The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-12-19
A BIG BLACKMAIL.
IT Is TIE PRINCE OF WALES
This TIms-HO Turns the Affair Over to
the Police, who do Good WOrk-A
Scheme Disclosed to Murder the
Heir to the BritiIh Crown.

LONDON, Dec. 1S.-London has had I
genuine sensation to-day. Early thi
morning a young man and his wife, Johl
and Sarah MSgee, were arrested at Kens
ington on the charge OF having attempted
to procure money from the Prince OF Walel
by writing threatening letters. They
were taken into court and formal charges
were preferred against them, and they
were remanded to await examination.
1t appears that the prisoners had writ.
ten two letters, but as they were not read
in court it is impossible to give their exact
language, except to state in general terms
what they contained. 1t is known, how.
ever, that the letters made demand for
$3.50, and intima.ed in unmistakable terms
that unless this amount was forthcoming
the Princes life would be in jeopardy.
The Prince, it is said, paid only passing
attention to the first letter, which the
Magees sent, but when tho second oSme,
Eeiterating the demaud and the threats,
his Royal HighneSS turned the letters
over to the police and lefs them to do
whatever they thought best.
The police at once quietly set about
planning the capture Of tho blackmaile1s
They sent message as though coming
from the Prince Of Wales 10 the address
given in the letters, directing the author
or authors OF the letter to appear at a
specified time and place. Tho assurance
was given that somebody would meet
them at the appointed hour prepared to
hand over . package containing the
money they had demanded.
FILL INTO THE TRAP.
The Magees at once fell into the trap
which had been set for thpm. They az
peared at tho spot designated this morr-
Ing and were presented with a package
Of iRrthings. AS they started to leave
with their supposed treasure the police
threw off their disguises and arrested
them.
Tho woman theleupon made a volunta.
ry confession OF the whole plot. At any
rate the police say that the confession
was voluntary. The woman, however,
has slncs declared that she was forced
by the police against her will to con-
tess something. 1t is thought that she
Tears the confession made by her in the
firat moments OF Consideration after her
arrest, may be bad for her on the trial,
and that she is therefore trying to weaken
its effect by asserting that it was forced
from her by the police,
THE EAuEERT's STORY.
A representative Of the press called upon
an Equerry OF the Prince of Wales this
afternoon, to learn any facts obtsinahle
about the seaiF. The Rquery knew some.
thing Of the contents OF the letters. These,
he declared, represented that Magee was
an emissary OF secret society, aud that he
had been ordered to kill the Prince Of
Wales, but the letters further intimated
that Magee did not wish to obey the
mandate. There was no help for 1t,
however, unless he could get money
enough to so to America. He wanted
ESQ therefor. Ii this amount reached
him he would at once bid lasting good.
bye to secret societies and conspiracies,
and start across the Atlantic. 1t is beliey.
ed that disclosures Of an important nature
may be made when the case comes before
court for thourough investigation.