REMARKABLE ATTEMPT AT EXTORTION.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2298, 29 July 1880, Page 3

REMARKABLE ATTEMPT AT EXTORTION.

A remarkable ease of attempting to extort money is reported from New York Some years ago, it may be remembered, a Mr Rosenbaum, in London, was annoyec in the # most extraordinary way. Peopk called at his house at all hours of the daj and night, came to breakfast, luncheon dinner, and supper in acceptance of invita tions which, as they said, had been sent bj Mr Rosenbaum, but which in fact he had never issued. The nusiance, at last became intolerable ; and the unbidden guests poured upon him in one neverending stream, until the man’s life became a burden to him. Meantime offers were received to the effect that all this troubling should cease if only a certain sum of moncj were paid to an unknown individual. After a great deal of search it was discovered thal this individual was one Williamson, formerly a colonel in the Confederate army, who had hit upon the device of plaguing Mr Rosenbaum, with whom he had lived as a boarder, for the purpose of extorting money from him. Lately the Rev. Mr Hix of New York, has suffered in the same waj as Mr Rosenbaum. Notices have been sen! round to “ All females out of work in New York,” and to “ All males out of work ” in the same city, to call between certain hours at Mr Dix’s house in order to hold 8 meeting on the subject of want of employment. Hundreds of people arrived at tin time stated. Similar notifications wen sent to others, and Mr Dix, like Mi Rosenbaum was tormented almost be yond endurance. Meanwhile, ho toe received notice that his persecutor would leave him alone on the payment o: a thousand, which afterwards was raised tc fifteen hundred dollars. The affair was pu in the hands of the New York police; but i was no easy matter to trace the offender Eventually, by a careful comparison of th addresses of the letters and post-cards o the various New York hotels, combine! with a careful scrutiny of the hours whei and places where they were posted, th sender was found to be the same William Bon, who had been condemnecl to a twclv months’ imprisonment in Newgate for hi proceedings in London. The man was ar rested in Baltimore, whither he had gou

from the Windsor Hotel. He denied any intention of irritating Mr Dix, but it is to be hoped, if the offence is brought home to him, his punishment will bo sufficient to deter others from following a Bimiliar course.