The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-12-21
WILD LETTERS
FROM / WOMAN
Unsigned and Containing Un-
printable Charge Stir Chicago
ONLY PROMINENT PEOPLE
Are Attacked and in a Most
Intimate Way.

Kew York. Dec. eo-The New York
World says:
Chicago has an anonymous letter writer.
Members of more than twenty families
living in the most exclusive section Of
the city have. been made victims of her
venomous attacks during the last six
years.
Now, led By, one of the leading physi-
clans of the city, government and city
officials are trying to solve the mystery
II they succeed in tearing away the
mask which SO far has hidden the writer
OF these letters. which have disrupted
families, broken engagements and has
brought unhappiness TO so many people,
will there be disclosed woman OF posi-
ton and wealth?
Or Will it be proved that the attacks
/ on the reputation of people of the high
est social standing have emanated from
the diseased brain of a less prominent
| person?
Or viii the matter be hushed up, with
out mystery being cleared away? This
is said to be the desire of those who have
been victims of the frightful scandal.
For the most part the writer of these
abominable letters has attacked persons
of position, and those who have engaged
to be married have suffered most Sc
verely \ dozen engagements were post
/ lot
and several have been brokn of. Families
have been disintegrated and scores of
people have lived in apprehensive tor
ment
Dr. Fernand Henrotin, of No. 1853 La
! Sale avenue. one Of the distinguished
physicians of Chicago, has come forth as
a leader of an accusing faction. He de-
clares the writer of these letters has made
His life d hell for years.
In answer to a long and circumstantial
statement made by Dr. Henrotin in which
he was careful TO mention no names, he
declared that he had proof that the au
thor of the letters is a young society
woman living on the north side. This
womans husband is one of the executive
officers of a steel company. She has
| ulN ~ = DOl dAA AAAblthA9iiNA A~ttAt-N I'm
Dr. Henrotin says that this young wo-
mans mind is unbalanced and he speaks
as a physician.
Mrs Horatio \. May, a woman of
wealth and the highest position in Chi
cago, has said in an interview that DR..
| Fernand has accused her sister Mrs. Fan
RE Mcintyre, and that the accusation is
! as infamous as are the letters that the
! charges are absolutely false and unsup-
ported by any evidence worthy OF cred
ence. Both Mrs. May and her sister have
| received anonymous letters
So tremendous is the sensation that has
| resulted from the charges and the denial
made by Mrs Mcintyre and her sister
! that Postmaster General Payne has taken
up the matter and ordered that report
he made at the post Office department
giving the fullest details The post Office
Inspector who has had charge OF the in
1estigation is James f. Wilson, and il
has been printed that the order Of the
acknowledgement is reflection upon
him for not summary action.
While the anonymous letters have been
received during period covering six
years, activity on the part of the police
and the post-ofice authorities twice
checked the evil, but in the beginning Of
the present year letters We're sent in
large numbers. and they were even more
vilifying.
! 1t should be explained that not all Of
the letters were unprintable- Some were
merely excessively silly. and it is plain
that these were written merely TO avert
suspicion.
The writer displayed an intimate knowl-
edge of the life of some of the victims.
The charges occasionally had founda-
ticn OF truth But the writer did not
hesitate 10 accuse young women about
tc be married of-having done most daring
things.
Wives were .old that their husbands
were leading a double lie. Husbands
were informed of the alleged misconduct
OF their wives.
one of the victims is Mayor Carter
Harrison, who received a particularly
scurrilous letter. the contents Of which
convinced him that only one Of his most
intimate friends could have been respon-
sible for it.
A prominent Dearborn avenue physician
took his family TO Canaia-a year ago ana
was delayed en- the way. When he reach
ca his destination he found thar an an
onymous writer had sent him four pos
tai cards which the hotel clerk had read
and. talked shout. The nature Of Them
vas such that the doctor was forced to
leave the hotel In order 60 escape from
the unpleasant comments OF The other
guests and his wife was so affected that
she suffered nervous prostraJion.
Not ali Of the letters have been anony-
nous; some have been forged signatures.
Tor Instance. just before Miss walsh. q
Chicago. married Graham Duheld. the
mother Of the latter Mrs Henry y. Duff
field. received ia Detroit q letter making
The viiest attack upon Miss Walsh Il
EsI SsTgiEEssEsIEIEVI