New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-15
WROTE NIHILIST THREATS :?
TIT1rs SAYS ALLEGED BLACKMAILER's
WRITING is LIKE THAT OF LET
TIERS DEMANDING MONEY.

William Becker carpenter on the ship Americana.
of the Trinidad Line. lying at Erie Basin, who
was arrested in the General Postoffice Thurs
day. was arragned before Magistrate Cornell in
the Tombs Police Court yesterday and accused Of
attempted blackmai. He was held in 81 600 bail for
further examination tomorrow morning.
In the last few days many welI-to-do men of
this city have received letters purporting 10 be
from Russian Nihilists. who demanded $1,000. and
who threatened death by poison if the demand
was refused. Among the fifteen persons who re-
ceived letters DIR. T. Lewis. of No. $50 Park
ave- and j. P Bennett. of No 10 Fulton-st. The
threat of death in the latter which DR.. Lewis re-
ceived written with red ink. The letters were
signed Ala F. Renpensky, Chief; NJ. Robow. H
Wardome and y. Metsky,' and the replies were
to be sent to c. c. Barta. General Postoffce.
Detectives detailed watch for the self-con-
fessed Nihilists seized Becker just after he had
asked for letters for G. c. Barta. He said that he
had been asked by man in City Hall Park, who
spoke little English, to get letters there might
be for Barta.
Captain Titus said yesterday. before Becker's ar
raignment. that he believed the prisoner TO be in
sane.
Becker said that he had formerly lived in Jersey
City. Captain Titus induced him to write a letter
to the officers of the Americana. authorizing the
detectives search the effects of the prisoner
the ship. The handwriting of this letter COM
pared with that of the WHILST letters, and the
captain declared the writing similar that
the services of handwriting experts were not
needed.
In court Becker said that re left Hamburg. Ger
many, two years ago, and that he had home
at the present time. He denied that he wrote the
letters. but the detectives said they had found an
discriminating letter on him. The letter which Mr..
Bennett received follows:
We the writer's of this are Russian NihiIIsts.
We have the order to shadow a political high
standing person On one of the next days our
able 10 follow because our money went out. Our
rules are now cruel severe. Nihilist has 10 take
any kind of way fill his order or TO lose
his life: We are now lost. II We can't follow. be-
cause it Is too late when we wait for money from
Russia Therefore, We pray you TO lend us SliGO
ye nr & into men, o s %e pay you can 6n an
save us. but If you don favor you make us too
love and Ike in cruel terrible V Way, and You at
last with secret East Indian poison. Nothing
ten bills at 500 each in a general letter not regis
it TO Mr. Mr. Wadow Care OF Post Heod ONCE.
midnight p o'clock, eve G9 is lost and then
keep word in terrible way Don't talk about
please CHIEF REMPENsKY.
The person persons who have been sending
threatening letters demanding money from bust
ness men here are also. apparently, conducting
opera atoms In Jersey City Two residents of Jersey
city both of whom wholesale grocers have
received letters recently of the same general tenor
those sent to NEWCOMERS. on November .
Rubens. OF No. 2lS New-York-ave. The letter had
br6 sPsfn @ thG en SeP % %s
and private" The letter was handed by Mr..
RubenS Police Captain Wohlleben
The writer Of the letter said that the recipient
would suffer death from poison II ne did not SEND
TO the writer OF money. Rubens was in
structed send his answer 10 "A II. Ysop, care OF
PostofhCe Hoboken." Besides the of "Ysop'
the Ietterewas signed follows: w. Irenpensk-
chief; A. Walden, P Ronskow, w. solenskow.',
A few days later similar letter was received by
O. H. Van Ojen, OF No. 939 summit ave.
Police Chief Murphy. after looking over the let
tiers. decided that they were the work Of black
matters. and laid his plans to capture the gang. but
so far arrests have been made.
The Chief made reply TO the letter that had been
sent to Mr.. Rubens and addressed IL TO A. n. Ysop
OF the Hoboken postofice. Then he sent De-
tective Gallagher TO the pOstOfice with inStrUc-
any that called for the letter. A
day ago man called at the Hoboken post
Office and asked II there was any mail there for
a. II. Ysop. He told that there was, but he
did not ask for II. and went away. II Is thought
that he suspected that he in danger, and was
afraid to ask for the mail. To the postofce clerk
he gave a card on which was printed Gustav Hen
righaufen, Cafe. Nos. and II North-st-. Balu-
more
Detective Gallagher followed the man 20 the
ferry house where he boarded boat for Eew-York.
He was not arrested. because the detective thought
that ne might come back later and ask for 'HSops'
mail and lie wanted 70 capture him.