THREATS OF DEATH IF NOT PAID $10,000

​News report, Boston Daily Globe, April 2nd, 1909. This is another story of crime, but on a somewhat lighter note as no one was physically hurt. And it all happened in the heart of North Easton village. Two Easton residents, Albert L. Wells, 17, and James McKenna, 18, along with an unnamed older accomplice, believed they had found a clever way to get hold of some money. This was at a time when rumors about the Black Hand Society were circulating. In the early 1900’s the Black Hand Society in the US usually meant Italian American immigrants in New York or nearby running organized extortion rackets. This was in the years prior to the establishment of what we call the Mafia. The two young men, still teenagers really, were apparently inspired by an older man they met at Williams’ pool hall and attempted to extort $10,000 from John Stanley Ames whose home was the Langwater estate.
A letter (mailed in Brockton) was sent to Mr. Ames threatening violence if he did not leave $10,000 in cash in a particular spot outside the Gatehouse on Elm Street. In addition, both of Mr. Ames’ houses, in Easton and Boston, would be dynamited along with his Langwater barn. Also, the life of Mr. Ames’ fiancée, Miss Nancy Filley, was threatened, as was his own, if he did not pay. The letter was signed “Black Hand.” The money was to be put near a sign that banned automobiles from the estate. The sign(s) (there were actually two) were located at the entrance to the estate on Elm Street that passed through the Gatehouse and on to the Langwater mansion.

​In their naivety the ‘boys’ did not anticipate Mr. Ames immediately travelling to Boston to engage the Pinkerton detectives. As directed by the detectives Mr. Ames cut up paper to create fake money and placed the money in an envelope under a piece of slate by the sign. William Craig, Mr. Ames’ grounds superintendent, guided the two Pinkerton detectives through the woods and into the storeroom of the Lodge/Gatehouse from where they could see the street and the ‘pick-up’ spot clearly. Mr. Ames dropped the envelope as planned and almost immediately after he left the two young men arrived, and McKenna picked up the hidden envelope. The detectives in hiding rushed out and caught McKenna as he ran down Elm Street toward the village. Wells temporarily got away.
It didn’t take McKenna long to snitch on Wells and blame the caper on Wells who had apparently offered McKenna fabulous trips to Boston, New York, and Philadelphia, once they had the money in hand. McKenna was turned over to Easton police officer Edward J. Healey and Wells was arrested the next morning at his place of work, a shoe factory in Brockton. Both were charged with threatening violence and attempted blackmail. While Wells had no history with the law, McKenna was well known to them for committing petty crimes. Although the older man from the pool hall was identified and was known to police, he had not been found or named when this article was written.
McKenna’s family was well-respected in town, and they were devastated at the news, while Wells’ single mother struggled with health issues. A very upsetting story for all involved. The young men certainly underestimated the seriousness of what they were doing and John Stanley Ames’ ability to respond quickly. McKenna had perhaps been unfairly taken advantage of, as apparently, he was easily led. The older man at the pool hall? Shame on him.
 
Anne Wooster Drury