The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1891-10-29
HIS SCHEME FAILED
Blackmailer Walsh's Designs
on a Buffalo Lawyer.
HE KNEW A FAMILY SECRET.
Social Ruin Of Barrister Box's Adopted
Daughter Threatened

Two Now York Detectives CIsvsrly Rau
the Rascal to Earth - An Innocent
Young Man Also Involved when Ar
raignsd walsh Refused to Make an Er
planauon Held for the Grand Jury.
NEW YORK, Oct. 90 The examipa
tlon Of William K Walsh alias II.
X. Williams, accused Of attempting to
eXtort money by means Of threat yes
terday, resulted in his being held for the
Grand Jury.
The case is one of blackmail pure
and simple, and the victim is Henry w.
Box, a prominent Buffalo lawyer, and a
man OF great wealth. -Four years ago
Walsh lived in Buffalo, where he worked
in crockery store. Being OF a sneakinc
disposition he learned many private
affairs of Buffalo families, including that
of Mr.. Box.
Seventeen years ago Mr.. Box adopted
pretty girl baby of respectable pa
rents. The family was a large one and
Mr.. Box, having no children of his own,
took this child, the parents resigning ali
control. 1t was on this adopted child.
now a pretty young girl, that Walsh de-
cided to play his cards.
Walsh, under the name of w. K WILL
Jams, sent a letter TO Mr.. Box limiting
that If certain statements about the
girls parentage were known they would
ruin her social standing in Buffalo He
intimated in his letters to Mr. Box that
he had been informed Of them by some
Buffalo person, and that 81 600 would
be the price of silence. To all his letters
Mr.. Box replied in vigorous language
Then Walsh wrote Mr.. Box to send 5000
AMI he would leave the country He
told Mr. Box that he wished to 20 to
Australia and begin life anew. Mr. Box,
knowing it to be a scheme of blackmail
laid the matter before Judge Daniels. of
the Supreme Court and the Judge
placed the matter in the hands of ln-
spector Byrnes.
Detectives Frank and Titus were put
on the case. They told Mr. Box TO con
tinue his correspondence with Williams.
who told Mr.. Box to send the letter with
the money to the General Post Office in
New York. This letter reached the
New York Post Office, but was not called
for at once. Finallya letter reached the
New York Post Office signed H. k Will
liams, telling the Postmaster to send all
mail for II. * Williams to George w.
Smythe, at No. ~ New street The
letter was taken TO Smythe, but he re-
fused to sign for it. The registered
letter was inclosed in an envelope and
taken to Smythe by a letter carrier, shad-
owed by Detectives Titus and Frink.
Smythe accepted the letter and was ar
rested. He said that the letter belonged
to William H. Walsh, who had been re-
ceiving others through him under the
name of H. X. Williams.
Smythe said that he met Walsh three
years ago in the Office OF J. c. Allen,
where they both worked, Walsh was
arrested, and when confronted by
Smythe acknowledged the acquaintance
Mr.. Box was telegraphed for and hur-
riedly left Buffalo, arriving here yester-
day morning. At the hearing Smythe
frankly stated that rs a friend he had
received the mail for Walsh, but never
had any idea of the contents Of the let
ters. Smythe was sent to the House OF
Detention in default Of 500.
Walsh refused to make any explaua-
tions. His bail was put at $40, 900.