The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1909-08-12

On July 26th Mr.. Hopkins received
letter through the Lamont postoffice
making the demand for $1,000, which
read as follows:
Mr.. ALEX HOPKINS:
The "Black Hand" instructs you to
leave s. 900 in $40 gold pieces behind
i the post that the pipes are on that ge
out to the track by the Standard Oil
tank on July 9th, at p. m. You are
TO walk down the track and leave the
money as if nothing had happened. Any
failure on your part to carry ont this
command, or if you in any way inform
anybody of this letter or contents you
will kill your own daughter. Do not
make another warning necessary or you
will he under the displeasure of the
"BLACK HAND"
When MIR. Hopkins received this let
ter he hardly knew whether to treat it
as joke or serious matter, SO he de-
cided to pay no attention to the letter
and await Developments. He confided
the secret to his friend Geo. w. Blair,
who also advised him to pay no atten-
tion to it, and wait and see if another
letter was received. This program was
followed and on last Thursday, Aug
ust 9th, he received second letter
which was mailed in the Lamont post
Office, renewing the demand for the
$1,000, which read as follows:
Mr.. ALIEN HOPKINS:
You were told by the "Black Hand"
what to do. Why don't you do it? You
will be given one more chance, August
9th, p. M, or take the consequences.
Beware, lest you provoke the wrath
of the "BLACK HAND"
inf nf b<,
caused MIR. Hopkins considerable un-
easiness, and especially so from the
fact that Mrs. Hopkins and two daugh-
ters were visiting relatives in Michi-
gan, and just the day before he had re-
ceived a letter from his youngest
daughter saying she was not feeling
we'll, and had decided to return to La
moni and leave her mother and sister
for more extended visit. He immed-
lately wrote his wife, telling of the
threatening letters received and ad
vised that she and the girls remain in
Michigan awaiting developements. He
talked the matter over with Mr.. Blair
again and trey decided to lay the matter
before the Pinkerton Detective Agency
at Kansas City, which was done, and on
Thursday detective from the agency
arrived at Lamont, posing as would be
purchaser of real estate. He was taken
in charge by Mr.. Blair and during the
afternoon was driven over Lamont
and shown several properties, includ-
ing one near the Standard Oil tanks
which Mr.. Blair had for sale, and this
gave him an opportunity to get the lay
of the ground without exciting suspic-
ion, and to select place of conceal
ment to watch for the party who visit
ed the place to secure the package
which was supposed to contain the
$1,000. Mr.. Hopkins was instructed to
prepare a dummy package which was
done by placing real $40 gold piece on
the top and bottom of pile of iron
washers the same size as the $50 gold
pieces. A few minutes before o'clock
Thursday evening Mr.. Hopkins left his
bank and sauntered down toward the
oil tanks. On the way down he passed
young Heathman who spoke to him as
psual. Mr.. Hopkins placed the package
on the post as directed and then walk
ed on down the track. In few min
utes after he disappeared from sight
the detective saw young Heathman ap-
pear in high weed patch across the
street, and after looking cautiously
around he strolled over toward the
post. 1t had been arranged that Bert
Derry was to happen along about that
time with couple of other parties
who could be used as witnesses, and
when his auto in which they were rid
d.