The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-10-04
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A few days later gentleman living in
the city called on Postmaster Cowden
with similar letter, which had been
mailed to highly respectable lady, liv.
ing at Louisville, Ohio. ltso happened
that she was then in Wheeling, visiting
relatives, and she turned the letter over
TO relative, who handed it to the au.
thorities. This letter, like the other
one, contained m envelope addressed in
type writer capitals to "E. J. A. Earle
Box 2G9, Wheeling, W. Va" The en-
velops in which each was mailed also
contained on its face return request
printed in the same type writer char.
aeters, and reading, "Return to Box 200
Wheeling, West Va, II not dsliverd il
s days."
EVIDENCE ACCuMuLArEs.
Some days after this elapsed, and nc
further signs OF "Earle's" operations
were seen, until one evening Letter
carrier brought in from box on Marke
street sixteen or seventeen letters, nj
directed in typewriter, and all contain
lug "Earle's" return request.
How to use these 10 the best ad
vantage so as to secure evidence thai
would make tho mans conviction Ger
tain, was problem which Assistan
Postmaster Joseph A. MetCalf solvet
quickly. He had the stamps on all tht
letters cancelled and the postmark PLACED
on the envelope, and then enclosing
these in an outer official envelope, hI
migled them all to the postmasters Of tn
towns to which the letters were ad
dressed, enclosing with each a reques
10 hand the letter to the person to whom
addressed, with request that 1t b.
opered in the presence OF the post
master. and the enclosed enyelop1
be mailed under cover to the postmaste
here.
In large majority Of cases this re
quest was complied with, and nearly ai
OF the postmasters wroto sfpressinI
their interest in the case. and the hop
Tint the offender would be caught.
OF tthe letters sent out by "Earle," ant
returned in accordance with these re
oueste, all were in general way lik
the two before received. All yer
written in the same typewriter cqpitGlt
and all were to the same purPort. !
few were addressed 10 men, and thee
opened, "Do not become father agains
your will"
SOME CHOICE EXCERPTS.
HThis ia no snide. Honest deal. II.
us and see," one letter said.
"Worth thousands 10 you to learn GU
secrets. They never fail Under any Gil
cums.ances,' was common expression
One letter had ibis comprehensiv
proposition:
"When once q patron you can get a
the Information you want free by mai
Send by next mail 10 meet me here"
A shorter form, as follows, was use
in about half the letters received:
Do no. become mother against your vii
Send inc QUO dollar for secrets worth thousand
y Simply I'LL out the enclosed with game an
postojiicc. Send In next pail that may ~
Letters were sent under cover 10 si1
teen or seventeen towns, and satisfat
tory responses have already been recei'
cd from Moundsyille, W. Va, steubeI
vile, O., Muncie, Ind. Centrerille, Q
Quaker City, o., Yorkyille. O.. Bait
more, Nd, East Richland, @, Navarro
o., and Barnhill, o. In the case OF
few Of these towns several letters wer
sent, and responses received. .ss
EARLE LIKE AN EEL.
The next step, the web having bee
woven about the man, was to catch hin
He was evidently wary. Day after da
and night after night n close watch WI
kept by Mr.. Metcali and Deputy Unite
States Marshal Devine, to whom vi
entrusted warrant sworn out Q