Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-11-26

WHICH INVOLVES AN UNREVEALED MYSTERY,
AND DiscLosEs ONE or THE MOST AsrouND-
ING CASES or BLACKMAIL on RECORD.
A deeper mystery than that involved in
the Wilson Mocn case, which has just been
tried in Boston, has never found its way
into AN American court. A stranger story
can hardly be found in fiction. Eleven years
ago, young man inst out Of his teens, lie
vi Wilson by name, turned up in Worces-
ter. Mass. He had come from Uxbfdge
was iliterate and poor He made a scanty
living by working in stables He concocted
and sold horse lniment and was dubbed
doc" Wilson Suddenly he appeared to
be the posscssor Of no little wealth He
spent money freely, lived in luxury, kept
fast horses, wore costly jewelry. Where
this money came from no one knew or could
find out Wilson was even Swallowed by
detectives as "A suspected bank burglar or Il
countcrfcitcr.
This was several years ago. Wilson's
name aud that of Phillip l.. Mucn were then
often connected Moen was one of the
wcalthest and most influential citizens of
Worccstcr--a man Of family, the head Of
the barbed-wirc monopoly, deacon in the
Congregational church, and in 1894 an cleo
tor on the Blaine ticket He is now more
than sixty years of age Last year Moen
appeared a. the defendant in suit brought
10y Wilson to recover Sll3,OOO Wilson al
legged that in 1852 two suits for breach Of
promise had been brought against him 10y
two Young women of Providence, and also
that AN action against him had been msti-
tutod by the father Of one Of them. The
damages were laid at $50, 900 in each case.
Wilson further alleged that Moen had
agreed to give him $780, 900 to settle these
suits. They were accordingly compromis
ed. Moen gave Wilson 10000, but refus-
ed to pay more. Wilson sued for the bal
ance, with interest. The case was tried IN
the United States court in Boston last De
ceinbcr and resulted in disagreement OF
the jury.
Mocn admitted that he had agreed to pay
the money, hut put in general denial of
liability. The trial disclosed the source OF
Wilson suddenly acquired wealth. lie had
received ut various times enormous sums
from the great manufacturer. But lust
,,h,t fan, y,,s a ,r,.st.rv Thor. ,,os in
Ill ...r,,,,,.l mt ,,hl nth,
the Paihtl1 nor Tine n'i'h'ah' "'S'I'''H "a
secret unknown 10 Judge or jury and ap-
parently not revealed even to the lawyer,
i'm the ca.e Evidently the Worcester mil
lo.,, IL, ,I,.. ,..,,,...,. If ,b, H.,
"l''-' ""''''' """ P'." '>'' "' "A''''''H i"'
the lalterS silence why lha' was th'
mystery that long hatilcd solution.
The second trial of the ease began on III,
IOtb inst I-pto thnt time b,tb Wilson. AN,
!, ..., -,
n'''' '''''' ''''" s'''''' ~ ''' ave '"'"
the secret. Inc TACT was Drought 'ut Una,
Mocn had first given Wilson money in IS"
and last in 1852 The various amounts pal,
Juring tb,s,.. seven v.ors n,,,r.gnt.d NOR,
,t: III U-t..
,'it' i"'' ''' VI Il ''''''''''' "''''' u!
had TINS enormous sum "eh paid l"r Il
1 lence What was the skeleton IN the clos
| ett 1t was not till the defence was outline,
/ that the dnnr of the closet was portlv omen
81 rI.r.. :. ,,b,t j. di.cl,..j Lv Nn.p,
'"uIl'e' III MS opening sle''n
Inc defence Is hlackinail pure ana SIM
/ pie. 1t Is story OF blackmaIl successful.
carried out untll the victim refused u e
any further In November, 1919, MI Mpel
met stripping youth, stranger, IN ms sta
bile II was Lew wilson WI" SAD ne wa
out OF money and work. i have no friends,
SAID ne have been the witness OF an az
which will make the subject OF a crlmlna
drcd dollars The details Of that act wer
disgraceful and false. Although these de
tails were untrue, rather than have then
placed on the court records and Haunted be
/ l"re Inc puhhc' M"eh' III a molhth.
W13hhess' promise" 20 pay 'ne "ile nui'''' 81
"'.,i1' j. 'i'' ,'l' Wv h fo; W. ,a, NJ,
Moon rarnive5 letter in nriut .i,nrd Il
Levi Wilson. which said Why in h
don't you send me $1,000 If you don sen
1t you and your property are not sale:
ni' IN ,a ,.il u,Is'i'. " Ne "''! ,i,'''G
Wls"n tx sacanJ snm If mnnev Tba
letter was followed up in person and b
other letters, and Mr. Mocn paid Wilso
other sums, small III thelr amount az mrs.
nu' E'"'u"'lH l ,'o ,,. UP -
H., ~. ,,,,,,'' tr,,,lI, AMI ,,antad IN ~, +
Furnue ON his promise to do so Mr.. Moe
paid him $40, 900, believing he would nevc
see him again and tins was followed 500
ail'r ny HI"'uo" more ne "iu 20
..I ,'.;ti, NJ. NJ, anJ -,
reived $40 600 more. then 5000. S2O. OOl
and $500 ON the pretense that Wilson ha
carleSsly told the secret to his brothers an
that II was necessary I" nave S'p'V"o' IN
.'''''u',. N."'" yn'i ''e'''I''' ,nn non wv Nv
called for in a hmm Mr. Norn refused I'm,
Their PAYMENTS and dared Wilson to do HI
worst
This statement throws II flood of ligl
ON the mystery. But what the allege
criminal act was, where, when and l.
whom it was committed, is as profound
mystery as the whole affair has been f,
years. And it is likely to remain 50, f.
no hint was given 10 reveal or explain
during the trial. The only approach tn;
was made to it was when Mr.. Moen too
the stand and swore that the act which
paid To conceal was not committed by hin
self The magnitude of the sums paid err
ates the impression that some dreadful dee
d., &, mo-. l.,,... I...., n ,riaa soma n,Ji
,.r,t;or or ,.o,,tb aud tba navments op,
bco,m doubtless mnde the desire of secre,