The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-07-31

torney Jesse Edgington and Mr.. Ed
| gington after comforting with his client
| Saturday indicated that insanity would
| probably be the defense plea offered.
| Local police say that Edmondson has
confessed to charges Of attempting to
extort money from Moore.
Edmondson was arrested Friday night
| by squad of officers headed by In
| spector of Detectives Griffin. His ar
rest followed six weeks of endeavor to
nab him and came only after tele-
phone rush. He will be docketed Sat-
urday, according to Griffin, who says
as soon as the case Is worked out fed
eral charges also will be placed against
| the man.
Edmondson is alleged to have threat
| ened Moore's life and also to have
threatened to set fire to the lumber
plant in letters now in the hands of
Inspector Griffin, Hiring of special
telephone operators, watch on several
avenues which have thrown suspicion
on Edmondson and trip. to Missouri
| by Moore figured in the details which
cut case against the alleged blackmailer.
The scheme which Edmondson used.
according to the inspector, Is one of
| the best planned to come under the de-
partment's eyes in years. Threatening
letters first were sent to Moore sign
ed by Baker" They were in series
| and were to be answered by classified
ads in newspapers. One ad was to read
that the lumber company desired tim
Der cutters in one instance. In another
wanted cheap grade of cottonwood
lumber. They were inserted in news
papers.
Moore went to the police. He was
told to bring all such letters to the
detectives without opening them: The
letter, mailed to Moore and McFerren
company, were contained in two enVei-
opes the inside one addressed; TO be
| opened only by Claude H. Moore"
| Newspaper clippings were forwarded
by Baker" all being Of fires and de-,
struction saying 1t was part OF our
work. One was of fire at Yazoo CITY,
Miss.
Operators on Watch.
with two special operators at the
telephone company to advise OFFICERS az
residence. 1926 Court avenue: or the
plant. when the call was fol-, Moore
himself, police waited for several weeks,
Friday night a IMr. Smith" phoned
the residence and asked for Moore
from Linden avenue house, accord.
ing to inspector Griffin, rushed to the
i place and found Edmondson talkinl
over the phone. He had been engasec
member of the Moore family. The
Linden avenue place is rooming house
Hailed to headquarters EdmondsoI
| was questioned and also his photograph
and finger prints taken. Paul Wag,
both Immediately The finger prints
Inspector Griffin declares, correspond
exactly with those on letters received
by Moore.
About three weeks ago Moore. re-
lceived a demand to come to Hayti, Mo
He went, accompanied by Lieut.. Boyle
of the police department. According &c
instructions in the letters he was to
walk down the railroad tracks until
piece of white paper was found. There
a consultation was to take place. be-
tween the blackmailer and his victim
No sign was discovered.
Fire Follows Note.
Shortly after returning to Memphis
Moore received another letter saying
that only one more was to follow. Their
in a few days the lumber plant suffered
fire and was saved only by the hard
est fire fighting.
Taken at Edmondson's home, which
advertises for roomers, was trunk con
tanning stationery. said to be of the
same variety on which letters to Moore
were written. and typewriter which
Saturday was declared by Grifgfin tc
be the one on which the letters were
typed.
Edmondsons wife. officers allege, tolt
them that her husband on numerous oc'
casions locked himself in room an9
wrote many letters. None was permit.
ted to go near this room at these times
she is further said to have declared.
Mechanic" was the occupation
given by Edmondson. He is As years Of
age. Police say the letters, all writer
in a crude style and with numerous
words misspelled, were merely methods
of stall. Edmondson Is educated Of.
ficers declare. One in demanding $l0,.
600 stated that unless the request was
not complied with You will be blown
sky high. If you do the good ship Zor
will sail smoothly along for both Of us
4 Edmondson was arrested in June
was a "squatter" on land owned by the
Moore & McFerren company in Arkan.