The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-02-15
Blackhanders Are Reported
At Work Down In Iowa
SOUGHT TO GET MONEY
Sheriff of Sioux County Asks
Aid In Running Down
Conspirators
From Saturdays Daily.

From Saturdays Daily.
Word was received by the Man.
kato police department today from
Sheriff William Wiersma, sheriff OF
Sioux county, Iowa, at Orange City.
offering a reward of $500 to any per-
son who can furnish evidence to
convict the writer's of two black hand
letters. These letters were written to
Peter Mouw and T. j. Roghair on
January 5, 1918, and December %,
1917.
Mouw is given. Following is a copy
Of it:
"Mr. Peter Mouw, Orange City.
Iowa. AS jou will note on this letter
that jou are the one who has drawn
the number and that it is jour duty to
have ten thousand Dollar 100000
ready by next Wednesday night which
jou has to hide in the northeast cor
ner behind the corner pole of jour
field, and if that amount is not there
by Wednesday Jan at s o'clock. p. NJ,
than jou will be killed before jou
know it. Wei give jou time enough
to get the money and to talk it over
with somebody else If jou wish, but
the best way for jou is, not to go to
somebody else to get his advise. be-
cause if jou do, jou will be shot any
how iether soon or ate. Bear that in
to jour mind. Now don't fool jour-
self by someway, and think that
there's way to catch us. We can
tell jou right now, that's impossible,
because jou will be watched from
now until quite while afterwards.
And if jou do, shot and fire shall
come when are time comes due. Now
we'll give jou a description of the
place where and how to hide it. AS
jou will note the mark in the north
east corner. that's the place where jou
has to hide it and guver it with
little durt so can lay here until
wei take the chance to get it.
"P S. to avoid a lots of trouble
answer this order promptly and jou
will never be forced again, but 9TH
erwise jour days are caunten."
The facsimile of this letter sug-
gests strongly the German alphabet
in the way the English letters are
made. The mis-spelling of some of
German spelling The letter is &C
companied with diagram of the ex-
act place where the money is to be
placed.
Another Letter From Band.
Following is a copy of the letter to
E. j. Roghair:
.sMr. e. ]. Roghair, Orange City.
Iowa. We force you to bring five
thousand dollar. $4,000, one have
mile east from your house in the
southeast corner from your farm.
place the money against the corner
pole Dig a little hole in the ground
and cover the money with about one
inch of dirt, roll the money in a
piece of cloth, we want nothing but
bills.
Caution. You must keep silence
about this letter.
"You must have the money there
in five days after receiving this let
ter.
eff you make SINCE word public,
even if you bring the money. death
and fire shall come over all of you by
all of us.
"Now take your choice. Our men
are watching you from now on LON
fool yourself and think there is
way to catch us because we can. tell
you right here that's impossible. We
are working in this manner for five
years with twelve of us. So don't
fool yourself We give no date when
we shall haul the money from there.
We haul it soon or late. If the money
is LAYING there yet after six months
we give you the right to take it from
there again. Do not lay it in the snow.
Decide about it with your wife.
Keep silence and bring the money
and your danger is gone.
"Sworn by all of us.
Skull and cross bones.
"BLACK HAND"
1--WE always mail the letter in tho
town where he gets his mail so we
know when the letter arrives"