The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1920-03-31
FARMER NEAR
DENH0F'F HELD
FOR EXT0RTI0N
Charged that He Wrote Threat.
ening Letter to Banker De-
manding $2,5OO
MANY MISSILES ARE FOUND
Causes Townsmen to Guard
Bank and Patrol Village
Streets During Mystery
MANY MISSILES ARE FOUND

Is securely locked III the county jail
at McClusky: all alleged black hand
mystery has been solved and the citi-
zens Of DenhOtf. Sheridan county. have
put away their shotguns and weapons
of defense and are again sleeping
peacefully % nights.
On March - letter was found
lying on a fat-tOppad rock at the side
of road just outside the town limits
of Denhpff. 1t was addressed to Ell
Wahl, cashier Of the First State Bank
of Denhoff and advised him to take
$500 in currency to certain place
mile and q half from the town. leave
it and go his way. If you know what
is good for you, you better follow these
Instructions the letter read.
INVESTIGATOR FURNISHED
Wahl reported to States Attorney
Frank. Temple who appealed to Attor.
ney General william LANCER for a spe-
cial investigator. The night following
the appearance Of the first letter an
other missive was found stuck to the
outer window Of pool hall with chew
ing gum. This Also was addressed 20
Ed Wahl. " ~
In this letter the demands were the
s. same but d new place was cited as the
rendezvous where the banker should
meet the blackhanders If you don,
meet us anl come through with the
money there will be a funeral Sign
ell "Z. G." "s
With the appearance. Of this letter
whose contents were passed around
by the small town wireless. the people
Of Denhoff sat up and took notice
When third letter was found stuck
on the drug store window on Monday.
March - Ilenhoff armed itself.
COuched in stronger language the let
ter read This is third and last
warning We mean business this tillr.
If you don bring the money now you
will never have a chance to bring it.
1t is UP to Won whether you think
more OF your lifrthan YOU do of 50 500.
"Sfgned again by ~ c."
ARTILLERY OVERHAULED
Wahl recruited friends and unlim
bered his artillery. On Tuesday night
March D. three men. all armed were
in the Wahl home with him taking
over the affair when there came a rap
at the door. Visions Of bombs. etc.
and the rap wasn't answered.
Nevertheless it was Cray. He left
the house walked down the street and
met Il Denhoff man saying Here's a
letter for Ed Wahl, wish you'd give
it to him. @.@'
The letter was delivered shortly af-
tcrward that night. It read. I'VE are
giving you one more chance. We are
sending you this warning by man
who you know we'll and with whom We
are not very well acquainted. You will
give him $1,000 in currency. You will
not attempt to follow him as both Of
You will lie watched from the time lie
receives the money until it is turnel
over to us. And we are well prepared
for trouble If you do not do this
there will double funeral. We mean
business" said the same "Z c."
TRAIL BECOMES HOT
Then the detective from the attOr-
ney generals office appeared on the
scene. Samples Of Crays handwriting
were secured and there was enough
resemblance to cause the expert to see
a similarity, Denhoff folks suspicion.
ell Cray. The detective expressed his
intention Of going out to Cray's farm
four miles from the town. Derhoff.
ians said he would never come back
alive. -n f..
However. he called OH Cray. entered
the house and quickly spotted Gray's
guns. a high powered Savage rife ami
a smaller calibered Winchester. The
operator stepped in between Cray and
the guns and there ensued a few re-
marks about the weather. questions rs
to what made Cray act so nervous and
finally point blank question You know
something about this Ed Wahl busi-
ness don't you?' t.r
Cray started to edge around the de.
tectire but the latter had his hand II,
his overcoatI pocket and Cray obeye'l
the orders to 20 back and sit down.
There was a brief parley and Cray
!. told about having been held up on the
road by four masked men and ordered
to deliver the letter to Wahl. He told
about having been kicked severely by
the men after they had knocked him
down and given him "a sample of
what you may get
NO BRUISES FOUND
1.anger's detective ordered the man
to strip off his clothes. There was not
Il mark on bruise on him. Under prs.
sure Cray admitted says Langer's mali
that he had also nailed the various
missives to the windows Of business
places in tho city.
The detective went through til,
clothes Cray had been wearing and
there found another letter addressed
to Wahl and Cray together.
How long have you been planni,l.
this black hand game: As a matter
Of. fact you got the idea last Januar,
didn't you?''
Cray looked blankly at the qucs
toner. a..
How did you know"'
He was taken to DenhOff and from
there to McClusky where he demand
ell lawyer. He told his story an
the attorney said Not with that mask
Continued on Page Tw0)