Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-09
ATTEMPT TO EXTORT MONEY
Charles McKeOwn, Farmer Near Cres-
cent. is the Victim.
C. A. WELDING UNDER ARREST
Two threatening Letters Received
Turned over 90 the Authorities
and Arrest of wildinE
Follows.

Charged with attempting 10 "extort
money by blackmail'' from Charles Nc
Keown, a weIl-to-do farmer living about
three miles from Crescent, c. A. Wilding
is being held by the authorities and will
have a preliminary hearing before Judge
Snyder in the superior court this morning.
wilding has been placed in the county
jail pending his hearing. He was raised
in the vicinity Of Crescent and for several
years conducted a pool hall there. About
five weeks ago he moved with his family
20 this city and has been win on Avenue
A near Eleventh street.
WildinR is said to have had a partner
in the alleged attempt to extort money
from McKeown, but 30 far the authorities
have been unable to locate him. Wilding
was taken into custody Sunday evening
by Deputy Sheriff Clarence Woolman and
Detective Dan Weir.
Two letters we're recently received by
McKeown. In the first letter, which was
nailed to the gatepost of McKeown's resi-
dence, the sum Of $3.50 was demanded.
This letter was received by McKeown on
November %, and was by him turned over
to the authorities. The second letter was
received through the mail last Thursday
by McKeowin and was likewise turned
over to the authorities.
Text of Letters.
Both letters were written with a pencil
and there was evidently an attempt on the
part of the writer to disguise his hand
writing. The first letter read as follows:
Mr.. Charles McKeown: You are hereby
notified by the undersigned to come to
COUNCIL Bluffs Tuesday, the twenty.third
go to the Northwestern depot at exactly
. o'clock. A. ten minutes after 3 you start
next to the hilis and watch the rails until
you see your first name on one, and your
last name on the other written with white
chalk, then step to the right and put the
money under a board you will see DIETER
carry 1t In a small hand satcheD. Then
go g0tb right on home up the track and say
be sensible. THE NIGHT RIDERS.
The writer, apparently linking he had
not been emphatic enough in his demand,
added the following postscript:
Mr.. McKeown: For your own sake we
Will say a few words of warning. Don't
fail to do as you have been Instructed, for
II Will cost you all you have got, and you
Will never enjoy another week of prosperity
Don't notify the police and think to
escape, for there is ten of us where there
is one police. and It would take a whole
army to save you. Every move you make
will be watched. Every word you say over
your telephone will be heard by some OF
us. and II We fail to get this money all
safe, II will cost you your home, your barn,
your grain and hay, yocr kids Zone Of then
was seen rather handy frequently of late)
to come. We don't ask for much, becaust
you are not the only victim, but we NEAR
to have that, so you had better not take q
drink OF water out of your we'll Wnless you
IKE poison), so be careful Tuesday. Yol
vii. see and be seen by at least 1l5 mem
bers OF this organization, and II you dc
this alright there will be no harm to you
II not you had better be in hell. Dom
think this is kids play, for It is the most
serious thing that ever happened to YOU
and you are responsible for your and your
fsmily's welfare after this warning, and
as sure as you live. can expect calamity
and disaster unless you obey, be sensible
One gentleman donated $l,100 Yesterday t.
get a little dirty faced kid back and had
sense enough not to tell al yhody that the
KID was stolen. II you refuse you will
only further our cause by being made al
example TO the next victim Of the Nigh
Riders, and look for us soon.
Letter Numbe Two.
The secoi.d letter read as follows:
COUNCIL BLUFFS. Iowa, Novemoe,
evidently Intended for December) 2. $780,
Mr.. Charles McKeown: At a regular meet
Ing of the night riders on the first Of thi
month you were reported delinquent. w,
ask you for $3.50 on the 23d and failed I,
get II. You were reported to have beer
In town on the next day. You were watched
and followed and We thought II possible
that you had been mistaken In the date
but l guess you are a muddle Drained lido
and think you won't come through. Blu
we resolved to give you another date an,
charge you $50 more. We will tie a re,
cloth around a telephone pole between
your house and Council Bluffs. II will b.
TO your right as you drive home you leav,
$500 by that pole next Saturday. Start from
town at 4 o'clock and when you see tn
red cloth around a telephone pole get on
and leave the money. BE sure that nobod,
sees you and cover IL up with grass 81
no one can find it, If you have as mucl