The independent-reporter., 1910-07-28


to Elden Gray, farmer of Madison,
asking him to leave $4,000 at certain
place, has been the cause of great
excitement in the vicinity of Madi-
son for the last two weeks. The
climax was reached Sunday when
Roy Merry, a boy of about 20, was
arrested by Sheriff John A. Mooers on
the charge of extortion and was
brought before Judge F. F. Lawrence
in the municipal court Merry was
bound over in the sum of $1,000 to
await the action of the grand jury in
September. Bail was furnished.
The proceedings were brought on
account of the following letter which
Merry confessed to have written:
Madison, Me-, July 10, 1910.
If YOU value your life leave two
thousand dollars on the platform of
your we'll up in the field a week from
this Saturday night, July 16, and II
you try to catch us you will pay with
your life. Your brother robbed me
of that amount when he was in Cali
fornia and you will pay it back or die
| am not alone and you will be watch
ed from the time you get this until
| get it, and if you tell anyone or try
to arrest us you will pay with your
| life; but if you are quiet, you Will
| be left alone. Be sure none of the
money is marked for | am desperate
and if you say anything or anyone
hears of this you will die. If you
leave the money on the we'll by ten
o'clock and go back to the house all
will be we'll, but my men will watch
you and if you don't, why take the
consequences. Remember the six
teenth of this month, $4,000.
(Signed)
JACK CLIFFORD.
P. S. Don't try any game. You will
be shadowed every minute and my
men are not careful with their guns.
The boy pleaded not guilty. He was
represented by Bernard Gibbs of Mad
ison. He testified in his own behalf.
His story in substance was that he
had known Gray for about nine years.
His parents and Gray live in the
same neighborhood. They had al
ways been on good terms He said
that he with other boys had joked
some with Mr.. Gray for the purpose
of seeing him tread around, as they
expressed it, but at no time had they
ever thought of injuring him.
Merry said that he was working in
Starks two weeks ago and he thought
that he would have some fun with
Mr.. Gray when he got home, so wrote
the above letter and on arriving home
that Saturday night posted it on the
outside door of Mr.. Grays barn that
leads into the cattle stalls. The next
morning, which was Sunday quite
early he went over to Gray's to see
If he had discovered the letter and to
see him tread around.
When he got to Gray's house the
letter had not been discovered. The
farmer and the boy walked to the
barn and they both saw the letter
about the same time. Gray tooh lhe
letter down and read it. He then
gave it to the boy and after conyers-
ing for a time about it, Gray said tc
Merry that he wanted him to come
over and stay the night that was
mentioned in the letter. Merry said
that he went back to Starks the neXl
day to work, not thinking much about
the letter; but when he arrived home
the next Saturday night he found that
the letter had caused great deal OF
excitement and he began to feel some
what uneasy.
The next day Sheriff Mooers came
to him and asked him if he knew any
thing about the affair. He said tha'
he was so kind of worked up over