Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-07-02
$4,000 OR DEATH
Is Threat Made George C.
Davis of Boston.
Ordered to Send in Gold or Notes Of
Suffer the Penalty.
Daughters Abduction Also Threatened
The Police at Work.

North Andover. Mass, July Geo.
,, c. Davis. wealthy business man OF
Boston who conducts Il machine fac
tory IN this place, has placed in the
hands of the local police what appears
to be q case of daring attempt to
secure money. The ..c.nand for the
cash was received first several days
ago in message from Boston. Mr.
Davis was ordered to deliver $c00c in
gold and notes 10 he writer OF the
letter. who threatened Mr.. Davis with
death if he refused TO aecede to the
demand contained III the note.
The note instructed Mr.. Davis to
take the required sum and meet the
author of the letter somewhere on the
road between Mr.. Davis house and
the Catholic church here. The pc.icc
were notified of the affair and pa
trolleG the road. Mr.. Davis ignored the
message The patrol did not result
in any capture. as no suspicious look
ing person put in appearance.
The next morning Mr.. Davis was
called TO the telephone at his office
here and requested to explain why he
did not perform his part of the plan.
Further conversation was stopped by
Mr.. Davis hanging up his phone. He
notified the police of his second ex-
perience and as a result careful in
vestigation of the whole affair was
started
The police stated, today, that the
letter mailed from Boston contained
the threat that in the event of Mr.
Davis refusing to carry out his part
of the project, either his daughter
would be abducted or he himself would
be killed. Fer this reason they are
inclined to think that the author oC
the threatening message is someone
that is intimately acquainted with Mr..
Davis affairs.
Mr.. Davis is treasurer of the Davis
Furber Machine Manufacturing Co..
ard hes Boston residence in the Back
Bay, that city.
Mr.. Davis refused to grant an inter-
view, this afternoon. but, tonight, he
gave The Associated Press copy Of
the letter received by him. The post
mark on the envelope showed that the
letter was mailed in Boston at 4.30 p.
NJ. June 26, and it was received by Mr..
Davis. the following morning. Friday,
at s o'clock. The letter, which bore no
signature, was as follows:
"June %.
''YOu don't want your girl adrift in
the slums Of New York, do you?
Dear Sir-When you receive this
don't be surprised. If you value your
life. don't show it to a single soul, and
if you don't want to lose your young
you had better do as this
letter says. There are three OF us, and
we have got to leave for Europe, July
5, and we want $6000-$2000 each: and,
SO help me God, If you don't give 1t to
us l will shoot you as quick as would
look at you, or even burn your d
house over your head. We need the
money. and ask for small $4,000 be-
cause we have got to get out Of the
country. One Of us is watching you
now. and any attempt to go away or
even tell the police will finish you. old
man. We need that money and we arc
going to get it, even if we have to go
and break into your room to get you.
You might as well give it to us, for
YOU don't want your wife to come back
from Europe and no home to come to,
do you?
eve have discovered your room by
the shadow on the curtain, and IL you
want to try us and won't send the
why, d you. I will put rifle
ball through your window when you go
to bed. tomorrow night. Friday).
Now. then. for the money. Your
coachman has young boy, sec, about
Is or 16. and you can do the money up
in a bundle and let him leave your
house at $50 Friday night, the 9th.
ana walk down Main street to the Cath
oIic church and one Of US will meet him.
Tell him IL nobody asks for the bundle
to walk back the same way to your
house again. and If you have anyone
there, tell the boy to be care
full, for if anyone tries to catch our man
there will be some shooting. II yo'i
don't want any notorIety send the
money and this letter with the boy.
haif gold the rest in small bills. Don't
forget to sesid This letter back with the
money. You can give the boy any ex-
cuse you wish. II you don't send the
(Continued on page 3D.