A selection of headlines from 1960, when an attempt was made to blackmail Dr. Robert D. Spencer, of Ashland, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, for performing “illegal operations” [abortions].
Dr. Spencer was acquitted in a jury trial in January 1955 for performing an abortion on Mrs. Lillian Frie of Pottsville, and again was acquitted in January 1959 for performing an abortion on Mary K. Davies of New York. Charges were not brought against Dr. Spencer for whatever information the blackmailer had in 1960 that he threatened to present to the Schuylkill County district attorney. However, charges were brought against Dr. Spencer and three others in 1966 for performing an abortion on an unnamed woman. Those charges were quashed by the court because Dr. Spencer’s records were seized without proper authority. For more on the charges and trials, see: The Abortion Trials of Dr. Robert Spencer.
The blackmailer, Donald Lee Tilburg, was arrested and charged. In August 1960 he was convicted and part of his sentence was a requirement that he get psychiatric treatment.
Dr. Spencer died at Ashland in January 1969.
The story is told here through newspaper articles of the time.
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From the Shamokin News-Dispatch, 17 May 1960:
MAN HELD ON 3 BLACKMAIL COUNTS
A Williamsport man was charged today with three attempts to blackmail a physician.
The three counts were filed by state police against Donald L. Tilburg, 45, at an arraignment before Justice of the Peace Edgar Eschenbaugh in Loyalsock Township, Lancaster County.
State police said the intended victim of the alleged blackmail was Dr. Robert Spencer, Ashland. Investigators said the physician received a letter April 12 threatening to give information to the Schuylkill County district attorney about alleged illegal operations.
Spencer turned the letter over to postal authorities who called in state police. The letter instructed Spencer to put $15,000 in $100 bills, at a highway rest stop on Route 15 south of here.
State police placed the money in the designated spot and kept it under surveillance, reporting the suspect was a frequent visitor but made no attempts to pick up the money. The money was retrieved when the suspect stopped coming to the spot.
Investigators said a second letter was received by Spencer April 26 and a third April 18, in which demands for the money were renewed. State police picked up Tilburg at his home Monday and said they found a typewriter which matched the print on the threatening letters and stationery of the same type used in the notes.
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From the Sunbury Daily Item, May 17, 1960:
ASHLAND MEDIC’S BLACKMAILER HELD
WILLIAMSPORTER ACCUSED DR. SPENCER OF ILLEGAL OPERATIONS
State police today charged a Williamsport man man with blackmail of an Ashland physician.
The charges were filed before Justice of the Peace Edgar Eschenbaugh, of Loyalsock Township, against Donald Lee Tilburg, 45.
Capt. John C. Grey, of the Montoursville state police barracks, said apprehension of Tilburg ended an investigation that began April 12.
Grey said a blackmail letter was sent that day to Dr. Robert Spencer, of Ashland, telling him to hide $15,000 in $100 bills at a roadside park on U. S. 15 just south of Williamsport by April 25. Spencer turned the letter over to postal authorities who notified state police.
Police said no one picked up the money. Subsequently, two other threatening letters were sent to Spencer. The investigators noticed that Tilburg frequented the park, though he did not claim the money.
Tilburg was arrested. Grey said that at his home police found a typewriter and stationery matching those used in the letters to Spencer.
Grey said the letters threatened to accuse Spencer of making illegal operations.
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From the Shamokin News-Dispatch, May 17, 1960, United Press International Story:
ARRAIGN SUSPECT IN BLACKMAIL TRY
WILLIAMSPORT, Pennsylvania (UPI) – A Williamsport man was arraigned today on charges of attempting to blackmail a physician of $15,000.
The suspect was arrested Tuesday and pleaded innocent at a preliminary hearing, and was committed to the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $5,000 bail.
State Police accused Tilburg of writing three anonymous letters to Dr. Robert Spencer in which he threatened to expose a number of illegal operations allegedly performed by the physician unless the money was paid.
