Los Angeles herald., 1909-04-21
Confesses He Sent Blackmail
Letters to DIR. w. L. Graves-Recipient
Ready with Gun, Says He Was Not Afraid

CHARGED with sending letters to
l Mrs w. l.. Graves and her hus-
~ band w. L. Graves, vice presi-
dent of the Merchants National bank,
threatening him with death unless he
placed $4,000 in a hiding place IN
vacant house at 2277 West Thirtieth
street by a certain date. Roland Ray
mond Ritchie, rs years old, OF 22ol
West Thirtieth street, was arrested
by Detectives Ritch and Roberds In
the offices of the Los Angeles Land
company, 1872 Pacific Electric building
The arrest of Ritchie followed the
receipt of ten letters and warnings by
DIR. Graves. The communications
bullets unless DR.. Graves placed the
$4,000 in the house. Nearly every let
ter bore a special delivery stamp and
was mailed in the downtown district.
The first letter addressed to Mrs.
Graves warned her that she and her
husband had wronged the writer and
would be poisoned. On the same date
a letter was mailed to DR.. Graves
warning him to prepare for death.
This letter stated that the writer did
not care if the matter was reported to
the police and that DIR. Graves had
but ten days more to live. 1t went on
to say that the death would result
from a poison administered in such
manner that its presence would never
be detected until too late.
Would Use Revolver
The second letter said that the writ
er had changed his mind and decided
not to poison the banker, but instead
had decided to use a revolver and a
tragedy would be enacted in the bank,
where the intended victim would be
nil cfq
he would turn the weapon on himself
and end his life.
The third warning was in the shape
of a piece of canvas on which the
word warning in large letters ap-
peared. This had been cut from a
sign posted for the benefit of tres
passers on real estate under improve
ment.
The next warning was a short letter
stating the writer meant business.
The fourth Letter was written on the
back of a large date cut from a cal
endar. 1t was curt and to the point.
and read: your last day. Get your
self ready to meet the devil" 1t was
signed with the letter *" and under
the signature was written '16 Friday"
All the letters were typewriter.
Gets Sixth Warning
The sixth warning was similar to
the one cut from the realty notice. On
it was written Beware; are you pre-
pared? Only four more days" On
the back of the canvas was typewrit-
ten a warning that the bankers house
would be burned and warned him to
prepare \for death.
The next communication repeated
the warning and in the envelope was
S2-caliber cartridge. The letter
stated that the bullet was a sample
of the one that would go crashing
through the brain of the recipient.
The eighth letter explains why the
warnings were sent. 1t was mailed
on April Is. and reads as follows:
No. s. April Is, 1909.
Mr.. VIM. l.. Graves, city:
Sir: l have a proposition to sub
nit to you. 1t is immaterial to me
whether or not you accept it, but by
doing so you will save two lives
from hell, yours and myself.
You are to take $4,000 in fives.
tens and twenties, tied in as small
a package as possible. and get in
your carriage or automobile and go
to the northeast corner of Thirtieth
and Arlington streets by yourself.
On that corner you will find new
house that is for sale and open. The
number of the house is 2277. Go in,
and on the mantel in the living
room there is For Sale sign. Place
the package behind this sign and
leave Immediately. You are to ar
rive at the house at o'clock tomor-
row evening. Friday, the 18th, and
by yourself and driver Now $4,000
is a mere bagatele to you and
fortune to me. You can very easily
do this and not miss it any more
than I would SO. I am not asking
you for $4,000 or any such sum as
that, but just the amount of the
damage you have done me.
REMEMBER, now do as told and
YOU will save two lives from HE'LL.
In case the money is not placed as
directed you will be KILLED. DO
NOT PLACE ANY DECOY PACK
AGE OR YOU WILL BE SORRY.
Now do as you are told and 1 will
not carry out my threat. Otherwise
you will die and / will follow you.
Money Demanded
Evidently wishing to impress the i'm
portance of carrying out the plan
Ritchie wrote letter No. 9 and mailed 1T
to DIR. Graves on the day appointed for