The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-29
LAWYERS IN TROUBLE
THREE FEW WORKERS ARRESTED
ON THE CHARGE OF BLACKMAIL.
Complaint Made by Samuel Keller,
COmpany-Trap Laid by Detectives.

NEW YORK, Sept. 28.-Col Robert A.
Ammon, William A. Sweetzer and William
Woods, lawyers, have been arrested.
charged with blackmaiing Samuel Keller,
former manager of the E. S. Dean Company,
discretionary pool operators, who failed in
March last The arrests were made last
night at Mrs. Kellers residence. According
to Captain McClurkin, chief of the detective
bureau of the New York police department,
the evidence of the backmail was found in
Sweetzer's possession and detectives saw the
money passed. Captain McClurkin said that
after the closing of the Z. S. Dean Com.
pany's office Kelley was arrested on civil
order of arrest and later discharged Am
mon and Sweetzer were his lawyers in the
case and after Kellers discharge the law
yers took Wood into partnership with them
and began writing letters to Keller, declar-
ing that they held certain documents the
production of which would send Keller to
Jail for long time. In those letters, Cap
tain McClurkin says, there was a declara
ton that the lawyers would destroy these
documents for $4,000 Keller consulted with
his lawyers and the matter was laid before
Captain McClurkin. Keller was told to write
a letter, acceding to the lawyers demands
and making an appointment to meet them
for the purpose of handing over portion
of the money. Provision was made for the
concealment of officers in such position
that they could see and hear everything
chat TRANSFERRED. Accordingly a letter was
sent to Wood by Keller and an appointment
made to meet at Keller's house last night.
Keller was provided with ten one-hundred-
dollar bills, which had been marked Three
detectives were concealed in the back part
when the lawyers arrived The detectives
say they heard the lawyers make a verbal
demand for $4,000 Keller temporized and
on $3.50. They agreed to accept $1,000 in
cash, $1,000 on Oct. Is and the balance in
monthly payments of 1900 each. The next
move on the board was the handing over
Of the marked money. Wood recounted
The bills and put them into his pocket. The
detectives then made their appearance and
made the three lawyers prisoners Wood
was searched on the spot and the marked
bills were found in his pocket.
Keller testified that he was in business
with Armon, Pine Williams in August,
1896, but that the business did not pay. He
sold out to Police captain E II XII and Am
mon The latter had put $1,000, which he
said his wife's, into the business and
it had been lost. Ammon afterward wrote
to witness and said that if he would pay
him that $1,000 he would not prosecute him.
Witness refused to pay and Ammon turned
the matter over to Mr.. Woods; Then Woods
and Ammon brought several out-of-tOwn
compliments here to make charges against
witness and he was arrested and later dis
missed in court. Swetzer was present on
one occasion and promised witness that if
the $1,000 was paid to Ammon trouble
would be made for him. Woods threatened
that if witness did not pay up he would get
an order of arrest and have him locked up
in LudloW-street jail. Then he paid Woods
$3.50 as a retaining fee and stood him off for
a while. In June Woods came to witness
and said he had claims against him for $780,,
900 which could be settled for $4,000 Wit
ness stood him off and told him he could not
raise so much money
The accused alleged that they had been
misrepresented by Keller, with whom they
had been negotiating on a legitimate basis
for a settlement of the latter's obligations
They were released on LOCO bail