Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-10-29
HIS SCHEME FAILED
Blackmailer Walsh's Designs
Oh a Buffalo Lawyer.
HE KNEW A FAMILY SECRET,
Social Ruin of Barrister Box's Adopted
Daughter Threatened

Two New York Detectives CIeverly Ran
the Rascal to Earth - An Innocent
Young Man Also Involved-When Ar
raiGned Walsh Refused to Make an Ex-
PLANTATION Held for the Grand Jury.
New YORK, Oct. 29.-The examine
ton of William K. Walsh, alias H.
K. 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, 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 sneaking
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 large one, and
Mr.. Box, having no children of his own,
took this child, the parents resigning all
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
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, 900 would
be the price of silence. To all his letters
Mr.. Box replied in vigorous language.
Then Walsh wrote Mr.. Box to send $500
and he would leave the country. He
fol- hot hn yichn cd 70 70
Australia and begin life anew. Mr. Box,
knowing it to be scheme of blackmail,
laid the matter before Judge Daniels, OF
| the Supreme Court, and the Judge
| placed the matter in the hands of In
| 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. Finally letter reached the
New York Post Office signed H. K. Will
liams, telling the Postmaster to send al
mail for H. K. Williams to George w
Smythe, at No. 81 New stree The
letter was taken to Smythe, but he re
fused to sign for it. The registered
letter was inclosed in an envelope anC
| Gdken 10 OmyGue ny d leGIer chFrler, Sudo
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 tn
name of H. K. Williams.
Smythe said that he met Walsh three
years ago in the Office of ]. G. Allen
where they both worked. Walsh wa
arrested, and when confronted b,
Smythe acknowledged the acquain lance
Mr.. Box was telegraphed for and hur-
day morning. At the hearing Smyth
frankly stated that as friend he ha,
received the mail for Walsh, but neve
had any idea of the contents of the let
ters. Smythe was sent to the. House G
Detention in default of 500.
Walsh refused to make any explana
tions. His bail was put at $40, O00