OLD LADY TRAPS BLACKMAILERS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 97, 14 October 1911, Page 11

OLD LADY TRAPS BLACKMAILERS

THE DECOY BUNDLE. Chicago is chuckling over the way in winch one of its oldest inhabitants helped the police to trap a gang of blackmailers whp have been victimising wealthy foreign residents, by operatin"- under the name of the dreaded "Black Hand" society. Tliis is Mrs. Billings, mother of the millionaire sportsman and owner of record-breaking "trotters," Mr. C. 6. Billings.

The old lady, who is nearly ninety received a letter a few days ago signed with the usual melodramatic devices of the "Black Hand" society,'and making blood-curdling threats of "punishment" if £IOO were not handed over to the society's representative. The letter stated that the representative would call and ask for work, and that the money was to bo wrapped up in a bundle of old clothes.

Tho blackmailers evidently imagine* that the s-maHness of the sum demanded and the age of the victim would ensure the success of their scheme, and, indeed, Mrs. Billings being a very wealthy woman, several of her friends advised her to pay and avoid trouble. The old lady however, was made of sterner stuff and declared that she was not going to allow a gang of foreign ruffians to rob her heirs of even such a small sum as

Kho said that in her eightv-nine years of Me she had never allowed herself to be •done," and added, "I am too old to start now." Accordingly, the police were informed, and when the "Black Hand" agent appeared there were several officers hidden round the house The man, who proved to be a neo-ro' duly called and asked' for '-'the bundle " He was met by Mrs. Billings' „,. u j who informed him that her mistress wa«

in bed, but that she would get the clothes asked for. Mrs. Billings, who certainly was in bed, but who was enjoying the affair immensely, told the maid to give the man a specially-pre-wired bundle, and signoiled to the police, The negro marched off unsuspectingly with the bundle, and was arrested by the detectives before lie had left the grounds. Acting on information supplied by the prisoner, they made a raid on a house believed to be the headquarters of the gang, and arrested a German named , Heindriehs. Other arrests are expected shortly.