Albuquerque evening citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1905-1907, 1905-09-30
DEMANDED MONEY
OF PAUL NORTON
George W. Barrett Lodged in
City Jail Upon Serious
Charge.
MIND IS PROBABLY UNBALANCED

After a chase extending across
many states Special Oficer Ben Will
Jams, of the Santa Fe railway, cap
tured George W.. Barrett yesterday
afternoon at Thornton, N. M. The
charge agaiusJ Barrett Is attempting
to blackmai. Paul Morton, president
OF the Equitable Life Assurance socie-
ty. In addition there are charges
against Barrett for attempted black
mail of prominent railway magnates
and capitalists in different parts of
the country.
In the case of Morton Barrett wrote
/ to him and demanded that he send
him $500 at once. Mr.. Morton turned
the letter over to the chief of the
secret service of the Santa Fe rail-
way, as the letter was written to him
while he was third vice president of
that road. Then began the search for
the blackmailer. In the meantime
complaints began coming in to the
pOstoffice department from railway
magnates over the country and capt.
alists, who had also received letters
from one George w. Barrett.
After a search throughout the east
for Barrett the man was finally trac-
ed to New Mexico. The matter was
placed in the hands of Postofice In
spector Smithers and Special Officer
Ben Williams, in charge of the secret
service of the western grand division
of the Santa Fe. The officers were
not long in landing their man. The
last letter written to Mr.. Morton bore
the postmark of Thornton, n. NJ, and
Williams at once proceeded to Thorn
ton to see if he could locate it's auth
or.
He arrived at Thornton yesterday
afternoon and heard that the much
wanted Barrett was there. He also
learned that he vas a negro and re-
garded as a desperate man. The Off
GER laid his plans accordingly. Bar
rett was located in a restaurant eat
ing supper and Williams at once went
to the restaurant to get his man. He
anticipated trouble and was prepared.
AS soon as he stepped into the res
taurant, Barrett saw him and knew
what he had come for. The big negro
started to put up a desperate resist
ance, but the officer was too quick for
him and Don had a pair of steel
bracelets on his wrists. He boarded
the first train for Albuquerque and
arrived late last night. Barrett was
locked in the city Jail for safe keep
ing.
Admits Sending Letter.
This morning in company with Off
Ger Williams and Chief of Police Nc
Millin, a Citizen reporter visited Bar
rett in the city jail. He came out of
his cell upon being called and seemed
mora thap onyipuS RI tall Whom
asked if he had written the letter to
Mr.. Morton, in which he had demand
ed $500, he answered yes. The letter
was shown him and he said it was
his, but was at a loss to account for
how it came into the possession of the
officer.
In addition a number of other let
tiers were found on Barrett's person,
among them being letters from sever
al big trust companies in st. Louis,
Mo. These letters showed that he had
written to the companies demanding
money.
Mind Probably Unbalanced.
Barrett talks in a rapid manner,
uses good English and appears to be
a man who has a good education. He
talks about John ID. Rockefeller, and
says ne is III the employ OF the stand
ard Oil company. His statements are
so preposteTous and his manner so
peculiar that the only verdict one can
arrive who ices him, is that the man
is insane.
May Be Notorious Criminal.
Although Barrett may be insane,
his capture is none the less import
ant and reflects much credit upon Of
ficer Ben Williams. Information in
possession of the officers is to the eff
feet that the man is a criminal who
may be badly wanted in other parts
of the country. 1t is said that he has
been in trouble in Kansas City, Mo,
Cleveland, Ohio, different parts of
Colorado and other places. He bears
several bad scars, which would go to
show that he has been mixed up in
several desperate encounters.
Barrett claims Cleveland, Ohio, as
his home, but says he is originally
from Australia. 1t is very probable