The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-03
PLOTTED TO BLACKMAIL
THE CHARGE AGAINST THREE MEN
ARRESTED AT MARION.
Conspiracy Based on a Glass Factory
Fire-ExpIosion mt A~ibany-Fcr
Wayne Abandons Gas as Fuei
eclal to the 1ndianapolls journal.

MARION, Ind, Jan. John A. Kersey,
Robert Clark and Daniel Hiatt were arrest
ed to-day by Sheriff Bradford on an af-
fdavit made in the Circuit Court by Pros
ecuting Attorney William Amsden, charg-
ing them with conspiracy to blackmail Ben
jamin F. Burk. the big window-glass man
ufacturer and glass jobber of this city, OUT
of the sum of s13, O00. The men were ar
raigned in court. and each permitted
10 go on $500 bail. John A. Kersey is
torneys, and was the nominee of the DEM
ocratic party for judge of the Grant Cir
cult Court at the election in 1898. He also
was the prime mover in the attempt to de-
fraud the members Of the Soldiers Home
here of the right to vote during the CAM
| paign of 1898. Robert Clark is a r~oustabout.
and at the present time is the keeper of a
r~oadhouse near Converse. Daniel Hiatt is
an old resident of Grant county, living near
Jonesboro, and for some time was a consta-
BILE in this city. The arrests were due to
evidence obtained by a detective, whom Mr..
Burk obtained about five weeks ago. and
who has been working on the case ever
since. Mr.. Kersey was seen to-day, but
declined to talk for publication. He said,
however, he had no fears for the outcome.
From one who is perfectly familiar with
the case the following information was OBJ
tanned:
About five years ago Mr.. Burk was in
partnership with John c. Evans in the
ownership of the Riverside glass factory,
at Gas City. 1t was destroyed by fire. The
factory was insured, and after the usual in
vestigation the money was paid. About
two years ago Mr.. Burk received an anon
ymous communication limiting that he had
better pay some one or they might tell
things he would not like to be made pub
lie. He thought nothing of the matter I'M
til a few days later he received another
communication, which was signed by Jacob
Daily, of Jonesboro, stating that If he did
not pay him $1,000 he would furnish infor-
nation to the insurance companies hat
would prove that he had set the factory on
fire. Daily was the night Waterman at the
factory at the time OF its destruction, and
he said he had seen Burk in COM
pany with Evans at the factory that
night, and that Evans had told
him hat Burk had helped him to set it
on fire. When Mr.. Burk received this let
ter he consulted his attorney, but by his
advice did nothing in the matter. A third
dIlu L McIt IcCSlNtu, dilu IL z
gan to grow annoying and at the advice of
his attorney, c.. A. Henry, the attorneys
for the insurance companies represented in
the loss OF the factory We're called to-
gether, the letters were laid before them
and they were given the information
about the case and were asked by Mr..
Burk to take such steps that they might
think necessary. The attorneys, after look
ing into the matter, refused to have any
thing to do with the case. Upon receiving
another letter from Daily, MIR. Burk visi-
ted him and asked what he meant by writ
ing such letters, and stated to him that he
could be sent to prison for blackmail.
Daily, he said, then confessed that he had
tried to work a bluff" and knew nothing
about the case, and had not seen Mr.. Burk
at the factory on tnev might of the fire.
From that time on Burk was not bothered
by Daily.
About last Thanksgiving Mr.. Burk learn
ed that the subject had been resurrected,
and the persons who gave him the In
formation said that Kersey, Clark and
Hiatt were implicated as we'll as others. II
| was said to be a part of the plan to secure
the release of John G. Evans from the
| ~penitentiary, where he has been serving a
term for the past three years for his COM
plicity in a green goods" scheme, and
then obtain an affidavit from him that
Burk set the factory on fire. The release
of Evans was secured, but Evans has made
| affidavit that Burk was not at the factory
that night. but was in Marion, and that
he Evans) called Burk up by telephone
while the factory was burning and told him
about il.
1t is understood a sworn statement has
been secured from one who was implicated,
revealing the whole story, telling of con-
versations held when the conspirators were
together and turning states evidence
against the other persons. Robert Clark,
one of the defendants in this case, was
implicated in a shooting scrape in this city
about three years ago, but succeeded in
/ getting ont of IL.