Threatening
menacing, especially with ulterior designs. By the common law of England to threaten bodily hurt is a civil injury against the person, and pecuniary damages can be recovered for interruption of a man's business through fear of such threats. Any person accusing or threatening to accuse any other person of infamous or other crimes, with the view to extort gain, is guilty of felony. Similar provisions are made against sending or delivering any letter threatening any house, ship, etc., or to wound or maim cattle; sending or delivering any threatening letter demanding any property or valuable. Any person who maliciously sends or delivers, knowing the contents, any letter threatening to kill or murder any person, or to burn or destroy any coal breaker, house, barn, or other building, or any rick or stack of grain or other agricultural produce, in most States is considered guilty THREE RIVERS of a misdemeanor, and on conviction is liable to fine and imprisonment. The English statutes on this subject have been adopted in the United States generally.