Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-10-05

\ Glspatch from Lewiston, NC, 10
the New York SIN says:
Last winter the Sun told how Leon
ard Bennett OF Gray'5 Corners was be-
ing strangely prosecuted by some un-
known person who persisted in sending
him love letters. After while the un-
known sweetheart became enraged be-
cause Mr.. Bennett did not reciprocate
her affections, and threatened to kill
him.
Mr.. Bennett accepted the love letters
without grumbling, but when the
threat against his life was made he was
scared, and notified his wife and the
police. He confessed that forty years
AGO lie had been sweet on Il young
maiden who is now Mrs. Persis Hodg-
don. She lives at Lewiston now, and
has been able to lay aside a snug little
sum Of money through her successful
management of n boarding house. The
letters which Mr.. Bennett received told
many things about the past which con-
vinced him that Mrs. Hodgdon knew
something about them.
The mysterious sweetheart vented
her spite By stoning Mr.. Benefits
house at night, and Mrs. Bennett told
startling stories of narrow escapes she
had from would-be assassins.
These little pleasantries caused ter
ror in the Bennett household, and the
occurrences were the talk Of the town.
Mrs. Hodgdon was accused of being
the author of the missives, but she in
dignantly denied the charge, and offer
ed such a good alibi that the police
were nonplussed. Still the letters con-
tinued to come and the house was bonn
bardcd just the same. There was
lull during the spring and summer, but
few days ago Mr.. Bennett found am
other letter in front OF his door when
he went cut in the morning. 1t was
written in the same hand as was the
other letters, but the bottom of the let
ter was illegible
Mr.. Bennett could only read the
words "Mr. dear Lennic." lie trans
lated the word "cill' to mean 'kill,"
and inferred that it was another threat
against his life but he couldn't read
it. y ncighbor was consulted, but he,
too, was unable TO deciphcr the mis-
sivc.
Mrs. Bennett joined her husband and
neighbor and asked what they were
talking about. Mr.. Bennett told her
he had received another letter. Cant
YOU read it?" his wife inquired. Mr..
Bennett said he could not, and said that
the neighbor was unable to read it.
l. l. 1c4 to-. y ,naI
it without hesitation. Her husband
was startled by the thought which was
suggested by the ncighbor's significant
wink. The letter was absolutely 4
senseless scrawl. 1t could not have
been read so easily unless the person
had o previous knowledge OF the con-
tents.
Mrs. Bennett saw the startled look on
her husbands and neighbor's faces, and
asked what they were staring at. Then
she asked if they thought she was in
sane, and continued Il am perfectly
willing to have my noddle examined >
The upshot of the matter is that DR..
1icAliistcr, the family physician, says
that Mrs. Bennett is insane, and the po-
lice claim that all the letters ard threats
were written by her.
Although the house and family were
closely watched, she had managed to
cyade the police, and threw the stones
that mystiiicd the ncighborhood. No
suspicion has rested upon Mrs. Bennett
until the present time. Why her in
sanity should have taken such turn
is uneXplainable.