The herald., 1895-04-06
A BLACKMAILER'S SCHEME
" Us Detectives Works for Money,
Said Long
Now rr. StrickIer, Whom He Tried to
Bleed, Has Him Indicted by
the Grand Jury

Benedict Long was indicted yesterday
by the federal grand jury for having used
the mail for an improper purpose.
He is now in the county Jail at San
Diego. Several months ago this man
Long was tried in the superior court Of
that county on the charge of blackmailing
one J.W. Struckler, storekeeper of Wis.,
aha. He developed signs of insanity
while the trial was in progress ana a
jury. impaneled to pass upon his mental
condition, found HIM insane. The black
mailing proceedings thus came to q sud-
den stop and Long was sent to the insane
asylum.
Since then he has been discharged as
cured, and Strickler, the man whom he
sought to blackmail laid his case before
the federal grand jury, with the result
above stated. 1t is alleged that Long
sent letter to Strickler on January 1st,
In which he accused him of arson. and
offered to suppress his knowledge for the
sum of 500. After paying himself a high
compliment with respect to his high de-
tective qualities. he said: Now the facts
in the case are only too well known to
yourself, so that it will be of no use for
me TO commit myself too much in this
letter; however, | will say that | have
conclusive and convincing evidence in 9th
cases now and it is not worth my while to
stay here much longer. What | want
is either a compromise with you or to
push the cases to a finish. Us detectives
work for money, and the one that can give
us the best layout we yield to. Do you
understand?
There was $100 in the other affair. and
$500 reward in this last one, but l am
tired of the country. and besides it would
M a m - pf fripnda q nd
cause unpleasant feelings to exist. and
possibly might end by sending v to the
pen for a number of years-ten at least.
That would only add to the expense of
the state and cause great deal of suffer-
ing to a helpless woman ana some inno-
cent little children. So | think the best
thing that can be done is to scare up 500
for me and drop the business -
This letter was signed ''B. "
The next day Strickler mailed the fol-
lowing letter in reply, which Long took
out of the postoffice at Vista:
~. W. Strickler, dealer in dry goods,
groceries and general merchandise,
Vista. CAL, January 2,1S95.
81 - Mr.. -Long-D Sir :-T ours received,
Will fix time and place., but don't let any
one else know will meet you with the
500. or part. 1t may be three or four
days before / can raise it all. Let me
knw-by letter at-onee. .--.a-ra.---~-----r
"YOU KNOW WHO"
The answer that this called forth from
the unwise Mr.. Long. whose forte seems
to have been epistle writing, was gem.
1t reads
Mr.. Strickler- Yours received. / think
now you are not only rational but wise.
hate like fury to succumb to my inner
nature, but, Jack, | must. | have been
fool enough to let my sympathy master
my duty but | could not think of the
peen S that would occur without feeling
that l was doing wrong. | have man
aged so far to keep Detectives Insey,
Harris, Hill and Wilson altogether on the
wrong trail. l will also take that
dreaded witness away with me and man
age it so that he will never get back.
You will find out some day that instead
of me being hard or exacting on you,
that have been your truest and worth
lest friend.
After referring to Strickler's past,
which in case of trial would be
thoroughly dug up" the writer said,
even to the land swindle. he gave him
directions where to meet on Sunday near
an old fence. where there was no Iikel-
hood of being disturbed.