The sun., 1897-01-18
PARK CAPTAIN pESTERED.
A BUsHEL OF LETTERS FROM A
DIsTRA UGHT WOMAN

For Three Years she Has Been WarpinE
His TO watch and Prevent n Mature
Lady Regarded as Good Looking from
| Drowning Herself In Pnrk Lake.
Capt. Collins OF the Park police has in his
possession more than 100 letters from the same
writer. and all to the same effect. namely:
| "Watchi Watchi and don't let n lady OF
mature age, who is regarded as good looking.
| drown herself in any OF the Park lakes"
Capt. Collins has destroyed at least 100 letters
| from tho same writer for lack OF storage room.
II was about three years ago. In early sum-
mer. that the Captain received the first letter OF
! the lot. 1t was n well.written epistle. without
| date or signature. and was In q woman's hand
| 1t was addressed to the Captain or Sergeant
OF the Park Police" und ran rs follows:
| "A lady of mature age. slight OF build. and
one who Is regarded good.looking. who dresses
well and In good taste. is determined to seek
death In one OF the lakes of Central Park. Her
| purpose is formed and 1t may be difficult to
prevent her from putting ~ In execution. But
she must be prevented; her life must be saved.
| You will please instruct your officers to be es-
pccially vIgilant See that they patrol the lakes
with diligence. Guard all dangerous points,
| especially at the boat house"
The same day q postal card came. in the same
handwriting. stating that the letter had been
( sent, and summarizing Its contents.
| When the next patrol went out Capt Collins.
as matter OF routine. cautioned the officers In
n general wny to LOOK ont for would be suicides.
The next day he received two letters In tho
| same handwriting and In the same strain.
| Thereafter for several months scarcely day
passed that one or more letters did not come.
| with postal cards between letters. After the
"oae hundred dollars reward 10 any oficer or
| other person who will arrest or prevent from
drowning In one OF tne lakes Of Central PARK"
In one of those letters. mandatory In tenor.
was the injunction that tho Captain should not
largely. but shouln impress upon the Park
Lommi. .ioners that they should at once fence
under constant surveillance. Another letter.
hlled with exclamation points, directed tbo
Captain to order out a force OF men Immediately
and drag the Park lakes.
More than a year had passed since the first
letter. when; one day. Capt Collins received a
and what purported to be the name of a lady OF
mature age. regarded good Looking; The ap.
ta'n sent All officer to the address given. and II
was found to De "A dry goods store. No one there
knew any one OF the maine given in TIE letter.
For some time after this most of the letters re-
ceived from the unknown bore on the envelopes
the letterbeai and return address ~ the store.
one day little more thar year ago slight,
yelled. called at the Arsenal 30 see Capt. Col.
Mrier os The ieiisr, and that Ii il was her sister
apo4, whom ST.. shs gss as .oistoTs' ;d ,r,.,
to take her life by drowning In one OF the Cen
every Ffs oihsr @ pon and i1 not w.h to Fsy bsye
fear she may some day be tempted past resist
ance. so have taken the pretautlon OF address
iug you upon the subject"
The woman then made minute inquiry aoout
the depth of water In the sevcru! lake., the more
dangerous points especially the place known a.
THE Lock" showing much familiarity Win
the Topography and physical features of the
! PARK. Sue then delivered the Injunction con-
talned In the letters and went her way
| The Captain. OF course. suspected that she
/ was not only the letter writer but the lunaiic
For almost year after this visit no more letter.
were received. Then they broke out again, aud
| the Captain was almost showed under. gettiuL
| two three even four letters a day with accom-
! panying postal cards. Letters came by specia
messenger As well n posi-. Letters were found
| In the patrol boxes. tucked under the doors o
sub.stAtIons. and tossed in at open Windows. al
J Of tLe same general tenor and varying little II
( phrasrplogy. Dozens Of them were tossed a-id
/ unopened and destroyed. Sti!I they poured II
ana they Afe still coming.
Watch. Watch" Il the reiterated iniunc
tion. "Sre viii come some day some tint
wren least expected. says one recent letter
The Ice may prevent for time. but. never
theless. she will come. IL may be in the morn
, lug hour: II may be at noont.de, or II may b
when tie shadows fail at even. but she viii
come. Watch for her. Watch
I've no idea who this woman H." said Capt
Collins yesterday. but presume she IA som
one who is on on tho subject Of suicide b
drowning. We cannot arrest her; II Is Anuisanc
} OF kind not comprehehded in the code