Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-03-09
BLACKMAIL CHARGED
Against Prominent Merchant of
Schuyler, Neb., Who Is Un-
der $4,000 Bond.
TOUCH" FOR UTAHs NEW SENATOR
Who Was Ordered TO Cough Up So
900 or Suffer Death-Accused
Man Denies Guilt.

Omaha, March ERNEST J. Wolter,
a prominent merchant of Schuyler,
Neb., who was arrested in that city
by United States marshal on "a
charge of attempting to blackmail
United States Senator Kearns, of Utah.
was arraigned before United States
Commissioner Anderson yesterday aft
ernoon. He waived preliminary hear
ing and was held to the federal grand
jury Hnder $1,000 bounds. The arrest
of Wolter was the result of prompt
work by the postoffice inspection de-
partment, its agents having been at
work on the case but five days. There
We're three letters written in connection
with attempted blackmail. The first,
Feb. 10, was addressed to the newly
elected senator at Salt Lake City. 1t
spoke of the senator's success in life
and newly-acquired happiness and of
the writer's need of money.
Made a Demand for 5000.
II made Il demand for $1,000 and
went into considerable detail in di-
recting how the money should be sent.
1t was specified that it must be in $40
bills. and that kearns must get Il
bundle of books and magazines and
put the money between the leaves. 1t
was further directed that one corner
of the bundle wrapped must be torn
open. so that the pOstotfice officials
could see that it contained books and
would not open it. 1t was threatened
that if this was not done the writer
would take Kearns' life, and that they
would go to eternity together. The
writer said he cared nothing about life
unless he could have the money. and
he directed that the amount he sent to
box 4S4, Schuyler Neb.
Next Letter Was to Mrs. Kearns.
Two days later. Feb. 81, the same
party wrote letter 10 Mrs. Kearns.
demanding $1,000 at once and another
81 200 by Aug. l. \ threat of kidnap-
ing her children was made a penalty
for non compliance, and the writer
stated that he was an expert with
dynamite and nitro -glycerine." These
letters were put into the possession of
Inspector Sullivan, of Denver. who at
once started for Schuyler. arriving
there last Tuesday. He called at the
pOstoffice and inquired who had rented
lock box 4S4. and was told that it had
been rented by Ernest J. WOlter the
proprietor of Il leading retail estab-
lishment of that city.
WOlter Denies Guilt.
The inspector also learned that the
postmaster at Rogers. NeD.. nau fe-
ceived Il letter signed j. b. Walker.
asking if lock box could be rented
with a combination that could be
opened hurriedly. The writer stated
that he was a travelling man and had
occasion TO receive mail at Rogers and
did not wish to ask for il. The in
spector confronted WOlter with this
letter and he admitted having written
it. saying he had done so at the re
quest of a travelling man named
Walker, whose whereabouts were un-
known, and VOTERS arrest followed
Wolter refused to discuss the case
further than to say that he is not
guilty as charged. The case may look
bad upon its face" he said. but L
have no misgivings as to the outcome.
There are other parties in this. That's
all 1 care TO say at present"