Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1893-11-16
HUSH MONEY.

Out of the countless variety oi
esil-doers who thrive upon the mis-,
fortunes of their fellow creatures
and are enabled to gain q means oi
livelihood by the folly and timidit,
of their dupes, one class above all
others seems to conduct their dep.
relations with much success, on
account of the defenceless position
of the unhappy individuals upon
whom they prey. We allude ia
those who make it their business to
levy what is termed hush money.
There are innumerable miscreants
who thrive upon the possession OF
some discreditable secret or family
skeleton, which throws a desolating
blight over many life, to all ap-
pearance surrounded by every com
fort and luxury wealth can command
Scoundrels of this description, Sc
cure in the helplessness of their vie
tins, pursue with impunity their
merciless system of extortion, be-
ing well aware that terror of expo
sure is so great, that silence will be
purchased at any price. II persons
who are threatened by ruffians of
this kind with exposure of some
private matter, were once and for
all to refuse to pay one penny for
the silence of the extortioners, how
much misery would be avoided
Each instalment of hush money
only serves to whet the appe-
tites of these social harpies. 1t
is infinitely preferable to face bold
ly at first the worst, no matter of
how serious a nature, than to sup
ply blackmail for the purchase of
what can never be security. The
majority of malefactors are towards
at heart, although a craven nature
is in such cases concealed often by
bluster and braggadocio. 1t there,
fore becomes all the more important
at once to withstand their Infamous
opportunities.
The ordinary observer, while read
ing in conversational novel the evil
deeds and extortion perpetrated BY
the class of knaves who subsist on
hush money, would be inclined to
attribute them to romance. 1t is,
however, well known to those who
have had experience in criminal
matters, that the novelist's, fer,
tile inauguration pales before
stern reality. Innocent per-
sons have been threatened with
an accusation of some Infamous
crime, and at the same time
money has been demanded as the
price of silence. The dread caused
by even an accusation of such ma
ture has often, unfortunately, in.
duced persons so situated to accede
to extortionate demands. There
are plenty Of mauUariS sujets hov.
ering about society who make il
their business to become intimate
with the private history of those
upon whose infrmities they intend
to trade.
Not many years since, notable
instance Of this occurred. A gen.
tleman in high social position was
ruthlessly assailed and socially ruin.
ed by miscreant, who traded upon
the possession of some information
of a dubious nature rejecting upon
his wife. For heightened period
this gentleman had paid considera.
BILE sums of money for the silence
of his prosecutor; at length, how.
ever, driven to desperation by con.
tinual and increased demands for
hush money, he preferred rather to
face a public trial than continue
longer subject to such tyranny and
extortion.
The following apt illustration oi
blackmailing, which came under
the writer's personal cognizance,
will show the rascality in vogue
among these wretches. A wealthy
merchant was for some years com.
pletely in the power of a thorough.
paced scoundrel who had previous.
ly been in his employ. This knave
become acquainted with delicate
family matter, which, if disclosed
could but entail shame and miser,
upon his late employer. He threat.
ened to make this information pub
lie unless well paid for his silence.
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