Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-11-26
a MARVELLOUS CASE OF BLACK
MAIL.
$3.50, 900 rs WIRING OUT OF A MILLION
ARE IN ELEVEN YEARS.

] A trial of a marvellous case of black
mailing has just ended in the United
States Circuit Court at Boston, Mass. The
victim for years past was Philip Moen of
Worcester, Mass, the millionaire barbed
wire manufacturer. and the blackmailer
was doc" Levi Wilson, coarse, litter
ate and vicious fellow, who first entered
Mr.. Mems service as helper in his sta
BILE. The blacKmailing has been going on
for eleven years, since 1875. The New
York San says:
mo personal mystery has SO piqued pop
ular curiosity in New England the past
few years as has the secret of illiterate
doc" Wilson's power over Philip Moen,
the great Worcester millionaire, Ali sorts
of theories have been printed and discuss
ed that could explain how wild. vicious,
ignorant young man could squeeze hum
dreds of thousands out of man who, al
though immensely rich, has the reputa-
tion of keeping closs purse strings. Per-
haps the most generally accepted idea has
been that Wilson is son of the million
alre. Another story is that Wilson Is the
inventor of the barbed wire which has
made Moen's fortune. One theory that
has got into print was to the effect that
the barbed wire was invented by Hun
garian hermit; that Wilson got possession
of the secret, sold it to Moen, and MUIR
dered the inventor. For several years the
millionaire has seemed to be completely at
the mercy of Wilson. The latter has
wantonly squandered the money, thous-
ands of dollars at a time, as fast as he OBJ
tanned it FROM his victim, and he has
many times boas.ed of his power over
M0en. He has often said that he could,
by word, send Moen to State prison, and
he has delighted in piquiing the curiosity
of those who have tried to probe his secret.
! Wilson s present suit against the million
aire is one of the most peculiar actions
ever brought into court. 1t is an action
of contract to compel the payment of
$l13 900 which he alleges Moen agreed to
give him to secure the settlement of three
cases of breach of promise which were
brought against; Wilson IN 1922
In the present suit it had, strange to
say, been agreed by counsel on both sides
that no questions should be asked as to
the character of the secret which Wilson
| processes to hold or does hold. The fol-
lowing is the opening statement to the
jury, of lawyer King, counsel for the black
| mailed man
I'VE base the defence to this case on
blackmall pure and simple. The story is
that of blaekmail successfully carried out
until the victim refused to go any further.
In November, 1875, Mr.. Moen met a
STRIPPING youth, stranger in his stable.
1t was Levi Wilson, who said he was out
Of money and work. Il have no friends p
said he. II have been the witness of an
act which will make the subject of q
criminal prosecution unless you give me
$780, The details of that act were dis
graceful, and untrue. Although those
details were untrue, rather than have them
before the public he. in moment of
weakness, promised to pay the 500, and
laid the superstrucJure for this case.
The next day Mr.. Moen paid the money
Wilson departed. and Mr.. Moen believed
that he was rid of the threatened unpleas-
antness. In February of the following
year Mr.. Moan received a letter, in print,
signed by Levi Wilson, which said: "Why
in h-ll don't you send me 900. If you
don't send it you aud your property are
not safe. can hire my brother TO swear
to anything" On the 10Th of February
Mr.. Moen paid to Wilson the second sum
of money. That letter was followed up in
person and by other letters, and Mr.. Moen
amount at first, but gradually increasing
up TO thousands.
In December, 1879, counsel continued
Wilson said he would be no more trouble
and wanted to go to Europe. On his
promise to do so Mr. Moea paid him $40,.
900, believing that he should never see
him again, and this was followed soon
after by $40 900 more. He did go to Europe
but returned in few months, renewed
his relations with Mr.. Moen, and received
$50 ,0G0 mere. Then he received $1,000
500, 600, and $4,000, the latter sum On the
pretence that Wilson had carelesslY told
the secret to his brothers. and that it was
necessary to have $4,000, the amount
which they demanded, with which to &C
West. The total paid from 1875 up to June
Z, 1882, was about $250,000.
These facts counsel insisted upon, and
also denied that Mr.. Moen promised to
pay another cent to Wilson.
Mr.. Moen, the defendant, was on the
stand for short time before the court
adjourned. He told in greater detail the
story outlined by his lawyear, but he did
not describe the scandal which Wilson
originally threatened to make public. He
said, however, that it was no act of his
own that the blackmailer threatened te
expose. The Impression created by Moen'f
testimony thus far is that the threatened
scandal involved some member of Moen's
family.
On Wednesday of last week the jury
brought in verdict in favor of Moen. The
verdict not only denies the validity OF
Wilson's claim of $113. 900 for breach Of
contract, but 1t allows the set off of $96,
$50 notes made by e. Wilson to Moen, and
awards that sum to the Worcester million
aire. OF course, Wilson cannot pay the
Judgments: but it forces him into insol
vency, and apparently puts an end to the
prosecution of his wealthy victim. Will
son is in an exasperated frame Of mind
and it would not be surprising If, when he
finds that his great secret no longer has 8
money value, he should out of spite make
it public.
4 Sensible View OF Politics.