The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-19
B~LACKMAIL9 50 YEARS AGO.
AN OLD POSTER TELLS OF EXCITING
TIMES At POUGHKEEPSIE

the "DnrinE viiaipyn Directed AEntnse
Henry a. LivinGston, n Respectable heiEh.
bor-ThreateRed with Arson Unless No Rnto
eaSo-A Boms left for Him ss n sample.
A collector OF old documents here has among
his curios n Followed and worn placard or poster
nlnety.threo yoars old that tells OF what was
manifcstly an exciting time in the thon village
OF Poughkeepsie. Tho matter was an attempt
at blackmail by threats Of incendiarism. as we'll
as personal violence, directed against one to
whom his follow townsmen, including Magis'
tratos and Trustees, refer as their respectable
neighbor." The placard 10 as follows:
DARING vILLAINYii
$50 DOLLARS REWARD
we. the unaSrsigned Magistrates and Trns.
Wilt the Citizens OF the town; having been con,
NNSnea 70 takei INTO Gons,aefation nw9 nlbsSitantS
which are as follows:-
LETTER IL
9TH OCTOBER, 1904.
rocky point. in one week from this date. down
the river. about half way to the long point from
AXE fence. near the shore. you You will see a stake
stuck, and you will there find o small heap OF
sIeS and II d ihst d hSrR s9 IN S bare e ol RI. p In tM in h a
wether; You must certainly comply with this
obstruction, And you are farther ordered not
to mention this to any person or friend, nor at
mp " ~ "o uIO Wy "obtnhhe t.io
You YOU have. done what is here demanded. il any
viii BE- in danger Of discovery in. going to tho
spot. you may depend we will. at the, risque OF
toned. and il any Of your Majors, or any other
one is seen watching the spot, they shall suffer
NOT M,tn the yeof EsIof that at has tssVf BEEN sea' S obpIiee9 to pay f for
s Zig Isst Z IN es Soar i5 psfition' and A yGs 9 Gi1 i. P e I. DO
HENRY A. LIVINGSTON. ESQ.
IIETTER III
' 10Th OCTOBER.
SIR, The good lookout we have kept, and have
seen your movements, was certain they were
has 'i been the the 70 reason sSnp Of " our G mot ' 'somins
iioDsr . You 'D to t so more no en't th %anRR ssifi " way fsq from
up the bank you will see a stake stuck up With
the bark cut near the top. on the bank you will
fore desi cd. II It had not been for the unfavor:
able weather last week you would now been we'll
VSnv,n we m nen me tWe oP'S us u has sse thope 1T
proper, and 1t has been agreed TO-. to mako
this second request. and further to convince you
trouble to go to the stone wall by the so mile;
sample; with them and a good wind and under
cover, at certain places about your house, we
of q shot from you. IL you put us to this trouble
reflect a moment what the consequences will be
under cover to remove our salamanders or como
near US we shall be SO prepared to mako you or
them take shelter very quickly. II you think
of doing what we have requested, draw the
stake out and lay it on the bank. that it
may be seen from tho river. as we
shall not go near 1t till we leave this place,
which may be in three days from the date; Il
your intentions are to tho contrary leave 1t
standing. show your spunk and we will ours.
but not at present, as you might BIO better pre-
pared than you have been; II you draw the stake
let there be no deception; IL We discover any
movements remember your person shall suffer
for 1t. When you find the stake fifteen PAGES
cast you will find a flat stone with a stone on
small sapling with four spots on 1t. Remember
YOU have been in our power In the woods twice;
II you again place yourself In the same situa-
tion. abide the consequences. A. Is. c. ID. g. e.
n. B BY a clear spot where wood has been
hove down.
We therefore, unanimously reprobating tho
wicked plan disclosed in the above letters. do
offer the reward of two hundred and fifty dol
lars to any person or persons who shall expose
its author or authors. In such manner as they
of the associates give tho necessary informa.
tion, their names shall be concealed, they shall
be exempt from any consequences, and shall re-
ceivc the 8 i'd reward.
The persons attending tho meeting unani-
mously resolved to pursue all proper measures
in relieving their respectable Deighbor from tho
extraordinary attempt upon him.
signatures.
Dated November 80, 1904.
WILLIAM EMoTT.
PETER X. MAIsoN. ! Magistrates.
TEUNIs TAPPEN.
| TunNf.c NrrrnN