The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-07
Topeka Preacher Victim Of Mis-
taken Identity.
Rev. A. Wyman Receives Cigar
Containing Loaded Cartridge.
MEANT FOR ANOTHER.
rushing Of Package Reveals
the Plot.
Postal Authorities VIII Try to
Solve Mystery.

The Topeka postofice authorities
are investigating the sending of an
internal machine" through the mails
from Omaha, Neb., to "A. Wyman.
Topeka, Kan" The package arrived on
Wednesday and was naturally deliv-
cred to the well known Unitarian min
lister of this city, whose home is in
Potwin.
When Rev. Mr.. Wynan opened the
bundle. he found three cigars, but
without accompanying card or note,
designating the name of the sender.
The address was crude and apparently
in a woman's handwriting. One of the
cigars had fortunately been crushed in
the handling of the mail, and in that
way the plot was discovered.
This cigar when broken open was
found to contain a 80 caliber loaded
cartridge imbedded in the center, with
the lead pointing towards the mouth.
Whether the bullet would have been
discharged if the cigar had been light
ed, is of course a matter of conjec-
ture, but there is little doubt that it
would had the cigar been smoked.
There was nothing about it to indicate
that it was meant as joke.
Mr.. Wyman at once went to the
postofice and displayed the package
and its contents. The matter was Ia
ken up for investigation. 1t was fOun d
upon looking through the postof1ce di-
lrectOry, that there was formerly a man
living in this town by the name of A
]. Wyman. Some of the people who
remember him, say they have a sort of
hay recollection that he had trouble
with his wife, and that they separated.
There is no "A. 7. Wyman" in the city
directory.
The story of conjugaI difficulties be-
tween "A. J. Wyman' and his wife,
hinges in nicely with the remainder of
the story. For quite long while past
Rev. Mr.. Wyman has been the re
cipient of letters, at times in a man S
handwriting, and at times written by
a woman, from Devils Lake and Sioux
Falls, s. D. All of them were ad-
dressed to "A. Wyman, Topeka, Kan,
and naturally the Unitarian minister
found them among his mail Most of
the letters were of an obscene nature,
telling of the disreputable actions of
his (Wyman's) wife. They contained
lively descriptions of paramouring
with other men. and told of the fast
gait she was setting in the towns
wherever she landed Mr.. Wyman
has probably received a half dozen
such epistles.
IS These, however, did not worry the
Unitarian preacher. There was one
very good reason why they should not.
At first he thought the letters were
simply the work of some friendly
joker. But they came with such fire.
quency that he became annoyed and
e
They treated the matter as a joke, but
the weird tales from Dakota did not
let up, and Mr.. Wyman was about
on the point of having the matter
looked into.
When on Wednesday of this week
he received the bullet-loaded cigar, he
made up his mind at once to- turn the
whole thing over to the postoh1ce au-
thorities. When it was found that a
man by the name of A. J. Wyman
formerly lived here. and stories were
told of trouble with his wife, those
interested in the matter at once made
up their minds that it was a case OF
mistaken identity.
United States postoffice inspectors
have taken hold of the evidence and
letters in the case, and will at once
Wyman does not want to be an in
nocent sufferer for some other per-
sons foolhardiness, though in this case
he was safe enough for he does not
smoke.
It is likely that the senders win be
easily found. The letters came from
Devils Lake and Sioux Falls in South
Dakota and the package from Omaha,
Neb. The latter was addressed in a
were addressed apparently by several
different persons, both men and wo-
men. One letter bears every ear-mark
of having been written by one of the
latter sex.
A recent letter told of the intention
of "Mrs. Wyman," as she is called re-
peatedly in all the epistles, to remove
came from that town, it is plain that
the whole business had been practically
done by one person.
--@r