Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-27
WANT MONEY OR LIFE
Threatening Letters Demand
$4,000 of a Physician.
PLOT OF THE BLACK HAND
Wealthy Mans Residence Closely
Guarded by Police.
LIVES IN CONSTANT TERROR
Declares he Will Never Surrender to
Blackmailers - Extra Precau-
tons Taken.
PLOT OF THE BLACK HAND
LIVES IN CONSTANT TERROR

NEW YORK, December 21.-Guarded day
and night by police concealed near his resi-
dence, 625 West 18th street, Dr. Markar
G. Dadirrian, well-known Armenian
physician and manufacturer, has lived in
constant terror of death at the hands of
unknown assassins since December 13.
He has received two Black Hand letters
threatening death unless he is willing to
pay $4,000 to the writer's, and the police
consider the threat of sufficient Importance
to keep vigilant watch over DIR. Dadir-
rian and his family every hour in the
twenty-four
DR.. Dadirrian received the first letter on
December IL. 1t was well composed and
informed the physician in very direct Ian
guage that the writer wanted $4,000, and
that unless the instructions in the letter
were fully complied with DR.. Dadirrian
would be put to death as surely as the
world existed
There was in the letter tone Of desper-
ate determination which gave the physi-
sian some uneasiness, but he said nothing
to his family or to any one else except his
lawyer in whose hands he placed the let
ter. The lawyer at once advised the physi-
clan to go nowhere unattended during the
day and to remain indoors altogether at
night.
In the letter DR.. Dadirrian told to
go to a certain spot near 40tll street and
18th avenue, where he would find loose
stone and beneath which he was to place
the money. The exact hour was indicated
when he must appear, and the letter
added:
IF any person accompanies you or is
told by you it will only add to your peril
Your every movement is observed
Police See Grave Peril.
In police headquarters there were pecul-
lar reasons for believing the locality Sc
lected for the deposit of the money pointed
to the fact that certain desperate charac
tiers were engineering the work, and there
fore special attention was given to the
case.
Three days after the first letter came a
second, telling Dr. Dadrrian he had to
make his choice between death and the
surrender of 10000 and that he would now
be given but short time in which to make
that choice. This letter signed BLACK
Hand but was written by the same hand
that penned the first letter, which had
borne no signature.
With the arrival of the second letter the
police guard about the residence became
more vigilant, and Dr. Dadirrian was
warned that the threat might be put into
execution unless every precaution was
taken. The best men of the West 125th
street station were detailed to the guard
about the house and every hour of the day
and night communication was kept up with
some members of the family by system
of signals. Last night the guard was still
there and careful scrutiny made of
every person who called.
DIR. Dadirrian is seventy years old and
influential Armenians in the country, but
for many years has been successful ply
sician and manufacturer. He has several
degrees from European universities. He
has two sons associated with him in bust
ness, and one of them lives with him. DR..
Dadrrian discussed the matter perry philo-
sophically last night, but said he desired
to give notice to the blackmailers, whoever
they were, that they would have to kill
him If 1t came to a question of his giving
up $4,000 in answer to their threat.
Will Not Be Blackmailed.
Il am not wealthy" he said, and could
not donate $4,000 to such cause this if
were disposed to do so, but 1 am not so
disposed. These men may kill me, that is
quite possible; but they will not get the
money. 1t is not pleasant for one of my
age to contemplate fatal violence of this
lived an honorable life and if there is no
way to protect in this country
against such outrages, then / must take my
chances, for l will not be blackmailed and
| will not go skulking about like a hunted
thief
so far as l know l have not an enemy
in the world, among my own countrymen
or others, and | am satisfied these letters
are not inspired by revenge. The writer
of them says he is in desperate need of
money and intends that | shall give it to
him. Undoubtedly that is the real situa-
ton, but he is doomed to ppointment."
DR.. Dadrrian's laboratory and manu-
featuring works in No. 73 Lexington
avenue and he insists going there each
day, although against the protests of his
family. Wherever he goes some one is
very close to him, that the first move
to do him bodily harm would be thwarted
unless the assassin fired shot at him
from ambush. He said last night that the
second letter was more threatening than
the first, and informed him he would surely
be killed at the first opportunity if the
money was not forthcoming.
The physician said the fact of his living
in fine house and having a large business
had no doubt given the Black Hand writer's
the idea that he was very wealthy but he
declared he was not Il moved up here
he said, because my wife was i'll and the
best physicians said it was necessary for
her to live in some such spot as this where
she could get plenty of light and fresh air.
She has recovered her health since we
came, but this wretched affair is distressing
her very much. | hope the police may soon
be fortunate enough to get their hands on
the writers of these letters"