Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-10-05
LACKMAILER
| WRITES LETTERS
'eatens Citizens With Criminal
Prosecutions.

Paul Kolinsky wants money and
to secure 1t he has adopted the
method Of the common blackmailer
, that of sending threatening letters
to business men and citizens of the
city. He has SO far failed to secure
any response in the form of a money
remittance to his letters, but IL the
action contemplated by the men who
have received them is followed out
they may secure for him a berth in
the state penitentiary. 4,
Paul Kolinsky is the man who pre-
ferred a criminal complaint against
Frank Duncan some time ago charg-
ing him with gambling. According
to his complaint the offense was al
legged to have been committed in
Ford's saloon. Duncan plead
guilty to the offense, and owing to
the fact that Judge Chamberlin con
sidered that there were extentuating
circumstances in the case, sentence
was suspended pending good be-
havior. Kolinsky was evidently
pleased with his success in this
prosecution and also evidently con-
Guiding that he had hit upon a good
plan to make money by threatening
further prosecutions, and last week
Duncan received a letter from him
advising him that unless he RENTED
through the mail the sum of $25 that
he would be obliged to cause him
further trouble, and that. this time
he. had more evidence than on the
former occasion against him.
Kolinsky apparently concluded that
while he was in the business that
he might as well make it worth
while, and a letter urder the same
date as that of Duncan's was received
by c. Sheldon. proprietor of the
Horseshoe saloon.
In this letter to Sheldon. Kolinsky
advises him that he desires to in
form him that unless he RENTS
through the mail to him at once the
sum of $50 that he will institute a
criminal suit against him. He states
in the course of his letter that Prose
cuting Attorney C. H. Potts has
stated to him that he is very anxious
to make out a case against him as
his place is considered the most dis,
reputable in the town. He ther
states that he has lost 500 in Shell
don's place-thats he has plenty Of
evidence against him for conducting
gambling games. and that he is will
ing to come to a settlement on tbs
basis of $50. and that unless 4
reached him before Monday, (today)
that action win be commenced
against him.
/. L. Quarles of the Banbox saloor
also received a letter. In his lette
to Quarles. Kolincky directs him t
return his watch. and also S2.45 II
money. He tells him that not lonl
ago he wound up one place" ant
that unless he sends the watch an,
money he may expect the same conse
Quences. Mr.. Quarles states that h
does not know the man. but that h
has been endeavoring to ascertaii
just who he is. and has not been sue
cessful Neither does Duncan no
Sheldon know Kolinsky. and tn
, opinion expressed by each Of them
that he is but a common blackmaile
, whose purpose it is to extort sui
fleient money from some one to tax
, him out OF the city.
Kolinsky's offense. under the Ida
no laws. would be elassed as an al
tempt to extOrt money by threaten
in to accuse another Of a crime. an
the penalty is not TO exceed iv
, years In prison. and a fine of not {
exceed $4,000, or both. The case.
. Is said, viii be laid before the prost
cuting attorney. and he will be aske
% take action against Kolinsky.