Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 92, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 July 1899 — Blaine Shafer Charged With Blackmail. [ARTICLE]

Blaine Shafer Charged With Blackmail.

Blaine Shafer, now of Idaville but formerly of Monticello, and well known in RensSelaer, where in his capacity of a life insurance agent he has spent considerable time, is now under arrest charged with attempting to blackmail Dr. J. W. Stewart, of Logansport. Mr. Shafer has always borne a good reputation and has stood well socially, and his arrest has caused a great sensation in White and Carroll counties, where he is best known. The Logansport Reporter gives the following account of the affair. The story of the case is an interesting one. Some weeks ago Dr. Stewart received a letter signed by “Albert Mason” in which the writer intimated that he was in possession of information which he said he could use with damaging effect against the doctor’s good standing in the medical profession, but that the payment of a sum of money by the doctor would induce the writer to forever seal hie lips. The doctor did not answer the letter himself, but handed it over to an attorney who wrote a decoy letter, to the writer of the letter, asking him for a private interview and further details as to the amount of money demanded. The decoy letter brought back a reply Saturday morning from “Albert Mason,” stating that he would require the sum of $250, and not a cent less, to purchase his silence. The young man came in yesterday morning to have the desired interview. He appeared at % Dr. Stewart’s office in the Masonic Temple and introduced himself as “Albert Mason” and stated that he had come to make a settlement. He was politely received by Dr. Stewart who informed the young man that he would need a little time and asked him if he would not call later. This the young man was willing to do and left the office. In the meantime Dr. Stewar| placed the matter in the hands of Attorney F. M. Kietler, who prepared an affidavit against “Albert Mason,” and placed it in the hands of Justice Guthrie, who issued a warrant for the young man’s arrest. The latter did not appear at the doctor’s office as he had agreed to do and the police were notified to watch him and keep an eye on his movements. When they saw that he was about to leave the city they placed him under arrest.