Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-11-03
BLACK HAND NOTE.
HELD ATTEMPT TO
BEL|TTLE POLICE
PERpETRATOR OF "JOk E"
THREAT ACCUSED OF TRYING
TO PUT DEPARTMENT BEFORE
PUBLIC AS EDWARDS - BOTH
HELD ON STATE WARRANTS.

Alleging attempts by Edward j,
Murray and Harold Kennedy, both OF
North Ottawa and both employed at
the Sanderson coupon ice book shop
of North La Sale street TO bclittle
members of the local police force for
alleged cowardice by their sensation
al presentation of blackmail letter
demanding $225.00. Chief of Police
Hen Ford. Captain James Fox and
Commissioner Dana NJ. Palmer, took
the pair into custody last night FOL
lowing a sensational signed confession
by Kennedy and lodged them in the
county Jail. Early this morning state
warrants charging them with a viola
ton of section ninety-three OF Hurd $
revised statutes of the State of Hi
nois was issued against them by Judge
George r. Koenig and sworn to by
Chief Ford, which is a charge of at
tempting to eXhort money by threats
According to the police, Murray en-.
tered the station Monday afternoon
bearing small piece of paper with
the following words inscribed upon
t.: place 1925 at the corner of shop
or I will burn shop. Beware and no
monkey business" Murray alleged
that he and Kennedy were working
in the shop when they noticed a seal
ed envelope tackled on the door. Upon
Investigation they discovered the
message in the envelope.
Shortly after Murray had left police
-. a.. III a
mer's Office to inform him Of the re-
ceipt of the black-mail letter. Kennedy
rushed into the station bearing a
small piece of keroSine soaked cloth
and several matches, which he al
legged that the bIackmailer had drop
ped into the mail shute in the front
end of the print shop Right then ana
there police authorities thought they
we're about to round up Ottawa :
fire bug and put an end TO his ruth,
less work An investigation started.
Then Yesterday morning reports CT
how Murray and Kennedy had bravery
defended themselves against the
matchmaker Tuesday night, when
they fired several shots at him as he
was proving around the print shou
windows, reached Chief Fords of.
fee. Chief Ford hurried to the San.
derson shop to investigate but found
that nobody was there. Upon investl'
eating further he discovered two bull
let holes through the window panes
of one of the rear windows of the
shop. Mrs. Sanderson, wife of the
owner Of tho shop, then told the police
officer of the happenings of the night
before.
She stated that she was awakened
early Yesterday morning by gun shots
and that upon investigation she found
Murray and Kennedy searching for a
man whom they alleged was looking
into the windows of the shop and who
they said sent the blackmail letter &c
them demanding money. Kennedy
had two bullet holes through his coat
aud said when he fred the man fired
hack at him, two of the bullets from
the blackmailer gun pierced his
coat The pair added that the man
went so far as to knock on the win
dows in broad daylight but that he
disappeared before they had a chance
to see him.
Believing that their story was
false and knowing that the pair haC
made remarks alleging cowardice or
the part of the police officers, Chic
Fhrd and Commissioner Palmer call
ed Kennedy to the police station
where he signed a complete confess
ion, At first he denied that it was {
put UP Job and held firmly to his orr
giual story stating that he dldn'
know who the blackmailer was ant
that he thought the man was for
eigner After threatening to lodg,
him in the Jail unless he told thu
truth, he broke down and told tn
whole story to the police officers.
He stated that Murray said the pc
lice fierce of ottawa was yellow ant
that all they did was smoke cigar
cites" He further added that Muir
ray forced him to write the meesag
aud that he himself tackled it on TIL
door of the shop. He also said tina
he was forced by Murray to drop tn
matches and the piece of cloth int
the mail chute. When asked abou
the shooting early yesterday morning
he also blamed Murray. He said tina
Murray made him shoot twice through
the window and then tear his Goa
and shoot through it, so that it nigh
look as though the prowler returne
the fire.
Murray was released on bonds c
$500 to assure his appearance on Sa
ur1ay morning, Nov, u, for hearin
OF the charge His wife Mrs. Olivi
Murray, signed the bonds. Kennel
was taken back to the city jail 70
lowing the hearing at which the cas-
was continued He stated that hi
mother would sign his bonds