Anonymous extortion
letter to Joaquim de Mira, farmer, and to his wife, probably written
by a former servant of them, Hermenegildo José.
The author orders Joaquim de Mira and his wife to give him four coins and some
food for his group.
In
the first quarter of the 19th century, extortion letters became a
very typical practice. Authors threatened rich addressees with all
sorts of ruinous events in the case they didn't hand in a certain
amount of money. The frequentness of this practice was possible also
because of the political and social turmoil associated with these
first years of Liberalism.
«Mrs. Maria Joaquina and
Mr. Joaquim. I wish you are in good health, in the company of
your whole family. Mrs. Maria Joaquina and Mr. Joaquim de
Mira, you will be so kind to do what this letter orders you, with absolute secrecy, to get me on Saturday, on the 7th this
month, four coins and some bread and something to eat with it, this
is for some fellows, we're going on a trip. If you do this, you'll
prevent losses in your house, as I have prevented for you before.
About the money and the provisions I'm asking you, will you please,
on Saturday evening, when it gets dark, put everything in a bag, in
your vegetable garden, on the right side, because the place will be
watched all night. And be very cautious and discreet. If you do all
this, everything will be paid in your best interest very soon.
However, if you don't do it, or if you try to deceive me, you'll pay
with your life. Don't you dare peeking, it will be better for
you. A servant of yours, who esteems you and will keep
esteeming you a lot.»
