Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-11-15
The Wilson MOen Case.
A STARTLING STORY OF ALLEGED BLACK
MAIL.

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Wilson-Moen case:
I'VE base the defense to this case" said
he, .son blackmsil, pure and simple. In No.
vember. 1874, Moen met a stripping youth, a
stranger. in his stable 1t was Levi Wilson.
who said he was out of money and work Il
have no friends said he. Il have been the
witness of a disgraceful act, which [ will
make the subject of criminal prosecution
unless Won give me $780, The details of
that act were dirty, disgraceful and untrue.
Although those details were untrue, rather
than have them placed on the court records
and Haunted before the public. Mr.. Moen. in
a moment of weakness. promised to nav the
800. and laid the superstructure for this
case The next day Mr.. Moen paid the
money Wilson departed. and Mr.. Moep he
lieved that he was rid of the unpleasantpess
threatened. In February of the following
wear Mr.. Moen received a letter in print.
signed BY Levi Wilson, which said: .Why in
hi don't YOU send me $1,000? If you don't
send il. YOU and your property are NOT safe.
can hire nv brother TO swear to ANYTHING.
son the 18Th of February Mr.. Moen paid
to Wilson the second sum of money. That
letter was followed no in person and by 9th, r
letters, and MIR Moen paid Wilson other
sums small IN their amount at first. hut
gradually Increasing ur to thousands. In
December. 1879. Wilson said he would give
no more trouble. and wanted to 20 to Europe.
On hi. nromise to do so Mr.. Moep Maid him
$40 600 and this was followed soon after bv
$40 600 more. He did 90 to Europe. but re-
tnrned in few months. renew ed his relations
with Mr. Moen and received $40 600 more
then 81 900 500. 600 and 81. 500 on the pre
tense that ne had carelessly told the secret to
his brothers and that it was necessary to
have S75 600 the amount W hicb thew demand.
cd with which to 90 West The total maid
from 1917 nm 70 lime 7 1882 vas shout
s35O 600
uIIntil June 7. 1882. Mr. Moen did not
know that wilson WAS not married To Hsttie
Envlev. did not know the other Enpl.vs. and
did NOT know Hattie A. Wetb.rell and At that
time did not know of any claim of anv k,nd
or nature whatever that thew had against him
Whom the Enyleys heard that Wilson was to
marry a Miss Farnum. the sued him for se-
ductiop and breach of promise. and he was
mt in iail Upon his release on hail Wilson
;pouirsd for Mr. Moen at the latter's ofIica in
worcester. and was told that he was at
Moo,ehead Lake. Wilson then appeared at
Noosehead and hogan at once To tell of his
troubl.s irving To EFFORT 800. 600 more.
".I mnst, he said have SlOO OOe TO SETTLE
,bose .uits and Won must befriend me- and
raise the nancy Mr.. Moen absolutely de-
clined IN do 40 and sent Wilson away
Neither at that time. nor at snv other. did
Wilson pretend that he had any defense to
the Enpiev suits. or wanted to defend them
ansrwarj, W1.on made anotber demand for
blood money ON Moen at the Hotel Bruins.
wick Ro.ton and fnallv Moan want tn New
York 10 trv TO raise the cash, He wrote the
letter and teIegrams promising to send the
b.lanc. bnt did not write or TELEGRAM h any,
thing about its being the sum agreed upon.
Finally. after a consultation with Mr.. Rice.
Mr.. Moen determined that he would pay no
mare money TO Wilson. and that the connec
ton bet~een them should henceforth be at an
end
"He gave him. however. 500. 900 in ex-
change for the check for 500 600 he had
,ent by mail. Much Of the money paid to
Wi, ia -, :, IL. g., IS -. g.