Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-01-02
The Sioux City Police Make
Clever Capture of Would
be Blackmailer
FIXED A SACK OF FAKE MONEY
James j. sherIey's Attempt to Effort
Money from a Wealthy Merchant
Ends in His Arrest-He Confesses
and United States Authorities Will
Prosecute Him.
Special to Times-Republican.


Sioux City. Jan. 2-The police clev-
erly trapped a blackmailer who has
been attempting to extort money from
John Arensdorf, president of the Ar
ensdorf Mercantile Company, last
night. James j. Sherley, the black
mailer, made a confession, and was
then released so that the federal au-
thorities could take the matter in hand
Sherely was captured by Detective
Charlstrom's marble shop, Sl2 Filth
street, where he was engaged in trying
to find sack of fake money, which
had been placed there by arrangement
by Mr.. Arensdorf. Owing to the tact
that the sack had been placed too fas
in the shadow of the porch Sheriey dlu
not find it. officer Leak stuck a gun
in Sherleys face, and after ne ana
Hervey had taken him to the station,
Sherley stoutly protested his innocence,
claiming he was there TO meet a woman
by appointment.
While he was in Captain Anderson's
room he tore a number of leaves out
of memorandum book. which ne
chewed up and swallowed. But he
failed to find a piece of envelope in his
pocket on which he had copied por-
ton of the Matchmaking letter which
he had mailed Mr.. Arensdorf yesterday.
Chief Davenport found the tell-tale
evidence and, confronting Sherley With
it, the prisoner broke down and admit
ted his guilt. He later signed con-
fession, which is now I'M possession OF
the chief duly witnessed. The letters
-four in number. bearing dates of
Dec. 90, 25, 81 and S1--are in possession
of Deputy United States Marshal Ira
cey, who went before Commissioner
Henderson today and signed an infor-
nation for Sherley's arrest on the
charge of using the mails fraudulently
for the purpose of eXtorting money. Ii
Is the same charge on which Earl
Laque, who tried to extort money from
Thomas III. Burns at the time his wife
was drowned last fall, was sent to the
penitentiary for six months.
About a week ago Mr.. Arensdorf re-
naivea an unsigned letter demanding
$3.50 as hush money, the writer claim
ing that he had evidence of Mr.. Aren-
doris fiasion with a married woman.
Threats or exposure -were made and
Mr.. Arensdorf was given two days in
which TO place the money on the porch
Iof the marble works - at s1a Fifth
street.
The letter was handed to Chief Dav-
EXPORT who put Detective Harvey at
work on the case. Harvey laid in wait
night after night near the marble works
dummy money package having been
placed on the east porch of the house.
No one appeared In the meantime
Mr.. Arensdorf had received two other
letters demanding $3.50 and threaten
ing exposure if it We're not delivered
Immediately.
Yesterday the last letter came. 1t
was written on Mondanin stationery.
enclosed in a Mondamin envelope and
mailed early in the day. 1t was adj
dressed to Mr.. Aransdorf's residence,
and marked personal and Important
1t was explicitly stated that the money
was to be placed on the west porch
about o'clock last night The letter
|was handed to the police and sack
containing a lot of iron washers was
carried to the marble shop, Detective
Harvey and Patrolman Leake having
concealed themselves nearby.