Evening star., 1900-08-07
Chief Wilkie Talks of Those He Has
Received.
A MAN PURSUED BY EDISON
Financial Suggestions From Those
Having That Hobby.
UNDER MAGIC INFLUENCE

II was at my home the other day." said
Chief Wilkie of the secret service, when
was informed that man wanted to see
me. / went to the door and, after the
usual greetings, the man asked me II he
could talk with me few minutes / took
him to a private place, and the first ques-
tion he asked me was whether l knew
Thomas A. Edison. l replied in the affir-
NATIVE and the man told me this story:
Edison is after me. He has pursued me right
along with his wireless telegraphy and has
run me out Of nearly every job have had.
1 now feel the electricity buzzing around my
head. and every time 1 have ever been near
Edison the electricity would almost kill me.
| at first thought it was all due to drink
ing. but since | have stopped drinking the
electricity in my head continues. l do not
trlnk II Is fair that man should use his
talent in any such way, and l have come
to you to see If something can't be done.
A NeutralizinE Suggestion.
"All during the talk" continued Chief
Wilkie, 1.-The man looked a me in the most
serious and earnest manner. I, of course,
saw that he was crank before he had
spoken many sentences, and the question
with me was what to say to him to give
him the most satisfaction. thought oc
CURED to me. l asked him if he knew
Tesla. the great rival of Edison. He said
he did. Then l told him that Tesla could
get satisfaction for him. l told him If he
would just explain to Tesla what Edison
was trying to do to him Tesla would build
hlm an instrument that would neutraliZe
Edison's electricity and would defeat all of
Edisons plans. The mans face actually
beamed with pleasure when l unfolded this
plan TO him, and declared that he would
write to friend at once and put the plan
in operation. He went away satisfied"
Chief Wilkie had been talking of cranks
and of his experiences with them since he
became chief of the secret service In his
office in the treasury building Chief Wilkie
has small case devoted to letters from
cranks. Many cranks write to him and
some of them keep up a regular correspon-
dence.
Now. here's an old friend" said Chief
Wilkie. who has been writing US at inter
walls for year or more. His hobby Is
finance l was sorry to see that he ran
down TO Philadelphia short time ago from
his home in New Jersey and because of
some minor misbeha vior was arrested He
had a big pistol on his person and was sent
to Jail for carrying concealed weapons.
Some time ago me wrote me as follows: In
connection with the financial policy which
from time to time l have outlined to Presi-
dent Mckinley, Secretary Gage and others,
let me suggest that the treasurer call in all
States notes.
Crank on Finance.
Another letter from this financier crank
was as follows: Are the bonds you have
purchased coin or gold bonds? Do you
not think you are paying too much for
them? Coin bonds should be bought for
seventy-five C5) in gold? Has not Roths-
childs lost confidence in this government?
Is 1t not he who is offering these bonds?
II you refuse to buy cannot agents buy
them at par? Hold off. Offer to paw for
them in United States notes. Is there really
any silver and gold in the treasury? Kind
ly send me statement of condition of the
treasury. -
plot to blow up all the government
buildings. kill the President and all public
officials was revealed to Chief Wilkie in a
!Sl letter from crank at Cleveland, Ohio.
The writer said that forty anarchists had
left Tor Washington and would do their
dastardly work the next day. He implored
the officials to be on the lookout. The funny
part of the letter was that if there had
been such plan 1t could have been car
ried out before the letter arrived as the
writer had forgotten to mail the letter for
lhfee days after ne had written 1t.
A Profound Statement
Sometimes there is absolutely no connec-
ton in the ideas sought to be conveved nv
the writer. In Atlantic City is a crank of
this kind. He thinks himself student so
profound that none understand his ideas.
NIitIhs 10 Chle1 Wllkle, occasionally un-
derscoring some phrase or sentence he
says: Will you pardon this liberty? Still
thought 1t best to state a few facts and
thought 1t takes very secure place to
Keep secret One of my lines of study
Is shooting arrows l have wandered on
In the forest OF study, concerning Column
bia' that l seem to be at home with you ALL
but awakening to conditions of nv circum-
stances-you are all lost-as knowing you,
Tor recommendation. To clear the atmos-
phere a little | inclose photo of my two
SIGNATURES am the same person, full sig
nature special. short-writing and stamp
business, and partly special to some extent
l mean The full signature to a letter NAV
mean some Importance as to Information,
may be considered as an arrow of a
diplomatic character shot in the right di-
rcctiOn."
From Chattanooga, Tenn, Chief Wilkie
mas been receiving letters from a man who
says he Is under "a magic influence" and
he wants detectives sent to clear the whole
matter up.