Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-25
THREAT TO klDNAP BOY
SUBSTANCE OF LETTER RECEIVED
BIZ mn. GEORGE J. BEssLER.
Demand for $500 In Cash to be Placed
at Entrance to Zoo-May
BE d Joke,

A letter In which a threat to kidnap his
son is made unless the sum of $500 IL paid
was received this morning by Mr.. George
j. Bessler. proprietor of Bessler's Hotel.
No. 922 Pennsylvania avenue northwest.
Mr.. Bessler. having become uneasy after
the receipt Of the letter. went to the po-
lice station to tell about 1t. The letter d.
rected that the money should be put in an
old shoe andplaced beneath a certain step
at the entrance to the Zoo nearest the Dis
trict line. In the event of any effort being
made to arrest or cause the arrest Of the
writer of the letter its recipient is informed
that death will surely follow.
The police regard the affair as a Joke.
and think that friends of Mr.. Bessler wrote
the missive, although they concede that
the writer may have really expected to get
the $500. According to the terms of the
letter the money Is to be placed where the
writer can get 1t promptly at 10 O'Clock to-
morrow night. 1t so happens that the only
son Mr.. Bessler has to fall into the hands
Of kfdnapers Is twenty-one years of age,
and his father is certain he can take care
of himself under any and all circum-
stances. So far as the son is concerned
Mr.. Bessler has no fears, but he imagines
the writer of the letter had his Bessler's)
grandson in view when the demand was
written.
His grandson Is but nine years old and.
it is said is unusually bright for his age.
He lives at his grandfather's. and people
not intimately acquainted with the family
think he is son.
The grandfather's love for the little boy
Is so great that he would do anything In
the world for him. even to giving up all
his earthly possessions, if necessary. But
on this occasion, although somewhat
frightened, he deemed 1t unnecessary to
part with the amount demanded.
I'D rather spend it on the boy" he said
this morning. than give it up in this
way"
Written on Wrapping Paper.
The letter In which the threats and de-
mands were made was written on a piece
Of wrapping paper, such as is used by
many dealers in the Center market, where
Mr.. Bessler was in the butcher business
for many years, and from which he retired
after he had accumulated considerable
money. Dealers and men employed about
the market know he has money, and they
also know that he is a kind-hearted man.
This leads to the superstition that the let
ter was written by practical Joker.
Mr. Bessler never negiects an opportunity
to treat his friends well and do them q
kindness. and for this reason he could not
see why the would-be kidnapers want to
put him to so much trouble. 1t would in
volve a good deal of personal exertion for
him to go through the mud of the north
end Of the Zoo, when he could hand over
the cash at his place Of business. Then.
too, In settling SO large an account the
beneficiary, he thinks, should show himself
man enough to treat. Mr.. Bessler says he
has no surplus stock Of old shoes on hand
and if silver money is desired one of his
shoes would not hold the amount demand
ed.
After thinking the matter over Mr.. Bess-
Ter concluded he would not be put to the
trouble and expense in such manner, but
would call on the police. The letter it is
understood, was sent to police headquar-
tiers, and there may be an investigation
which will result in an Identification of the
handwriting.