Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1911-06-10
OFFICERS FO|LED
BLACK HAND PLOT
William n. Guessford, wiIIiamsport.
Charged With Demanding $4,000
of Mrs. ]. r. 5rIscoe.

rtVh Auc Wcfiu OF tnuTSuaV.
William H. Guessford, of Williams
port, was arrested yesterday evening
a; $3.50 O'Clock for having sent black
hand letter to Mrs, Julia Hamilton
Rrlscoe, OF Hagerstown. demanding
$4,000 under threat Of the destruc-
ton OF her entire family and much of
her property. Guessford was held
tunder $1,000 bond by U. s. Com
missioner A. r. Hagner for his APP
pearance before him on Saturday.
June 10, at 10 o'clock in the morning.
Mrs. Briscoe received letter
Though the postoffice about two
weeks ago demanding $4,000 under
threat OF death and destruction. This
letter was turned over to Postmaster
Startzman who at once put detectives
on the case. Another letter from the
same party on the same kiad OF paper
as the first one, in the same hand
| writing, postmarked Williamsport,
| Md, June 6, was received ON, Tues
| day by Mrs. Brlscoe, This letter was
| even stronger In Its demands and
| more dreadful In its threats. The
writer demanded that $4,000 be de-
posted in an old tin washboller be-
SIDE cedar tree, blazed on one side
| with the letters ID H. marked on
| the spot where the bark was cut on.
This tree ia In a clump of woods In a
secluded spot, thickly set with trees
and underbrush in deep ravine be-
/ fuf ltsr.. - tap al
apeake and Ohio canal property. The
mr ney was ordered to be placed In
| the washboiler not earlier than $40
and not later than tbs D. m. Wednes-
day, June Z. This same demand was
! made in the first letter received.
Mr.. j. 7. Briscoe and Marshall
Wilson with oficers and detectives
looked for the place where the Money
was to be deposited but failed to ind
II. In response to the first letter. Yes
terday. however, they were M re sue
cessful. Messrs. Triscoe and Wilson
drove to WillIamsport and near the
place In the woods. Mr.. f3riscoe climb
ed Down the ravine which was very
steep, with package OF paper in his
hand. Mr.. Wilson stood on the en-
bankmeat with revolver in his hand
keeping close watch. while Mr.. Bris-
coe placed the package in the boiler.
Concealed nearby were Postmaster
Etartzman, Sheriff Thomas r. Barber.
Deputy Sheriff Isaac Long and Detac-
tive Charles Burnett. all of whom
n ~ Far yn tnt
their faces within thirty feet OF the
%ashb,iler waiting for developments.
Shortly afterward MessrA Briscoe
ard Wilson left ostensibly for home.
Exactly at ITO o'clock the watchers
heard stealthy foetstep Looking
khreTualy through fhe vines end
bushes, they saw a man approaching
with great caution and seeing the
, coast apparently clear walked IL the
washboiler, STOPPED ever and nut hIs
! hand into It, AT that instant the
watchers arose and covered him with
revolvers. He threw un his hands at
once and exclaimed IT am not the
man, what d. You want with me"
He was taken to Hagerstown from
Williamspcrt and taken before Com
missioner Hager When Mr.. Hager
told him Of the charge he eaid II
would not do anything against Mrs.
Friscoe, she has been mother TO
me-" On the test 'mcnv OF the off,
GERS and detectives Commi sioncr
Hagner committed Guessf I'd to jail
IN default OF SIS 900 bail.
Guessford was employed at the By
zen tannery, at Williamaport. Ha
Ewes on Conocr cheague street and has
wife and 10 children. He is man
about 40 years OF age Some time
ago ne was sent TO the House cf Cor
rection for assault and was later con-
victed of theft and Mrs Briscoe went
On his bend at one time. Mrs. Bris-
coe has been unusually kind to Guess
ford and his family; giving his chill
dren clothing and aiding them in
many ways
Gnessfor had little to say last
night except to insist that he was
not the person wanted.