December
2, 1904 – Robert E. Regan, alias Alexander Granville Gordon,
who is now confined in the central police station in Minneapolis, wrote a
letter to President Roosevelt about three weeks ago and demanded a payment of
$3,000.
He signed himself as secretary of the “Black Hand Society,” and the envelope bore a black hand drawn in the blackest kind of ink.
The text of the letter has not been divulged by the police, but today a post office inspector from Washington arrived in Minneapolis and asked to see the man, and he had a talk with Detectives Helin and Hanson and Special Officer S. G. Gustafson, of the West Hotel, who arrested him.
He signed himself as secretary of the “Black Hand Society,” and the envelope bore a black hand drawn in the blackest kind of ink.
The text of the letter has not been divulged by the police, but today a post office inspector from Washington arrived in Minneapolis and asked to see the man, and he had a talk with Detectives Helin and Hanson and Special Officer S. G. Gustafson, of the West Hotel, who arrested him.
West Hotel1
The Saint Paul Globe; “Black Hand Threat. Prisoner Accused of Blackmail Attempt on President”; Dec. 3, 1904; p. 1.
1http://www3.gendisasters.com/minnesota/6878/minneapolis-mn-fire-destroys-west-hotel-jan-1906
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Not an organization, the Black Hand was actually a version of extortion that began in Italy in the 1750s and made its way to the U. S. Blackmail letters were sent to victims with fanciful decorations, such as daggers dripping blood, revolvers spitting fire and bullets, crudely drawn skulls and crossbones and the inevitable sketch of a human hand.
A sample extortion letter from the Black Hand: “You dog, spy, informer. If you do not do what we say, we have a shot gun prepared for you. What a fine feast for the rats your fat carcass will make. Do what we say, it will be better for your skin.” (Courtesy the National Law Enforcement Museum)
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/15/8f/4b/158f4b14a85e3d111523e2e5cc2b5a8f.jpg
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If you are interested in finding out more about your family history in Minnesota, I specialize in researching genealogical and historical records in Minn. and western Wis., including: census records, birth records, death certificates, obits, grave site photos, ship passenger lists, marriage records and declarations of intent/naturalization records. I will visit locations to research local history and county records, as well as take photos. Quick turnaround on MNHS records. Both short searches and family history reports available.
If you are interested in finding out more about your family history in Minnesota, I specialize in researching genealogical and historical records in Minn. and western Wis., including: census records, birth records, death certificates, obits, grave site photos, ship passenger lists, marriage records and declarations of intent/naturalization records. I will visit locations to research local history and county records, as well as take photos. Quick turnaround on MNHS records. Both short searches and family history reports available.
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