RUSSIAN IMMIGRANT MINOR CONFESSES TO MAILING BLACKMAIL LETTERS
Boston, Massachusetts (JFK+50) On January 14, 1925, The Associated Press reports Hyman Nathanson, a 13 year old student, has confessed that he wrote "a dozen blackmail* letters" which he sent by mail to wealthy residents of the Boston area.
The boy, when grilled by postal inspectors, said he got the idea from the movies. His letters demanded money in amounts from $15 to $5000 and were signed with a variety of names.
Nathanson was born in Russia and was brought to America by relatives living in Boston. His parents are deceased.
Federal authorities returned the boy to his uncle and aunt after the confession.
*blackmail is the demand of payment of money in return for not compromising or revealing damaging information about someone.
SOURCE
"Blackmail Letters to Rich Traced To Alien Boy, 13, Spurred by Movies," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., July 14, 1925, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
