Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-03-28
spector read the yellow letter aloud:
III. Lock Box, II.
Ardway, N. j., Feb. 8, 1910.

Lock Box II.
Ardway, N. j., Feb. 8, 1910.
Dear Sir: d
] am writing to you in pursuance
OF my duty as executor of the late
Edwin Green, who died here recently.
leaving his entire estate, amounting to
some $880,000, in my hands for what
he was pleased to term a 'Defaulters'
fund"
can best explain it's purpose by
briefly summarizing the founders life
In his early youth Mr.. Green was en-
ployed for short time in a bank in a
small city in another state. Becoming
involved in speculation he used several
hundred dollars of the banks funds.
He had no relatives but sister, to
whom he knew it was useless to apply
for aid. AS discovery seemed inevi-
table he was contemplating suicide,
seeing nothing but prison and disgrace
ahead of him. But an old friend of
his fathers who entirely by accident
learned Of his plight, advanced him
the money he needed to make good his
defalcation, exacting from him prom
Use that he would help others in SINH
lar plight whenever he had op-
portunity
His subsequent life was of the high
est rectitude. Though he amassed a
fortune he never found opportunity to
aid any one in plight similar to the
one in which he once found himself.
1t became almost mania with him
and resulted in his leaving his entire
fortune to aid first offenders In turn
ing back into the right path.
l know of no way Of reaching the
persons he intended to aid, am send
ing out this letter to persons employ
ed in banks and positions Of trust, hop
ing that you or others who receive
it may know of some man, young or old
who has made the first misstep and is
wrongful1y using funds belonging to
Others, but is DESTROYS Of making good
his populations. If you should know
of any such will gladly make good his
defalcation and endeavor to save him
from exposure, disgrate and imprison-
ment, asking only his word that he
will not err again, for Mr.. Green, in the
deed of trust, expressly specifies that
this is the only security to be exacted.
am, sir,
Very truly yours,
#.t- Henry Malcolm Stewart.
AS Davis finished reading the letter
I took it from his hand and carefully
re.read 1t. There could be no doubt
that it was the same in form as the
scrap Louise and had found. AS !
scanned the lines, the words at the be.
ginning Of each, from the seventh on
to the thirteenth, were the same as
those over which we had racked our
brains. The context now made them
plain enough, but still failed to see
what deadly import the letter had or
what sinister meaning in it should
drive it's recipients to desperation and
suicide. Surely on its face it appeared
to present the harmless whim of an
old mans slightly unbalanced brain.
turned to Davis for an explanation.
"An ingenious letter." Davis was
saying "And they fell for it,"
A, look Of pride came into the prison
er's face.
Wasn't it great?" he exclaimed
"Why, they ate 1t up like hot cakes!"
"Just plain blackmail," said the in.
spector.
NO. indeed--fancy blackmail," said
Young Indignantly They never had
it dished up to them quite in this way
before. insist, II I've got to go to jail
for it, on at least receiving credit for q
new criminal invention"
'I fail to see," interrupted, 'just
how the letter was criminal one OF
why it should have bothered any one
'I'm afraid you will never make q
good detective" said the inspector
pityingly. Don't you see how ii
worked? Young devised this letter
He needed the cooperation of some
one in the postofice to send 1t out
without arousing suspicion. He tried
yellow letters first on General Far
IRISH to test the terrifying effects
Satisfied that his yellow letter plan
would bring results, he recalled his
acquaintance with Rouser, whom he
knew to be weak and easily led. He
returned to Ardway-his old home
and found it child's play to enlist
Rouser's services. 1t was part OF
his general scheme for Rouser to
send and receive all the mai
through a lock box with a false
name. His object in this was, to en-
able him, in case the postal or police
authorities got on his trail, to have
all the documentary evidence point
/ to Rouser alone. Before his con
nection with the letters could be es
tablished he could make his escape
with the money the letters brought
in" .....
IT still don't see," protested
. chow these letters could bring in
money. They read exactly the oppo
site. They promise to give away
money"
That's the cleverest thing about
it." the inspector said, and Young's
malevolent eyes glistened at this
tribute. Cant you see how II
worked? Young and Rouser, from
tax lists, bank directories, from tele
phone books-from variety Of
sources-compiled list Of persons
employed in positions Of trust and be
gan sending out these yellow letters
broadcast. If one of these should
reach an honest bank employe OF
cashier, the conspirators figured thai
no would Iauph at II and tear It I'D