New Britain herald., 1928-01-23
DETECTIVES GUARD
 M|LL|0NAIRE'S WIFE

Mrs. Walter Lsbar of Brid6t
 port Gets Blackmail Letters GOES TO FLORIDA TODAY 25,OO0 Loan" Demanded of Wife
 Of New Haven Railroad Director
 and President Of American Chain
 Company.
 Bridgeport, Jan. 23 (UP) - Guarded by detectives. Mrs. Walter B. Lashar, wife of Bridgeport mill lionaire, was reported en route to the south today with her young daughter. Emilia, following receipt of letters threatening violence.
 The letters. signed 'The Iron Hand" demanded & loan of $25,- 900. They were received on Janu- ary 10. II and 12.
 Mrs. Lashar and her 10 year old daughter were understood to have left Hearthstone Hall. the family's palatial home at Round Hill. Fair field. early Sunday or Saturday night. to some destination in the south, with the idea of remaining there while police investigated the case.
 Gets Letters Lashar. who is president of the American Chain Co.,, the American Fabrics Co.,, and the Dominion Chain Co. of Canada. received the first of the three letters on January 10. Printed in ink. the message asked that $25,0o0. in $, $1O and s20 bills, be placed in bag and left at specified place.
 Next day another letter came, stating that mistake had been made in the first letter as regards the time the money was to be de- posted.
 This letter said, in part:
 "1f everything goes as we say, things will be all right. If there is a slip, we strike once and that one strike will be worth more to you than all of your money. We have watched your movements for some fimo opd kpnu, ~your hob;<. ~,o,,, well. Once more We say this Is per- sonal and you are not to mention this to anyone.
 Don't think you can get detec- tives to get us or spy on us, for we are too wise and you will be sorry. real sorry. Just keep this to your self and you will not hear for one year, when we will return the money. We are not asking anything impossible and we know it. What is a loan of little money to you :? Nothing.
 Do not expect another letter, for this one tells what we want in full. You are to burn this letter as soon as you have carried out our orders. Do not get alarmed at this letter. Just do as We ask and don't worry. We are in hard luck. So don't let love and happiness inter- fere with this money we are asking for
 Very truly yours, THE IRON HAND" Notifies Policc
 Lashar notified police and a heavy guard was established at Hearth stone Hall. Several flood lights were set up on the grounds of the man. sion to aid watchers. Finally. on advice of detectives, Mrs. Lashar and her daughter left the house to prevent any possible violence against Emilia. The mother believed the letter-writer was in- spired by the Hickman and Hotel ling cases, it was said, and feared that her daughter might be kid- naped.
 Police today were attempting to trace the author of the letters. By the United Press.
 Violent murders, after kidnap- ings; ransom letters and mysterious disappearances have become marked throughout the United States in the past month.
 The cycle was started with the Kidnapping of Marion Parker, Los Angeles bankers daughter. Subse. quently the girl was murdered, her body returned to the father who had paid large ransom. and Will liam Edward Hickman arrested. He confessed and will 50 to trial Wed. nesday.
 At Smith college, Northampton Mass. Miss Frances Smith disap peared without leaving trace Search has been made throughout, the east for the girl. Her disap. pearance is quite similar to that o1 Alice Corbett from the same school in 1925.
 1 At Flint, Mich.. Dorothy Schnei- l der was Kidnapped and her body found few hours later. Subsequent ly Adolph Hotelling was arrested