Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-06-27
DETECTIVES SEEK IDENTITY or
PERSONS ATTEMPTING
DLAckMAlL.
DEMANDED 5000 AND DEED
TO VALUABLE FARM
Penalty For Refusal Was Threat Of
psath 70 M. and Mrs. Lanssnburs,
Of Cedar Laks-ceunty Attorney Ad.
visss Employment Of Detectives and
sisuths Arc at Work on Case.

Clear Lake, June II.-IO learn tHo
identity Of the person or persons re-
sponsible for the writing and mailing
to Fred Langenburg, wealthy farmer,
who lives on the north shore road, and
his wife, of letters demanding $4,000
and a deed to valuable farm, has
been the object of the activities Of de-
tectives who have been working about
Clear Lake for some weeks past.
The letter which brought about the
retaining Of Investigators was received
several weeks ago, and demanded that
deed be made out transferring 800
acres of land owned by the recipients
to Mrs. Jim Hanson, and making the
further modest request that $4,000 be
left in certain named place. on or be-
fore June s. The alternative to deliv-
cry Of the deed and money. as named
in the letter, was death, which tho the
means was not exactly portrayed, 1t
was promised would be of a nasty and
unpleasant variety. Mrs. Hanson. wife
Of another wealthy farmer. denies all
knowledge of the letters.
Consulted Authorities.
Instead of complying with the de-
mand of the letter, or ignoring it en-
tirely, the Langenbergs, in spite of ad-
monition in the BLACK Hand" note
not to consult the authorities. took
the matter up with the county au-
thorities, and also, it is understood
with the postoffice department.
At the advice Of County Attorney
Dbl no
tective agency was retained to run
sible, and accordingly two operatives
who have been busily engaged in piec-
together. ever since.
Hand Writing Samples.
One of the detectives, posing as a
lawyer from distant city, investigat-
ing the title to certain lands in the
neighborhood Of Clear Lake. called on
a party suspected Of having had some
thing to do with the letter writing, and
on pretence of getting information re-
garding persons who might have
knowledge Of the supposed case he was
working on, got the suspect to write
down some Of the names. and other
words, appearing in the letter received
by Langenburgs.1 These samples are
said to tally exactly with the hand
writing in the letter.
Confronted With Proof.
The person under suspicion was later
confronted with such proofs as the de-
tectives had been able to obtain. and
tho denying strenuously any connec-
ton with the letter writing, is as
serted to have offered to pay the costs
Of the investigation, etc. rather than
have the matter turned over to the
federal authorities with a request for
prosecution.
The other detective. while not known
here as such, worked somewhat in the
open, appearing in public as relative
of the Langenburg's from Chicago,
who was visiting them.
Expect Bitter Trouble.
Local authorities are inclined to look
for bitter trouble over the affair be-
fore it is entirely closed up, for the
suspect to trap whom the detective
worked is Of wealthy family. and
relatives, considerably wrought up over
the accusation, promise a counter suit
for damages.
Since the matter was turned over to