Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-11-20
UNCLE NED RAYMOND
IN OLD MIN PAST SIXTY
WROTE LETTERS TO MAMIE SELLS
THAT WOULD BE CREDITED
TO A SCHoOLBOY.
SOME VERY CHOICE EXCERPTS.
ONE OF THE SELLS NEIGHBORS
TELLS OF ARRIVAL AND DE-
PARTURE OF GUESTS.
Special to the Register.

COLUMBUS. Ohio, November ia
voice from the grave is the latest sem
sation in the famous Sells divorce
case. Old Uncle Ned Raymond, 8
gray haired grandfather, author of the
most gushing OF all of the burning love
letters sent to Mrs. Peter Sells, wife OF
the millionaire Snowman by numerous
admirers and who was generally sup
posed to have been gathered to his
fathers years. ago is coming back TO
testify in behalf OF Blessed Darling
Mamie" which is the endearing term
he used in referring to Mrs. Sells In
ali of his letters.
Word was received to-day that Ray
mond is not dead but is living with
his daughter and her children in
Omaha, Neb.
Raymonds first visit TO Columbus
was in 1880. He was then stock agent
for the Missouri Pacific railroad. He
was entertained while here by Mr..
and Mrs Sells at their home. The
Raymond series OF letters were writ
ten to Mrs. Sells In 1887 and shortly
after New Years, 1885, Uncle Ned"
as he was popularity known here, des-
appeared and he was given up for
dead. Uncle Ned's" letters were not
only poetic and passionate but equally
prolific. One wouldn't think the writer
had turned 60. Here are a few choice
excerpts taken at random from the
bunch:
Bless your dear heart, and IL could
reach you | just have an idea that my
darling would think Ned not only loves
his darling but fully appreciates this
letter. Such nice things in It, even
though you did think Ned was a little;
rough; but say, darling. don't you
worry or fret or feel hurt one particle,
for here, good big kiss first
Darling. / will tell you now that I
know more than you might think or
your married life and that all has not
been roses and sunshine and now what
/ do, all my efforts will be TO make you
forget the past and enjoy all yoQn.ean
in the future. and now as far as your
favors to others are concerned. those
things are none OF my business or any
one else's. You have and have had
that right, and darling, with your con-
fiding, loving caresses, petting kisses.
your old failings are let alone II you
have had intrigues by the dozen, 1t Is
no ones business but your own.
Now, honey. dear, am silly--aren't
I? and when | tell you OF a few more
OF my acts to get with you, guess you
will say: Ned, think you must be In
fatuated | plead guilty. as | am.
Mamie Sells is my ideal. Near or far.
rich or poor, it is all the same. A kiss
and embrace is all the same, this Is
my darling.
But, Mamie dear you never have
told me how you liked-whether you
liked to have me love you so much.
Whether you like 20 be idolIzed or
whether you just wanted Ned TO be a
strong friend. But whether you tell
me or not 1t won't make any difference
any way, only | would not talk so
much about it and make you get tired
OF It.
Say, darling. I am an old. silly
gump to love any one; say. aren't :?
and I'll bet IL you tell me truly you
think so, but ! cant help 1t. | am
but, Name, is the all in all in ali 20
me"
VIM. II. Fish. next door neighbor OF
Sells, was the first witness to-day. He
is al. the head Of the Fish Pressed Brick
Company. Fish said he saw a man
answering Lyons description enter the
Sells residence In the fall Of 1877 about
O'Clock In the evening as the witness
was going to the Shriners' banQue<.
and he saw the man leave when Fish
went home In a cab long after mid
night. He told OF other occasions
when he saw this same man come out
of the Sells residence after midnight.
Fish said Sells was not in the city at
the times he saw these things. Fish
also said he saw VIM. Bot cali AZ the
Sells home several times in the fall OF
1899. Mrs. Sells was also watching
from a rear window on this occasion.
Bott was seen to leave the Sells resi-
dence about midnight. After that Bott
started In on a series OF three or four
times a week visits Fish declared. Fish
was always sprinkling his lawn when
he saw Bot and Lyons call at the Sells
residence He sprinkled at any time
from twilight until midnight. He de-
MED that he was spying on Mrs. Sells.