The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-29
THREATENED RICH MEN.
HELP OURSELVES SOCIETY TRIES TO
EFFORT MONET.

1t Walled Biood-CurdltnG Letters TO W. X.
Vanderbilt. Charles n. Reuse, Mr. Wnnn-
nater. ana william q. Rsckefeiier-Tho
Writer. n Negro, Sent to the Workheuse.
An association of Bowery panhandlers, said
to consist Of seven .nembers of Western OK.
traction and ideas, recently evolved q scheme
to extort money from wealthy persons in the
city. The scheme did not work and tho leader
OF tho gang, who describes himself as y. w.
Harris, was a prisoner yesterday In tho Essex
Market Court, Harris Is u unprecedented
negro about 30 .cars old. Hc speaks with Il
broad Southern dialect. The scheme, OF which
he acknowledges himself to BIO the prime
mover. consisted Of writing threatening letters
to prominent men containing demands for
money. Among those who received these let
ters were w. X. Vanderbilt, Charles Broadway
Rouss, John Wanamaker. Proprietor Villas OF
the Fifth Avenue Hotel, William q. ltocke'
feller and the firm of II. H. Macy d Co.
Several days ago Mr.. Villas turned over to
the police the letter which he received, in which
the writer demanded $25. 1t was signed Y.
NJ. Harris.
Mr.. Villas was asked to send the money to
the lodging house at 40 Bowery, and. II this
was inconyeniont. he was asked to send word
when and where he could meet a committee
and turn over to IT the money.
On Monday night Capt. McClusky assigned
Detective Sergcants Reap and Holland to fnd
Harris. They sent a decoy letter to the address
mentioned and then lay in whit for Harris. A
messenger boy called for the letter, but the
clerk in the lodging house refused to deliver 1t
to him. A few minutes later the negro came
in and announced himself as Harris. The de-
~tcctives arrested him. He admitted guilt. and
In his pockets were found several letters written
in a vein similar to the one received by Mr..
NvN III
the letters. which the gang had sent out. The
letter to Mr.. Vanderbilt read as follows:
Hon.. William Vanderbilt.
my DEAR SIR: We are now about LOO in
number and have decided that we must have q
few cents apiece for Christmas. Before the
eternal snd ! @a n So, Y ,s We ,b must + have z hi little x6u mG eieg.
anee Of ali that we have asked, so far. that they
would give Il us, and II you refuse, conhden-
III YOU desire a to wait on you.
f ist ns i kn RNnd a. by SnS %e ds wf van Dec TO "a nave your
IF you don't desire a C mmittee. you, may
cSnd your our favor \ m.t to 30 % or v 40 W BG WnnI II by
The letter received by Mr.. Rouss read:
"Hon. Charles B. Rouss.
DEAR SIR: We arc the poor people of the
money. Nothing but Death could be any worse,
and this is our conclusion that, before the Eter-
nel Hea ,Se cS MS m"ss h Holiaa1 few ao esn Mo M p,sGs
Now. confdentiaily IL. you. refuse, you will
have cause TO regret it. Please let us have
your favor by Wednesday. II not, as early
as possible on the 23d. II you desire. we will
asking those that Providence has so wonder
fully blest and fortune has smiled upon.
w will extend to you our thanks through
the papers of the city, and make known your
kindness. y. W. ri
Harris told the detectives that the other menu
bers of the gang. were unknown to him. and he
could give no information concerning them. He
said that they all met in the rear room of a
Bowery saloon OF tho Kind known as morgucs,
where the scheme was evolved and plans per-
fected for carrying it into effect. A secret
society was organized, Harris declared, and a
password was adopted. Each member took a
solemn VOW to carry out the orders Of the leader
and not betray any secrets. According to Har-
ris. the members agreed to call themselves the
Help Ourselves Society. One Of the matters
also agreed upon, according to Harris. WINS that
in the event of the society falling to obtain
money by peaceful means, hold-ups and posi-
BILE kidnapping of the victims were to be the
methods employed.
Court yesterday. and as none of the Recipients
of the letters was present to press any COM
plant, Detectives Reap and Holland made a
charge of vagrancy. On this charge Harris
was mmit to the Worklousc.
Harris said to a SCN reporter that he was
formerly a business man in Littlcton, -. c.,
and left there six months ago. He came to New
York from Washington about four weeks ago.
He said that after the formation Of the society
the members adjourned TO COOPER Union.
where they got free writing material, and Har-
ris, being the best pcnman, was assigned to
write the letters while the others sat around
him and offered suggestions.