The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1909-10-21
"BLACK HAND. :"
Unknown Party Threatens
Canton Merchant.
TERMS: $4,000 OR DEATH
Postoff1ce Inspectors Take Charge Of
Matter and Set Trap for the Black
Hand, but the Merchant Took too
Many Into His Confidence and FAIL
ed to Properly Perform His Part
of the Work, and the Ruse Failed
Handwriting May Locate the Of
fender.
fender.

Lender.
Asheville. n. c.. Oct. ia dar-
ing attempt to blackmail w. T. Sharp
Of Canton, one of the wealthiest men
OF the town. and very prominent
merchant, came to light tonight, and
certain other citizens of the town Of
ficials Of the Champion Fibre Com
pany, and although a trap was well
laid last night to catch the perpe-
traitors no one came to claim the
money. Mailed at the Canton post
ONCE on September 27th, w. T. Sharp
received a letter reading as follows:
"On October 18th. before II p. m.
you place under S. E. corner of Lo-
Gust field church $1,000 in large
bills; failure to do SO means certain
death to yourself and perhaps to your
family. Dynamite is cheap. Spies
means same thing"
(Signed) BLACK HAND"
When he received it, Mr.. Sharp at
once became frightened and laid the
matter before certain of his friends,
and after consultation, it was
agreed to place the letter in the
hands of postoffice inspectors.
1t was arranged that Mr.. Sharp
should deposit the money there last
night and a number of officers would
watch the spot to see if anyone ap-
peared. Accordingly certain govern
ment officials left Asheville late yes
terday, got off the train two miles
this side of Canton. and by a cir
cuitous route, came to house where
meeting was held to perfect the
arrangements. In the meantime Mr..
Sharp had drawn $1,000 which he
was told by officers to place in the
safe in his store, and a dummy pack
age was arranged having two dollar
bills in it.
Deputy Sheriffs Lyerly and Cabe
and Stanbury Smathers, together
with the two government officials,
took their station at he church, COM
pletly surrounding it, some being In
the nearby grave yard. where reposes
hundreds of bodies. Mr.. Sharp was
commissioned to deposit the package;
it was a dark and cold night; he be-
gan to lose his courage, thoughts of
home and loved ones crowded his
confused brain; again he consulted
friends; he dared not walk half a
mile in darkness by himself; he was
told that he must do it alone, that the
success of the trap was in his going
alone; he refused and finally two
friends consented to accompany him
within a short distance of the lone
ly church and grave yard. Within a
few hundred feet they dropped back
and Mr.. Sharp, carrying a large bulls
eye lantern, crept up to the appoint
ed place; he had with him the fake
package, but fearing being held up
and killed, he had also the $1,000
cash, which he was told he must pro-
duce; he, trembling, deposited the
package, gave fleeting glance; took
few forced steps, and broke and
ran back to the town.
The officers waited patiently, the
hour approached for the expected
BLACK Hand" but he failed to ap-
pear on time. They waited longer
and after midnight something crept
into the grave yard. 1t looked like
man crawling; 1t gradually ap.
preached the corner of the church
but just as they we're getting ready
to close upon it, its canine form was
| discovered. They waited, and froze
till early morning. but nothing de-
veloped.
The inspectors have examined the
handwriting of number of people oi
| the town. and employees of the Cham.
pion Fibre Company and believe
that they have clues that will lead
to the arrest of the guilty person ol
persons. The writing seems to indi
cate that of middle aged man. OF
ficers tonight were of the opinion
that by Mr.. Sharp refusing to &c
alone and carrying a light as vel
as taking SO many into his confidence
has probably led to the scenting o.
the scheme.
| Other developments are probable
and the officials are determined tt
uproot the Black Hand that seem:
established at Canton.
i