Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-08-24
MYSTERIOUS ROX OF CANDY
Left at the Residence of Mr..
and Mrs. J. G. Charsha.
WAS PUT ON THE FRONT PORCH
Sequel to Anonymous Threat
ening Letters.


Motive fOr the IOImentor's Deed.
After having received anonymous
8 letters, many of threatening character,
= for nearly two years, Mr.. and Mrs.
James G. Charsha of No. $40 Franklin
street did not eat any of the candy
surreptitiously left on their front porch
last Friday morning. And when, later
that day, note was found in the back
yard asking Mrs. Charsha if sne liked
The candy and expressing the hore that
she enjoyed it, husband aud wife felt
they had done wisely in avoiding it.
The candy and note are but late de-
yelopment OF what appears to be a
violent case of jealousy on the part of
some person. For nearly two years
life has been made miserable for Mrs.
Charsha, her enemy telling her that
she was being killed by inches and
revenge would he had II she had to be
shot From the circumstances of tho
case, Mrs. Charsha believes the letters
and the candy were sent by one person
and that she knows who that person is.
In her opinion the anonymous letter
writer and the sender of the candy is a
woman. The matter is to be ferreted
to the bottom. Not only have letters
been sent to Mr.. and Mrs Cbarsha,
but also to acquaintance of theirs
with an evident intent to turn them
against them. Anonymous letters have
been received by the Rev. Ralph II.
4 Coursey, pastor of Harrison Street
Methodist Episcopal Church, which
the Charshas attend, Mrs. Leonard
Hail. and George ". Goodwin. Mr..
4 Charsha is a native Of Cecil county,
Md. his wife, whose maiden name
was Hall, is from Milton. They have
lived here about 13 years.
1t was week ago today that small
3china box was found in the Charsha
fyard which contained q lead colored
Ipowder and note saying: Eat today
for tomorrow you may die" 1t is not
known what the powder was.
THE BOX OF CANDY.
Last Friday morning, Mrs. Charsha
observed package on the porch and
told her husband about it. He took up
the package, opened it, and found It
about hall full of chocolates and bon
3bons sprinkled with powder. The
wrapper of the box had apparently
been torn off, leaving the plain paste
board The box bore vile name, such
as had been used in some of the letters
and inside was a sheet of paper,
(which read:
"If this don't kill, something else
swlll and you won't say that l am
Eoalous." -"
Mr.. Charshs is conductor on tho
Baltimore Il Ohio railroad, his run
1eing from Wilmington to Baltimore.
ie spends one night here and one in
Baltimore. After receiving the candy
pc arranged to change trains SO that
be could remain in town, and he and
Nlrs. Charsha carried the box of candy
70 DIR. Theodore Becker, in whose drug
tore their son, Clarence, is employed.
DR.. Becker made brief test and it is
paid, stated that there was poison in
the box.
Next the candy was taken to DR..
Frank Roop Smith, the analytical
themist, who is to report the result of
bis examination.
State Detective Walter Witsil has
flso been taken into the case.
\ After returning from their trim down
Town, the husband went into the back
Yard and found a note which had been
Folded and pinned, containing the
words:
How did you like your candy?
Hope you enjoyed it.
Mrs. Charsha says that three weeks
kgo she found beautiful hair comb
n her back yard. but threw it away.
Now she thinks it may have belonged
b her tormentor.
LETTERS FROM A JEALOUS PERSON.
In speaking of the anonymous letters,
lrs. Charsha said Monday that the
etters have informed her that the
Writer hegrudees her her home, what
he has in her home and what she
Years. A batch uf the letters received
bout two years ago were turned over
g Postmaster Hugh G. Browne, but
he postal authorities apparently
hought they contained nothing that
you'd warrant proceedings. ln some,
threats of horsewhipping were made,
md on some Sunday evenings, Mrs.
Charsha took her son to church with
ber, and on the following day would
eceive a letter containing the ques.
ion, II want to know why you take
plarence to church with your"
Pastor Coursey went to see Mrs.
pharsha about the letter the received
lnd said that he lad been told she had
Written it. She denied this and at his
equest, gave him specimens of her
handwriting. She snys Mr.. Coursey
old her he would turn her out of the
hurch if she was the writer. Mr..
marsha also had an interview with
Mr. Coursey about letter in relation
p him that was received at the Charsha
bouse.
Whoever Mrs. Charsha's enemy was,
hat person seemed to have large
knowledge Of her movements, as il she
pas continually under watch.
In some instances the letters bore
ignatures, that of colored man en-
loyed by n certain physician being
ttached to several. But Mrs. Charsha
foes not think the colored man was
Der tormentor.
DO you know of any enemies?" she
Eas asked.
YES. SIR" she replied.
Whether the investigation will prove
per suspicion to be correctly placed re-
Mains to be seen.
DIR. Frank Roop Smith Tuesday COM
Ieted his analysis of the candy and
powder which was found on the porch
James G. Charsha, No. 2l9 Franklin
treett, last Friday morning. When
sked as to the examination, he de-
lined to give any information concern
ng it, having been directed by State
Detective Witsil, to whom he had re-
ported, not to talk.
detective Witsil was also asked with
eference to the result of the tests, and
g, too, declined TO say what had been
iscovered as to the nature OF the con-
ents Of tho candy box. Tho reticence
the detective may be taken as sig