St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-19
ANONYMOUS LETTERS.
A Vestryman of Trinity Church De-
tected Sending Improper Epistles
to August Belmont's Family.
Mr.. Belmont Asks the Scoundrel to Resign.
but Refuses to Push the Matter
Further.
Especial Telegram to the clone. /

Trinity church, has within a short time re-
signed from that body. In speaking of his
resignation he said 10 q number of friends
ina acquaintance that be had resigned be-
cause OF reasons purely personal. mem
Der of the Union club, of
which Mr. Braem is a member, stated that
Mr. braem had become known as the author
OIL various anonymous letters of a scurrilous
Character which had been received by mem
oers of August Belmont's family during the
last few years. Mr. Belmont, this member
represented, had fastened the matter on Mr..
Braem through the assistance of private
detective. Additional particulars were soon
supplied. Mr.. Belmonts detective, it was
asserted, had discovered in Boston the wo-
man who, under instructions from Mr..
Braem, had written the Objectionable letters,
and she had been forced TO betray the name Of
her employer. The discovery of Mr.. Braem's
connection with anonymous letters was
stated and accepted as the explanation of
his sudden and otherwise unaccountable re-
tirement from his position as a Trinity
church vestryman. Mr.. Belmont is an
Episcopalian and member OF Ascension
church in Fifth avenue. 1t was generally
understood to-day that Mr.. Braem's resig-
nation was handed in in response TO Mr..
Belmont's demand.
The story was common talk at the club.
In the Union club it was naturally much
discussed. Mr.. Braem has a number Of
friends in the club who talked freely, and
several members, who have evidently talked
with Mr.. Belmont on the subject, told all
they knew.
These anonymous letters have been re-
eeived at different intervals, sometimes Of
weeks aud often of months. The handwrit-
Ing in them was not at all characteristic. 1t
was smooth, round and feminine. Neither
the paper used nor the envelopes afforded any
clue. The paper was OF different style, and
the envelopes of different size. Three years
ago Mr.. Belmont, having exhausted his own
resources as a detective, without achieving
any special result, called in the services Of
professional. This man took the CORES
pondence, heard the story, and went to works
He submitted the letters to an expert in
chirography, and was told that the hand
writing was probably that Of a woman copy
list. Every woman copyist who advertised or
made known her business in any public
manner was put nderfsurveillance. Months
passed, and the detective met with no sue
cess. In the meantime the anonymous letters
still continued to come. At last the detective
concluded that they we're written by cOpyist,
and the search was to great
extent abandoned. The detective, how
ever, gave the case occasional
attention, pursued his acquaintance among
women copyists as he had leisure, and re-
Gently was rewarded for his quest.
Up to this point those who tell the story
agree. Beyond this they do not agree, and
each story teller delights TO hazard his own
conjectures. At any rate, the much sought
copyist was found. 1t is stated that she
freely confessed herself the amanueusis
in the case, but professed entire
ignorance as to who her employer was.
He had called on her with the copies of
the various letters, and when the work was
done had paid her, and had taken both the
original and her copy away. The only thing
to do was to wait, and the waiting was kept
up for sometime, with the result now known.
On receiving the information, Mr.. Belmont,
it is understood, Immediately called on Mr..
Braem, who confessed to his participation in
the transaction and gave Mr.. Belmonta con-
fession in writing 1t was at this interview
that Mr.. Belmont made the sugges-
ton that Mr.. Braem should resign
from the vestry of Trinity church,
and Mr.. Braem promised to comply with the
suggestion. Mr.. Braems resignation was
handed in several days ago and took effect
on Saturday last.
Mr.. Braem's house is at No. Is East
Thirty-Sixth street. He was seen there by
representative of the GLOBE and asked
whether or not he would sey anything con-
corning his reasons for Withdrawing from
Trinity church. He refused to speak on the
subject at all. Mr.. Braem is tall and fine
looking man, with black hair and moustache.
He is rather slight in figure aud speaks with
much rapidity. He looks to be scarcely forty
yeals of age, but he is really some ten years
older.
Mr.. Belmont also refused to say anything
for publication. Those who are known to be
friendly with Mr.. Belmont assert that he
has expressed disinclination TO push the
matter any further.
The question Of Mr.. Braem's expulsion
from the Union club was canvassed widely
among the members to-day.
"a man who writes anonymous letters
should certainly be expelled from any respec-
table organization" said one member. ''No
one could feel safe to be a member of the
same club with a man like that. How
could you know when he would take it into
his head to begin with members of your own
family? If such man was not put out forth
with should resign from the club at once,
and sacrifice all its privileges without a
murmur."
1t was suggested that Mr.. Braem had COM
mitted the offense com planned of entirely out
side of the club.
1.-The offense was committed by a member
Of the club, and is fully covered by the
section of the clubs constitution,
which treats of adequate causes for
expulsion. Mr.. Belmont will certainly be
sailed upon to tell the governing committee
what he knows concerning this affair, and
when it has been fully proven that Mr.. Braem
has been writing anonymous letters, no mat
ter what their character may be, he will,
without the slightest shadow of doubt, be
ANONYMOUSLY dismissed
The character of Mr.. Braem's offense in
he eye of the law was also generally dis
'.ussed. Some years ago a man addressed
Number of anonymous letters to Rev. DR..
Morgan Dix. He was finally caught, but 1t was
found that then his offense was not punisha-
Die because no offense of the kind was men
ioned in the statute books.
"a bill was passed by the legislature DUR
Ing the next winter, 'said DR.. Dix, yesterday,
(which was called the Dix prosecuting bill,
and which made the sending of anonymous
letters OF harassing nature an offense under
The law. The man who prosecuted me was
not punished because OF that persecution,
but it was discovered that he was forger