The sun., 1909-05-05
ALARMED BY BLACKMAILER
THREAT TO STEAL RICH PHIL
4DELPHIAN,S Roy.

Max Apt Receives Letters Declaring
That IDs Son VIII Be Stolen and His
Home Blown Up II He Doesn't Leave
&lO,OaDO In Park-.Police on Guard.
PHILADELPHIA, May Efforts to get
money out Of Max Apt by threats to kidnap
his young son have ia lied. but early to-
morr ow morning the detectives will again
put roll OF bills under the bridge at the
Diamond street spring in Fairmount Park
in the hope OF trapping the blaokmailer.
Apt is a rich manufacturer OF millinery
goods. with factory at 72l Arch street.
He is greatly concerned over the kidnap-
ping threats, and bis wife. the mother OF
the boy, is frightened almost into ner-
vous prostration.
Albert Apt. the eight-year-old son,
was taken down to the factory to-day
30 that his father might guard him. Mrs.
Apt also went to the factory and was
there with her son all day
Before Mr.. Apt went to his office last
Friday morning the first communication
from the blaokmailer reached him through
the regular mails. being delivered by the
carrier at Mr.. Apt's residence. 3i47 Dia-
mond street. The letter read:
SMr Apt: Take hsade this means busi-
ness put ten thousand dollars In package
under Diamond street spring In Faire-
mount Park this night (Friday) or I'll
steal your boy. II the money don't
come tomorrow night III blowe up your
house with dinemite Beware / meane
under the BRIDGE
At first this oonmunica ton was not
taken very seriously. even by the women
Of the family. but the second letter re-
ceived from the kidnapper gave the mat
ter more serious aspect and made the
family fearful. Like the first letter. the
second came through the mail reaching
Mr.. Apt's home this morning. II read:
-Mr. Apt: Mark well what say, for
this is no bnn. You put no money under
the bridge. did not blow up your house
Sat night because the dinenite didn't
work. Put money under bridge at mid
night day you get this. III steal your boy
and blowe house up Wednesday night
unless money is there. You can't escape.
am desperate
Upon getting the first letter MIR. Apt
consulted city detectives and also en-
ployed a private agency. He did not
doubt that 1t might be hoax thcn, but
thought 1t the part Of wisdom to get
assistance. After studying the letter and
the circumstances the detectives advised
that the money be put under the bridge.
The place In the park was located with
little difficulty. Some bills were wrapped
IN package and placed in the designated
spot by Mr.. Apt In person. as it was thought
likely that the kidnapper might be watch
ing from, = distance.
As the money had not been touched
early ns&t morning the package was
taken away. Mr.. Apt thinks 1t quite
probable that the money was not found
and taken away because it was not long
enough under the bridge. On Saturday
it rained and Saturday night was dis
agreeable. which may bear out the state
ment In the second letter that 1the dyna-
mite didn't work. However, the Apt
family closely examined every nook about
the house Saturday morning and found
nothing to indicate that any one had tried
TO explode an Internal machine anywhere
about the house.
Albert is a bright boy, with close
cropped black hair. fine eyes and slen-
der, figure.
Aren't you afraid the kidnapper will
get your the child was asked at the fac
tory to-day.
Nav, I amt" responded young Amer
ica. III he comes at me I'll bin him VIII
this Albert held up the weapon. joke
matchbox containing a chunk of iron
instead Of matches.
1t Was decided by the detectives to
again leave the money package under
the bridge at the park spring. Guards
were posted to catch the offender after
he gets the package. whichever way he
may 60.
Max Apt said to-day that he took such
a serious view Of the letters because he
had reason to believe that it might really
he blackmail He declined to explain
further