Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 June 1918 — THREATEN KIN OF TAFT [ARTICLE]

THREATEN KIN OF TAFT

Attempted to Get Cash From ExPresident’s Sister-in-Law. J. H. Drake, Well-Known Politician, Taken in $20,000 Case —Arrested in Cincinnati. Cineinhati, May 31. —Joseph N. Drake, aged sixty-eight years, one of the founders of the famous Duckworth club of this city which occupied the position of honor in several presidential inauguration parades at Washington, I>. C., was arrested by Deputy United States Marshal John R. Haugli here on a warrant issued at the request of Post Office Inspector Morgan Griswold, charging him with sending a blackmailing letter through the mails demanding $20,000 from Mrs. Charles I‘. Taft, sister-in-law of ex-Presideut W. 11. Taft. Mrs. C. P. Taft lives at '313 I’ike street, this city, and is reputed Ohio’s wealthiest woman. Arraigned before United States Commissioner Adler, Drake denied he was guilty of the charge. ( i He was committed to the Hamilton county jail in default of SI,OOO bond for his appearance for preliminary hearing June 14. In the warrant it charged that Drake April 2 sent to Mrs. Taft an insulting letter, terminating with a threat that unless she paid $20.00u she ‘‘would be -exposed.” The warrant states the claim of Drake for $20,000 for “protection” was false and fraudulent in that he did not have information or knowledge tending to discredit Mrs. Taft and that the threat was in the nature of blackmail and with intent to obtain money from Mrs. Taft “in return for which he had nothing whatever of value to , give her as lie well knew.” Drake was first arrested after he had gone to the Taft home for a package of money demanded in the alleged blackmailing letter. - At that time lie protested his innocence, declaring he had been commissioned by another person. Post office inspectors say that they have worked on the case with the result they say evidence Was obtained, w hi ch connects Drake with the writing of the letter demanding money.