The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-01-05
ACCUSED
OF SERIOUS CHARGE
Northfield Man Alleged to Have Tried to
Extort S2oo from Frank Sever
ance, Who Received Two
Unsigned Letters

| States Attorney Carver was the prose-
cutting attorney in Montpelier city court
| to-day in a case of rather unusual char
acter, following the arrest of Fred Car
los Slack in Northfield yesterday on the
suspicion of being engaged Il a Black
Hand game in his town, the specific in
stance being an attempt to extort 5000
from Frank Severance, well known
Northfeld man. The arrest of Slack
was made yesterday forenoon by Chief
Donohue of the Mortified police depart
ment.
When arraigned in Montpelier court
bail was fixed at 81 200 after the re-
spondent had been bound over to county
court. F.B. Thomas was retained by Slack.
The revelations of the alleged attempt
to secure 5000 from Mr. Severance are
somewhat sensational. 1t is said that
Severance received the first letter or
Dec %, the letter having been mailed
on Dec. 30 on the train between North
field and White River junction. The
letter, which was written on six pages
of paper and sent IN PLAIN white en-
yelope, demanded that $500 be paid at
once, coupled with the promise that
the itbUeNs WIFI tHLtItstt Ntulu DC IHiu
back in year The letter stated that
the writer knew who was able TO pay,
that a collection was being taken up
and that all but three of those able to
pay in Mortified had contributed.
1t is stated that the letter read as fol-
lows: "If YOU think more of 5000 than
you do OF your life, keep it, but you
will never live to spend it. We have
the little TOYS right here that will put
you and your house ont OF sight in one
second Furthermore, Severance WAS
instructed to place the money under
the seat in an old butcher cart which
was located in the letter. This butcher
cart is. said to have been owned once
by Slack, The money was 10 be placed
in an old meal sack which was in the
cart.
The receiver Of the letter sought le-
gal advice of Attorney G. u. Edgerton
OF Northfield and later took the matter
to Sheriff Tracy, after which the sery-
ices OF the Wood Morgan detective agen-
cy were sought. Severance was advised
to hold the demand Off by answering
the letter that he would not be able to
put the money In the meat cart until
after Jan. |, the letter being placed in
the butcher cart.
On Dec. 81 a second letter was re-
ceived. it having been mailed on the Cen
tral Vermont train. The contents of
this letter were to the effect that Sew
erance would be given until Jan. to
place the money in meal sack in the
wagon, and if he should do so he would
not be bothered any more. The writer
wanted the money in five and ten dollar
This letter, like the
first. was signed with a diamond-shaped
mark, one end of which was blackened
with lead pencil. Severance was
warned to leave the money.
In accordance with the request,
marked money was placed in the butch
ct cart. and six detectives wsse arranged
about in concealed spots near the cart.
II was stated that Slack came to the
old cart, having told some people in a
store that he was going to get an old
boot that was there. Slack was arrested
On the spot as he was carrying out
The old boot. Chief Donohue making the
arrest. after which Slack was held for
,ourt hearing.
Slack is middle-aged man, who was
until a few months ago in the
meat business in Nerthiield, since which
Time he has been working at insurance,
He has resided in Northfeld for some
years and is a native of South Strafford.
lie underwent an operation some months
lgo and has not been in good health
,ince that. During the illness, he was
visited several times by Severance, it
S said