The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1909-04-14
VERY BOLD PLOT
To egackmai! a Rici, Man OF
atlanta Failed
The TRAP PREPARED
BY Detectives Proves Effective and
an Eighteen-Year-old Youth, q
Member of His Would-be Victims
Sunday School Glass, Is Caught
and ConfeSses 1t All.

Atlanta, Ca, April 6.-Charged
with attempting to blackmail Asa G.
C ndler, president Of the Atlanta
Chamber Of Commerce, banker, and
Atlanta's wealthiest citizen, out of
$4,000 by Black Hand methods,
Daniel ". Johnson, Jr., Is years OLD
and member of Mr.. Gamblers Sun
day school class, was arrested to-
night at the instance OF the postofflce
inspectors and lodged il the Fulton
county jail.
Johnson admits writing the letters
and takes his arrest very cody. He.
however, declares that he was the
catspaw Of three strangers, who, he
claims, dictated his every action IN
connection with the affair and forced
him to write the demands for money
under penalty of death. He furnish
ed the officers with description OF
the three men.
On Friday of last week Mr.. Can
dler received the first Of the two let
ters written by the Black Hand
piotters, in which he was asked to
place $4,000 under the steps of
the pastors study Of the Inman
Park Methodist church, on Monday
night, April 5, ''or you and your
family will meet horrible death
at our hands" Sunday he received
a second letter warning him to COM
ply with the demands, and further
threatening him and his family if
be failed to comply, or if he made
mention Of the matter to a living
soul.
Mr.. Gambler called George NJ. SUIT
ton, chief postofice inspector of the
Atlant& division, in consultation, and
it was decided to trap the black
mailer. Mr.. Gambler drew $4,000
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 package
and placed it at the point designat-
ed, 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 dur
ing the night for the package.
This merning Mr.. Gambler receiv.
ed telephone message demanding
that he place $1,000 at a secluded
spot on Moreland avenue, between
Arroha1 CIV NTo1l-a~ o11o,-
Again fake package was prepared
and placed at the spot designated
tonight, and Johnson appeared from
the darkness, grabbed up the pack
age and started on run, but was
in the grasp of Detectives Lockhar
and Coker before he was aware tha1
he had been observed.
He was then taken to the Tower
and after gruelling examination
made confession, admitting having
written the two letters, but saying
he acted under compulsion. The po
lice give little credence to his story
of having been forced to write tho
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. Tel
anyone 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 sun
and keep your face closed about
it, and all will be well. Fail tc
put the sum there or blah it, and
he'll will be to nothing more
nor less than death"
The second letter advised Mr
Gambler to slide up close to the side
Of the steps and put it under them
and then '23' as hard as you can
Do not fail, or you will be blown
to kingdom come before day Tues
day, April o.
Mr. Gambler was little disturbed
over the incident, and it was stated
tonight that he would lose no sleep
over fears of his home being dyna-
mited.