Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-04-07
BOY A BLACK HANDLER
Demanded $4,000 of His
!. Sunday School Teacher.
TRAPPED WITH A DUMMY
Atlanta's Richest Citizen Intended
Victim of Blackmail.
LETTERS THREATENED DEATH
Prisoners Claim That He Was
Forced by Three Men Not Be-
lieved by Police.
LETTERS THREATENED DEATH

ATLANTA. Ga, April 1.-Charged
with attempting to blackmail Asa G.
Gambler. president of the Atlanta Cham
Der of Commerce, banker and Atlanta S
wealthiest citizen. out of $4,000 by
BLACK Hand methods, Daniel w. John
son, jr., eighteen years of age. and a
member of Mr.. Gamblers Sunday school
class, was arrested last night at the
instance of post office inspectors and
lodged in the Fulton county Jail.
Johnson admits writing the letters and
takes his arrest very coolly. He. how
ever declares that he was the catspaw
of three strangers, who. he claims, die
tated his every action in connection with
the affair. and forced him to write the
demands for money under penalty of
death. He furnished the officers with a
description of the three men.
Friday of last week Mr. Gambler re-
cefved the first Of the two letters writ
ten by the Black Hand plotters, in which
he was asked to place $4,000 under the
steps of the pastors study of the In
man Park Methodist Church Monday
night. April 5. "or you and your family
will meet a horrible death at our hands"
Sunday he received second letter warm
Ing him to comply with the demands.
family If he failed to comply or If he
made mention of the matter to a living
soul
Planted Dummy Package.
Mr.. Chandler called George NJ Sutton
chief post Office inspector of the Allan
ia division, in consultation, and it was
decided to trap the blaekmaier. Mr.
Chandler drew $780, 900 in cash from the
bank Of which he is president, so as to
guard against any possible betrayal of
his plans. Monday night he made up a
package and placed it at the point desig-
mated. the real money in the meantime
remaining at his residence, guarded by
detectives. Two detectives kept watch
near where the fake package was placed.
but no one appeared during the night for
the package.
Yesterday morning Mr. Gambler re-
that he place 81 600 at a secluded spot on
Moreland avenue between Annabel street
and Walker alley Again a fake package
was prepared and placed at the spot des-
ignated that night, and Johnson appeared
from the darkness. grabbed up the pack
age and started on run, but was in the
grasp of Detectives Lockhart and Coker
before he was aware that he had been
observed.
Admits Writing Letters.
He was taken to the tower and after
a grueling examination made confess
sion. admitting having written the two
letters, but saying he acted under COM
pulsion. The police give little credence to
his story of having been forced to write
the letters by three strangers.
The first letter, dated April I. warned
Mr.. Gambler that if ne failed to put the
sum at the spot indicated "you alone
shall meet death. Tell any one Of it and
you and your house-that is, all that live
with you-shall meet the most horrible
death at our hands. Pony up with the
sum and keep your face closed about it
and all will be well. Fail TO put the sum
there or blab it and h will be to pay,
nothing more nor less than DEATH
The second letter advised Mr. Gambler
to slide in close up 10 the side of the
steps and put IL under them and then .,;
hard you can. Do not fail or YOU
will be blown to kingdom come before
day Tuesday, April 6.
Mr.. Gambler was little disturbed over
the incident, and it was stated that ne
would lose no sleep over fears of his home
being dynamited