The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-04-27
MUST HAVE MONEY
OR TAKE HIS LIFE
Warning Black Hand Letters
Sent to Richmond Real
Estate Man
ONE TO HIS OFFICE
AND ONE TO HOME
After Receiving Second One Mr..
,Jeter Takes Matter Seriously
and Arms Himself to, Be
Ready for ANY Emergency.

his is the tlrst notice. rave %oOU
on your person all the time between now
an next Saturday and give il up to US
when we meat or you are q ded man.
Don't tel police and don't try to get
away for we will get you.- Me-MilL
Snsat you somewher so have the money
rsdy".
The above Is the first OF two black
hand letters that have been received
this week by Mr.. w. n. Jeter, prom
inent real estate man of Richmond
whose office is at ITO East Main
street. The letter was found by Mr.
letter on the floor of his office on sun
day afternoon when he had occasion 10
enter the building. It had been showed
under the door.
Mr.. letter did not mention the matter
10 any OF his friends at the time and
did not advise the poiiee.s He armed
himself, however. and was prepared
90 meet the Issue Ii he were approached
by any black handlers.
The Second Letter.
Mr.. Jeter had thought the matter
Some joke that was being perpetrated
by his friends until Tuesday morning
when the second letter was delivered to-
his home, on Dickinson street. by the
postman. Upon receipt of this letter
he ceased TO treat the mater as a joke
and prepared himself for action. The
second letter was az follows:
Richmond. Va. April rs. 1910
w II. Jeter.
1000 Dickinson. 81.
City.
this is the second and last notice
Have yours $500 redy as wAMtllhate
te kin YOU and we must haN II and
YOU must get II for US We Will meat
you and hand it to Va when we meat
you. you can't miss us atail.
Yours very truly
Neither of the letters bear a sigma
tGre OF any kind, They are written
Dn plain business stationery which has
been torn SO as to remove the water
mark The letters are neatly written
with typewriter and bear "a number
nf seemingly Intentional typographi-
cal errors.
The second letter came to Mr.
letters house during his absence and
his wife opened II. When he re-
turned home he found her in a ter
rible state Of nervousness and he de-
sermined to put stop 20 the matter
If possible.
Does Not Know Cause.
Mr.. Jeter says he has no idea why
the letters have been sent him. lie
has recently had some difficulty of n
personal nature with reference Ia
SOME letters Of an entirely different
character but that matter has been
practically cleared up and he does not
think IL has any bearing on the pres
ent case.
= He states, however that he has
reason TO believe that the letters may
have been sent to him in an effort
to make him leave the city. He SAYS
he came here eighteen months ago
and has had "a remarkable success In
+ business and there has been con-
siderable envy and Jealousy toward
4. .xF Init haf
letters may have come from some
business rival In an effort tn brighten
him and that they are not really plan
ming any step to- in1ure him in ply
steal way.
Mr.. letter has applied 10 Judge Witt
of the hustings court, for permit
to carry a revolver for self-protection
and he expects to receive the permit
at once. He has warned all his
friends not to approach him IN
threatening manner AZ a joke as he
Is liable to begin hostilities on short
notice.
Prominent In Business.
Mr. Jeter Is thiFty-two years old
and has a wife and three children
He came here from Chesterfield coun-
~ eighteen months ago and establish
ed a real estate business. He is now
vice-president and manage ~
the Southern Land and Realty
Company He is widely known
throughout the State as flour and
cornmeal millman, which was his
business before coming here.
SchmeIz Case Similar.
The case is somewhat similar TO
that of George A. SchmelZ the promi-
nent banker of Newport News and
Hampton. who received a fright by
receiving series of supposed black
hand letters two years ago. The let
ters were typewriter and threatened
to take the life of Mr. schmelz at an
early day. The banker armed him
self and his entire force and was al
ways on the alert. His family and
friends remained in a state OF anx-
iety for a month or more while several
threatening letters were received. The
matter was finally cleared up by some
clever detective work on the part of
Chief OF Police J. w. Reynolds. who
discovered the writer by examining
the water mark OF the paper ar
finding out from tho prshters the
names Of all the firms who used that
paper BY examining the typcwritersI
In all these Offices he was able ia
find where he letters were written,
small Office boy then confessed. say
ing that he had done the writing for