The Citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1903-1912, 1912-08-31
THE HANDWRITING
ON THE WALL
The Case Of tho Anonymous Letter
Writer Of Philadelphia

because OF the apparent safety OF the
person guilty OF this nuisance A man
Of the anonymous letter writing type
has an enemy. He is afraid to face
him In the open, but he wants to hurt
him. What easier or what more safe
--apparently--than to write an un.
signed letter containing Information,
alleged or real. or SANDER, which Is
certain to cause the assailed person
harm, or at least considerable annoy
ancef
There Is a certain type of cowardly
person to whom the anonymous letter
appeals as does the yengeful stiletto to
the vicious blackhand criminal. II is
q means TO harm, and-apparently--a
safe one. What easier than to write
q few lines In a disguised hand? Or
on q typewriter? How can anybody
trace letter prepared in such way
and dropped In the mail box by stealth
and In the dark of night? True, adj
mits the letter writer to himself--or
herself for women are numerous
among this element. such letters have
been traced and their authors caught
But, reasons the intending writer, they
did not take the necessary precautions
to hide their tracks. 1t looks like a
cinch. 1t looks safe. But 1t isn't.
Any crime or misdemeanor that Will
place In the hands of trained de-
tective a piece Of writing. pen or type
writer, or piece OF printing, or, In
fact, any physical trace OF a person s
expression, is the least safe sort OF
wrong.doing In the world No sort of
wrong doing Is safe, of course. but the
kind that leaves trace OF persons
identity I'm the hands Of the men who
get on the track is the kind most GER
tain to be run down eventually.
This does not mean that 1t usually
is cinct for the detective to run
down the average anonymous letter
writer.
On the contrary II 10 usually very
hard. for the wrong. doer Invariably
has taken a multitude Of precautions
TO throw his followers of the track
-BTtVrofnt sthat tac detective ha'
In the letter tangible clue to follow
and in the end 1t ia practically certain
that the writer will be caught.
My first experience with an anony
nous letter writer came about In queer
fashion. One day q young man, who
looked the part OF the bookkeepel
that we afterwards found him to be
camo into the New York Office OF thu
Burns agency and planked down three
anonymous letters that he had receiv
ed during the past few weeks. Herr
Is one OF them that gives the gist o.
the three missives:
Dear Sir:
"You will never know who this let
ter comes from, but you may be as
sured that II is from friend. Yo'
have friend named Carlin, who u
treasurer for the Blank Heating com
pany. II you will spend more time II
Carlin's company we will reward 20,
In manner that will surprise you. OF
the condition that you let no one know
that you ever received this letter. Es
pecially do not let Carlin know"
The name of the man who brough
the letters In was Blake. He had com
TO US for advice.
I'VE aren't giving away advice,
said the once manager. III you wan
us to find who wrote those letters {
you and why they were written. We
be glad to give you q man for IS
day and expenses. II may take som
time to ind the writer. 30 your bi
probably would run up pretty high"
"Oh, I couldn't AFFORD to hire d.
tective." said Blake.
II thought not" said tho manage
And there the case ended for the tim
being.
Three months later. almost to a da
We got a call from a business hous
In a large nearby city to send a ma
over there at once. happened to g
the case. found my people to be Il
Continental Heating company. I'll
name OF the general manager WI
Haney. ! didn't like him from u
start.
Mr.. Cornell" said Haney. when
had introduced myself, I'm glad to 81
you, glad TO see you, indeed. We''
got q little matter here In this ONO
a queer matter. that we can't qui
understand. We thought We had b'
ter have a detective In to look q
thing over"
What 10 it," l asked.
For answer he turned to his de
and drew out three letters and har
ed them to me.
Those letters, Mr., Cornell, ha
been received in this Office In the Ia
two weeks" said Haney. Take
good look at them"
! did. The letters were simply
dressed Dear Sir" without the nal
OF the Arm being mentioned. Tn
were all about In the same tone. HI
Is a sample:
Dear Sir:
You are trying to land the contr'
for heating the Ave new school but
ngs. We know all about IT, Y
have made the lowest bid. You do