The FBI, in cooperation with two Jewish brothers of this city, last night cracked an attempt by two extortioners — also brothers–to collect $200,000 from 20 Jewish families in Dallas.
After two weeks of long-distance negotiations between the alleged extortioners, James H. Jones and his brother Ralph F. Jones, and the two Jewish brothers, Julius and George Schepps, the FBI trapped the Jones brothers when one of them attempted to collect a package which was supposed to contain the $200,000.
The FBI charged that on April 29, 20 prominent Jewish families received letters which began: “You Jews to pay $200, 000. How many you Jews be dead before you pay. Acid-dynamite-fire-guns will make you pay.”
Julius Schepps was chosen by the Jones brothers, FBI agents said, to act as the collector for the money to be obtained from the other 19 families and from his family. Instead, Mr. Schepps notified the FBI and the trap was laid for the extortioners. George Schepps made contact with the Jones brothers and finally received instructions on where to leave the money yesterday. He did this and then sped away in his car, while the FBI agents closed in.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
