Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-10-09

MONEY IS DEMANDED
Postoffiee Authorities Are Working
on the case-Firm Believes At
tempt Was Made TO
Blow Up Store.

Hedrick, Oct. 7.-(special)- Xix
brothers and Terrence Reynolds have
received several threatening letters i'll
manding the sum of $500. An at
tempt was made to trap the mis-
creants, but it was unsuccessful.
1t was thought that an attempt was
made to blow up Xix Bros. store Sat
urday evening when the plug was
drawn from the gas meter flooding
the cellar with gas, but it happened
that light was not taken to the,
cellar before the trouble was dis
covered.
1t seems from the letters that the
enmity Is against Xix Bros. and that
Reynolds is only drawn into 1t because
he is employed there.
The following is the first letter re-
ceived, postmarked September %:
"Hedrick, Iowa.---Mr Terrence Rey-
nolds: We, the unknown writer's. mail
this letter to You for your benefit,
warning you that you had better de-
part from Xix Bros. store, as you
might end bad. Warning You for no
ones good but your own. Signed The
Unknown
The next letter apparently in the
same writing, was postmarked Sep
TENDER 25, and was as follows:
''Hedrick, Iowa.-Dear friend. Will
warn you once more that you had bet
ter get away from Xix store, as it is
in great danger and you are taking
dangerous chances by staying there.
We want no accidents to happen to
you, SO we tell you for your own
safety. so if you think anything of
your hide we warn you to get out.
There is nothing against you. You
had better not show this to Xix Bros.
"The Dark
"Once more we warn you to depart
from there, as danger is in sight.
Depart"
Mr.. Reynolds received another, post
marked September 81, which read:
I'VE have warned you once, we
have warned you twice, and still you
don't 60 We tell you to go or get
good protection in reach.'' This was
an almost illegible scrawl.
The last one received by Mr.. Rey-
nolds was also scrawl, which was
translated as follows: you are still
there. You won't go. Xix are still
there. They won't go. You will go if
you have to be carried out. Hix can
go. will go and must go. So go if
your life is worth anything to you.
Black Hand" This letter was pushed
under the store door.
Xix Bros received their first warn
ing September 81. 1t was headed
with a roughly drawn sketch repre-
senting dynamite cartridge, and was
printed with pen, as follows: 1--WE
give you Hix Bros. 80 days to get out
of business in Hedrick or you will go
up In the air in many pieces. The
Darkest
The last letter received by Hix
Bros. also printed with a pen, reads
as follows: Hix Brothers and
Reynolds: Put five hundred dol
lars in cigar box. Give it to Tor
renee. You go out the front door of
store, go south to first road out OF
town. go west to first road south, then
| go to second cross roads. Leave money
/ at corner fence post on right side. Go
to first house south of corner, stay
till eleven o'clock, come back to
town. Leave store Monday night at
eight o'clock. Take no one with you
Light three matches when at corner
and then go to first house south. Fol
low directions and nothing will hap
pen to you. Take help and you dodge
these. Go. Co. Co. At the bottom
of the page were drawn three cart
ridges. marked 80, SO and "A.
Postmaster Morrison reported the
matter to the postoffice authorities
but they refused to have anything to
do with the matter.