By the Associated Press
Chicago, July 6—George Peck, 49, and his son, Clarence, 24, farm hands who came to Illinois from Asheville, N.C., are held tonight in the Winnebago County jail on charges of attempted extortion in connection with the sending of a letter to Senator Medill McCormick and his wife demanding $50,000. Their hearing has been continued until Thursday.
The Peeks were taken into custody several days ago when Mrs. McCormick first reported to the authorities receipt of the letter which made no threats but simply asked that $50,000 be placed in a culvert a short distance from the McCormick’s home near Byron, Illinois. They were seized by private detectives who placed a decoy package in the culvert, but were freed when they gave a plausible explanation.
Federal authorities then started an investigation and the two suspects again were seized. A.E. Germer, chief postal inspector here, said he doubted whether the federal authorities would take action as no threats were made in the letter. He expected to confer with Edwin Olsen, United States district attorney.
From the front page of the Durham Morning Herald, Sunday, July 6, 1924
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