de
Leon, ''do you know Mr.. David A. de
Lima?"
Every well. indeed,v replied Mr.. de
! Leon. II know him intimately"
Il have a letter which wish to send
him. Will use your call box to summon
a messenger"
Mr.. de Leon said that when the mes
senger came the man sent him with the
letter and went away himself, saying that
| he would call later to unfold his bust
ness.
Mr.. de Lima was at his home in Fifty
seventh street last evening. The little
girl, Lylia, who was threatened with
death, was at his side. She is a very
eyes, flowing brown hair and plump face.
Mr.. de Lima said that he was naturally
alarmed when the letter came, but fear
was dispelled when he saw his daugh-
ter was safe. The letter threaten
ing death to the little girl contained
a great deal of abuse of him beside
| the demand for money. Two other letters
were sent to him and one to Mrs. de Lima.
The last was to Mrs. de Lima, and was
handed October 81 to the family by Mr..
| de Leon, who said he received it by mail.
None of the letters were dated, but all
bear the New York city post-mark, and
came through the general post office. Mr..
de Lima said he had five children, and all
were with him last evening except one.
The last three letters contained threats to
kill one of the children and do bodily harm
to Mr.. de Lima if he did not send the
| money to Mr. de Leon, to be given
to Mr.. Spoford, the man with the blonde
mustache. There were a number OF
personals" inserted in a newspaper adj
dressed to ''Spofford." Mr.. de Lima said
they were put in by the detectives to draw
'Spoford' out. He put the case first in
the hands of Inspector Byrnes and after
ward empowered Messrs. Frederick r.
and Charles Coudert to act as his
attorneys. The letters he gave into the
care of the Messrs. Coudert. Mr.. de Lima
declined to say whether he knew who the
person was who wrote the letters, but
remarked that Inspector Byrnes did
know