The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-06-20
Harold Demeritt, Jr. COnfesses
To $4,000 ExtOrtion Attempt

stead; First Case In
Monroe County
Brown-haired Harold Demeritt.
Jr.. Is years old. is in the county
jail under $500 bond on the
charge of attempt to extort 5000
from Mrs. Frank olmstead. 700
South street. and threatening 10
kidnap her husband. Frank Ohm
stead. blind and 20 years old.
Ii is believed to be the countY's
first extozfion plot.
The boy was apprehended
Sunday morning by Sheriff Karl
Thompson. Federal Bureau of In
vesiigaiion men. H. P. Turner and
n. B. Miller. and local deputies.
After quizzing. in which he was
repeatedly caught in lies. he fin
ally broke down and confessed.
stating that he conceived the plan
himself and had no accomplices.
Tuesday night a note, demand
ing the money, was thrown in the
ward of the home of Mr.. and Mrs.
Olmstead, who have been here
eight years and have built their
South street home. Mr.. and Mrs.
William Watkins, n eig h bors,
brought the note to the sheriff's
forces. The note, written on a
typewriter, with a penciled map
showing where the money was to
DE ucltNGIStAE tDk1OWSs
Mrs. Olmsfead:
We ask you TO pay Us five
thousand dollars l$s.000l in
cash or else your husband
won't be safe for long. Don't
notify the authority. If you
notify the authority or don't
pay the money we will kid
nap your husband. Pay in
the bills as follows: 200 $1,000
bills. 400 $500 bills. and 1000
Si.00 bills. Don't take the
numbers of the bills to pub
iish them. Pay the money at
the end Of White street be-
tween Rest Beach and the
First Marfelo Towers. Pay
Saturday at 1000 p. m.-Kid-
napers.
Follow this route:
A map outlining the Olmstead
home. South street turning to the
right into White street, with Rest
Beach and Martello Tower mark
ed and the wording. Leave mon
ely here in bag. was on the low
er half of the note,
Sheriff Thompson contacted
FBI. headquarters at Princeton
and was promised investigators,
who came down Saturday. The
local forces had planned out the
course 90 be followed. Saturday
night they rode the route at the
south end of White street. and
stopped scores OF cars TO ask ques-
tions. Between 1000 and hoo
o'clock Demeritt came along. rid
ing on a bicycle. He was prompt
~ stopped and questioned. Yes
tcrday morning, Demeritt was
picked up for grilling.
The local sheriff.s forces
knew well oil those whom
they stopped for questioning.
When Demerift came along.
the frat fact to arise in their
minds was the point that he
lived AZ 1914 Elizabeth street.
which is just behind the Ohm
stead residence. and that he
probably knew the Olmsisads
had some money.
Questioning Sunday morn
ing found the boy in many
lies. AZ first attempting 10
involve others in the case. his
charges were Soon broken
down. and he finally con-
fessed. He was also asked 70
write on q blank sheet Of pa
per. The handwriting was
identical with that on the en-
toriion note.
When asked why he did
such thing. he said. Il
thought II was about time 10
have kidnaperx in KEY Wexf-.
Following the confession. c.
Men Turner and Miller left yes
tefday afternoon going back 10
Miami.
The procedure, local Sherlgf's
forces stated. viii be first 10 hale
49,.