Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 201, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 August 1912 — BLACKHAND METHODS LANDS EDDIE KARNATZ IN JAIL. [ARTICLE]

BLACKHAND METHODS LANDS EDDIE KARNATZ IN JAIL.

Admits Writing Letters to B. Forsythe Demanding S7OO Under Penalty of Death and Destruction of Home. The boldest and most astounding attempt at blackmailing that ever transpired in Rensselaer came to light early this Thursday morning with the arrest of Eddie Karnatz, charged with using blackhand methods to extort money from B. Forsythe, the weathy retired merchant of this city, who has extensive farm holdings and is possessor of valuable real estate in this city. Karnatz is the crippled tailor who has worked for B. K. Zimmerman for the past several years and also for Fred Phillips at the Princess Theatre. Mr. Forsythe received five letters in all, the first one having been received three weeks ago, Wednesday, July 31st, since which time investigation has been going on. At the start Mr. Forsythe had no idea as to who was making the demands but in a day or two suspicion was directed toward Karnatz. The first letter demanded S7OO and specified that the money be placed on a board lying at the north side of the stone pile in the vacant lot just across the street east of the jail. The letter was unsigned, but closed with an admonition of grave import, threatening that, should Mr. Forsythe fail to comply with the demand, or should he confide the receipt of the' letter to anyone, —he would be killed and his house blown up with dynamite. The house referred to is the ptQatial residence at the east end of Washington street, corner of Division, owned and occupied by Mr. Forsythe. It was built only few years ago, costing about SIO,OOO or $12,000, and is one of the most beautiful of the residence properties in the city. Mr. Forsythe was justly worried over the anonomous epistle and he rose up in righteous indignation, determined not to appease the wishes of the dispicable blackmailer and to put him in the toils of the law at any cost. Accordingly he laid the facts before his attorney, E. P. Honan, and a plan of action was decided upon. Five other men, Sheriff W. I. Hoover, Marshal George Mustard, J. J. Montgomery, Gus Grant and W. S. Parks were called in and after a conference it was decided that these men should station themselves at various points in the locality and await developments, after Mr. Forsythe placed a decoy package at the place specified. Eddie Karnatz was seen walking by the place two or three times late that night but little was thought of the matter, as he lived on that street. A vigil was kept for five nights, during which time several persons were under surveilance. However, suspicion rested heavily on Karnatz, as he was seen loitering about the place on several occasions. After the first night, J. J. Montgomery taxed his ingenuity to a small extent and made two electrical devices that might have aided materially in the detection had the blackmailer made an attempt to get the package that was placed on the stone pile." One was an electric 4 alarm bell, arranged compactly in a small box and concealed under the stones. The decoy package placed there by Mr. Forsythe was attached to the device by a small cord that would be invisable at night, the slightest tension of which would set the alarm off. Four of the men were stationed at windows in the house occupied by the 'West family, just south of the vacant lot, and they were equipped with an electric search light to flash at the moment the alarm was given. As the package was not “called for”, this plan did not work. The other device was a small electric light and an electric bell. Mr. Montgomery concealed himself at the letter drop behind'the post office door for several nights and with the aid of the small light he intended to compart the handwriting on letters, if any, addressed to Mr. Forsythe, with one of the blackhand letters. He had W. S. Parks stationed in the cellar way below Leavel’s bakery and if a similar letter was dropped he would ring the electric bell as a signal for Parks to catch the man before he got away. They watched for four nights but nothing happened. On the next night after the vigil ended at the postofflee the second blackhand letter came, making demands similar to those in the first one. The third letter was received just a few days after that, in the same handwriting 'as the first two. The next letter was postmarked Rensselaer, 7 a. at., Aug. 10, and came down to S4OO instead of S7OO. It read as follows: “Mr. Forsythe this time without fail place money near board on north side of stone pile in‘ vacant lot east of jail. We came

to your town Monday and found out you had left town for a week. We came back here Friday and decided to stay till you came back. We saw you this afternoon on the street and are sending you final notice. We heard you donated an organ to a church so we will only ask for S4OO instead of S7OO. Place money where we said by Saturday night” The last of the letters received came on the following Tuesday and purports to be written by two more of the “gang.” This time they demanded SSOO, to be placed on top of the stone pile. It was written in the same hand writing as the others and ends with: “You know what is coming to you and we will get you. It is either your money or your life. We haven’t time to monkey with you any longer.” In the meantime, Mayor G. F. Meyers, City Attorney Moses Leopold and Marshal George Mustard were working on the case and it was then that the deep mystery began to unravel. A comparison of the letters showed that they were written by the same person, although an attempt was made to disguise the hand. As suspicion began to fall on Karnatz, a decoy letter; purporting to be written by a Rensselaer merchant, offering him a job, was written to Karnatz. When Karnatz’s answer came a comparison of it and the blackhand letters proved the handwriting identical and it was decided to get Karnatz at once. The next day after the last letter was written Karnatz left for his home in Hinsdale, 111. Marshal Mustard went there yesterday and Karnatz was arrested about 8:30 last night by the Hinsdale night watch. He was taken to the city hall and in the presence of Marshal Mustard, Chief of Police Nichols and his father he made a complete denial of the charge. After two ■hours parley they accompanied him home and finally, in the presence of his mother, he confessed his guilt Mustard and Karnatz arrived here this morning, and being unable to secure bail he was placed in jail. A hearing was held this afternoon before Squire Irwin’s court. Karnatz admitted in his confession that he had followed Mr. Forsythe to the vacant lot but stated that he didn’t have the nerve to go after the money. It is the general opinion, however, that he knew he was being watched, consequently the repeated sending of letters. In an interview to a Republican reporter this morning, Karnatz tried to make light of the case but later stated that he was sorry for his action. He stated that he did not want the money and that he just wrote those letters as a joke to see what Mr. Forsythe would do. Karnatz asserted that he was not involved financially but it is a known fact that he had beet In debt to MrsJohn Medicus for board and room to the amount of sll9 and that only last

week his father, who is a poor man, came here and paid the bill for him. The postofflce department has three of the blackhand letters and It is probable/they will take the matter up for fraudulent use of the U. S. mails. The offense is a serious one and is greatly deplored here. Whatever comes of the matter, he has none but himself and his own folly to blame. Mr. Forsythe, the victim of Karnatz’ schemes, was caused much worry and anxiety and though he entertained some fear for his safety, he was not cowardly, He would not cater to thbse fiendish demands at any cost or any risk and by his fearless prosecution he did a service, not only to him self, but to the community as well. The whole affair cost him S3OO. $l5O for services of the six men on night duty and $l5O reward which he offered for evidence leading to the arrest of the guilty party. Mayor Meyers, Attorney Leopold and Marshal Mustard have a claim to the reward. Karnatz waived arraignment when taken before Squire Irwin in the, afternoon and was bound over to the circuit court in the sum of SSOO under the charge of blackmail, in default of which he was sent to jail. The penalty for blackmailing is a penitentiary sentence of not less than one year nor more than five.