New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-09
Graves, Who Through News
papers Said He'd End Life if
He Didn't Get Job, Be-
comes a Promoter.
HE MIMEOGRAPHS APPEALS
Once He Penned Literary
Man" Begging Letter to
Mrs. Sage, Splitting
Infnitive in Plea
for Cash.

NltDln lIlC last lew uiN : ptNNtViA -''
and 800 prominent New Workers, in
ending bankers, educators, clergymen.
publishers. merchants and women well
known Tor their philanthropy, have
been surprised 10 receive letters from
Harry VI. Graves. the cripple who
wrote to the New York newspapers last
March saying he would commit suicide
if he could not find Job and who later
declared he had no idea Of committing
spicide. but had used the newspapers
as means to attract the attention of
theatrical managers TO a couple OF
PLAYS he had written.
The latest work from his pen, Jr
rather from a mimeograph machine -
a 600 word appeal for subscriptions %
the stock Of the Straight Edge Indus
trial Settlement which is a holding
company for the Straight Edge Indus
tries. described as "a cooperative in
dustrial enterprise" by its founder
Wilbur +. Copeland The letter has
brought in S2O1 to date.
The language Of this last letter, the
first edition Of which consisted Of three
hundred copies-and Graves says there
NAV be more-is in the same style as
the suicide" letter TO the newspapers,
with the same talk of aluuism, Chris
tanity. philanthropy and ethics. In he
course Of an investigation a reporter
for The Tribune discovered that as far
back as 1909 Graves wrote a letter.
much on the same order as the one 10
the newspapers last March, to Mrs.
Russell Sage.
Frenzied Letter to Mrs. Sage.
In fact. Graves wrote three letters 10
Mrs. Sage. appealing for funds. The
first was sent in January, 1909. when
Graves posed as a novelist, who had
attained some degree Of literary sue
cess and asked for loan. With this
letter he inclosed his photograph,
which was returned without comment
Then Graves wrote, under date Of
February 10. 1909, TO Mrs. Sage, say
ing he would commit suicide and that
he had just finished book, whose last
chapter would contain a copy Of the
letter he wrote 20 Mrs. Sage, and
description Of the destruction Of the
last shred Of hope in my life, whica
hope was killed by your wOrdless ig-
uoring Of my appeal"
This letter was sent from Los An
celes. where Graves was then living
j read in pdrt:
In a short time ! am going to com
nit suicide. as ! am at last convinced
that there is nothing In life for me.
Il am going to leave behind me the
manuscript Of a book ] have written.
in which have described the futile ef-
forts Of a. worthy cripple to enjoy some
~ that which is called philanthropy
lnasmuch as | have attained some de-
gree Of literary success while living,
am sure that this most unique of books
will be- published after my self desuuc-
ton.
"A few weeks ago ] appealed TO you
for aid. the like Of which appeal l am
sure you receive but few. The only re-
ply received was the return Of my pho
iograph. .. ! presume the letter
never reached you, but that it was
tossed into wastepaper basket re-
gardless Of whether the supplicant kills
himself or not ] presume the secre-
tary followed your instructions, but
an loath 70 DO YOU an injustice There
fore, before allowing my book 10 go be-
fore the world as a testimony Of the
fact that YOU whose reputation for
genuine philanthropy is so great, will
allow one Of the most sensitive souls
that ever lived outside Of novels to de-
Continued on fourth page. third column.