Tilburg was arrested at a roadside park on Route U. S. 15 south of here following more thana month of investigation.
Capt. John C. Grey of the Montoursville State Police barracks said a typewriter and stationary [sic] matching those used in the letter to the doctor were found in Tilburg’s home.
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From the Shamokin News-Dispatch, May 18, 1960:
MAN ARRAIGNED IN BLACKMAIL CASE
Donald Lee Tilburg, 45, was arraigned today on charges of attempting to blackmail an Ashland physician of $15,000.
The suspect was arrested Tuesday and pleaded innocent at a preliminary hearing, and was committed to the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $5,000 bail.
State police accused Tilburg of writing three anonymous letters to Dr. Robert Spencer in which he threatened to expose a number of illegal operations allegedly performed by the physician unless the money was paid.
Tilburg was arrested at a roadside park on Route 15 south of Williamsport following more than a month of investigation.
Captain John C. Grey, of the Montoursville State Police barracks, said a typewriter and stationery matching those used in the letters to the doctor were found in Tilburg’s home.
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From the Scranton Times, May 18, 1960, Associated Press Story.
BLACKMAILER ARRESTED BY STATE POLICE
WILLIAMSPORT, Pennsylvania (AP) – State Police yesterday charged a Williamsport man with blackmail of an Ashland physician.
The charges were filed before Peace Justice Edgar Eschenbaugh, of Loyalsock Township, against Donald Lee Tilburg, 45.
Capt. John C. Grey, of the Montoursville State Police Barracks, said apprehension of Tilburg ended an investigation that began April 12.
Grey said a blackmail letter was sent that day to Dr. Robert Spencer, of Ashland, telling him to hide $15,000 in $100 bills at a roadside park on U. S. 15 just south of Williamsport by April 25. Spencer turned the letter over to postal authorities who notified State Police.
The police said no one picked up the money. Subsequently, two other threatening letters were sent to Spencer. The investigators noticed that Tilberg frequented the park, though he did not claim the money.
Tilberg was arrested. Grey said that at his home, police found a typewriter and stationary [sic] matching those used in the letters to Spencer.
Grey said the letters threatened to accuse Spencer of making illegal operations.
The above story was also found in the Clearfield (Pennsylvania) Progress, May 19, 1960, with the following headline: STATE POLICE CHARGE WILLIAMSPORT MAN WITH BLACKMAILING DOCTOR.
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From the Sunbury Daily Item, May 20, 1960:
ALLEGED BLACKMAILER RELEASED UNDER BAIL
Donald Lee Tilburg, of Williamsport, arrested by state police on charges of attempted blackmail of an Ashland doctor was held for court following a hearing Wednesday morning. He was released under $5000 bail. The arrest was made after Tilburg allegedly went a threatening letter to Dr. Robert D. Spencer, of Ashland. Dr. Spencer was present at the hearing.
Dr. Spencer received a letter which demanded he take 150 $100 bills to the roadside rest on top of Montgomery Pike and place the money in a can, under a stone marked with an “X” near the men’s rest room. The money was to have been delivered by April 25. The doctor received another letter, at a later date, telling him to put the money in a plastic bag and leave the package at the same spot by April 30.
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From the Sunbury Daily Item, August 13, 1960:
SENTENCE SUSPENDED ON WILLIAMSPORT MAN
Psychiatric treatment and a suspended sentence were given to a Williamsport man who was accused of attempting to blackmail an Ashland doctor. Sentence was passed Thursday by Judge Charles S. Williams in Lycoming County Court.
Donald L. Tilburg, 45, of Williamsport, must pay $75 to the county plus $32.50 costs and was placed on probation for 18 months. In addition, he must visit a psychiatrist within two weeks. Tilburg was accused of trying to extort money from Dr. Robert D. Spencer, of Ashland, by threatening to use damaging information against the physician, who is the sone of a former district attorney of Lycoming County, William H. Spencer, Esq.
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