The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-11-02
TWO 'OTHER HOUSES DAMAGED
When Vigil of Detectives Is Relaxed
Blackmailers Act; Several Suspicious
Characters Seen; elimination of an
Elaborate Conspiracy With Many
Angles.

The Bristol family received threatening
letters come months ago in which $500
was demanded by the writer's.
Within a few minutes after the ex-
plosion several hundred people had gath
cred in tho vicinity and threats OF lynch
Ing were heard among some OF the men.
It rs expected that the police and sheriff's
Office Will cooperate 10 make drag
net search OF the city In an effort 10 get
clew 10 the perpetrators OF the ex-
plosion.
Terrified for Months.
For the last several months the Eccles
family has been in a state OF terror on ac-
count OF black hand letters which came
at frequent intervals. The lotters were
addressed to Mrs. Bertha Eccles. Tn.
widow Of the late 1nancier. Each letter
reiterated the demand for money which
was made in the hrst threatening letter
received
The letters identified the members OF
the gang OF blackmailers as the same
persons who figured in tho famous Dee
olsckmailers secured $1,000.
The first letter informed Mrs. Eccles
that the bandits were desperate men and
that as she valued her life and those OF
her loved ones she must accede 20 the
demands OF the blackmaliers. Failure TO
comply with the demand, the letter
threatened. would mean the destruction
Of the beautiful Eccles mansion by dyns-
mite. probably involving the death OF sew
eral mombers of the Eccles household.
Continuing, tho letter instructed Mrs.
Eccles to signify her intention OF com
plying with the demands OF the brIgands
by inserting a small code advertisement
IN the classified columns OF local news
paper. telephone message from the
bandits. the communication said, would
Inform tho Eccles family where TO leave
the money for the bandits.
Second Message.
The letter was intercepted by David
c. Bccles. eldest son OF Mrs. EccIes, be-
fore 1t reached his mother. He notified
the federal officers and hired private de-
tectives TO investigate the case. Mr Ec-
cles says that the code advertisement WI,
not inserted. pursuant to the instructions
In the letter. Nevertheless, the Eccles
family received another message from
the bandits telling the members OF tho
family to prepare to deliver the money
al midnight OF September a. Tho in
ssTuctions from the bandits were that the
Cccles family should secure a white horse
and an open buggy and that ons mes
5enger with this rig should drive to
point to be designated later by the ban
Tits and deliver the money
The Eocles family secured the services
'f private guards and prepared TO carry
'ut the instructions of the bandits
Early IN the evening Jack Eccles, small
'on OF Mrs, Eccles. rented wnltc horse
md buggy at the stable OF Nelson & Fell.
L was the same white horse and the
nme bullet SCARED open buggy that had
lgured prominently IN the Brlstol-Dee
'lack hand mystery. It was taken to the
souse 10 await word from the bandits.
Wait for Dynamiters.
Three SONS of Mrs. Eccles- --pavid c.,
ate guards, prepared to capture or Kill
he black hand gang. Armed with au-
omatic revolvers and sawed-off shot
-uns, loaded with buck shot. they waited
rord from the daring bandits
II was the night OF the Collins-SparEo
'eddlng. which all Ogden was celebrat-
1g-all except the guards ar the Ecclcs
ONE, who were waiting nervously but
rlmiy for the dynamiters. Two guards
'ere on each side OF the Eccles home
The hours wore on while the Eccles
oys and the detectives kept up the con-
tant vigil. Midnight was reached, but
o word came from the blackmailers
he Ginning OF the hour had scarcely
eased. however when David G. Ecoles
aw two men walk slowly past the Eccles
ONE Sure that these were tho black
and bandits. the Eccles boys determined
capture them.
The white horse and buggy WAS driven