Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-04

declare that while the man might be
in their employ, he did not recognize
the writing.
"All this took place in the presence
of the manager of the company.
thanked the chief operator for his
kindness in going over the matter,
and we both left the presence of the
manager, who expressed his regret
that he was not able to locate the
writer.
Chief Operator Gives Clew.
Outside the office turned to the
chief operator and assured him that
l had not been deceived by his state
ment that he did not know the iden-
| tity of the writer. | told him that he
did know, and that ! knew he did. At
| this positive statement the chief OPP
orator appeared very much abashed,
and promptly admitted that he did
| know the writer, but that he did not
care to involve the man in so serious
| a matter.
After some persuasion, he agreed
to introduce me to the writer when he
reported for work that evening AS
| you can imagine cid not propose to
| sleep on the job, so | kept that par
| ticular office under surveillance until
| the man was located
81 then wired Chief Willtie that l
had my man, and asked for instruc-
| tons as to what | should do with
| him. suppoSng Of course. that he
would be arrested for improper use
of the mails.
Imagine my surprise when | re-
ceiVed a telegram from the Chiet
stating that Lord Pauncefote did not
desire to prosecute. and asking me TO
turn the man loose.
"'Wh did YOU want TO do with
him? the Ambassador was asked.
"'Do with him? answered the Am
bassador I want nothing to do with
him l directed the man TO write a
letter of apology TO the Ambassador
! and dropped the case.
, Another Letter Case.
! There was another anonymous let
| ter containing valuable information,
sent to Secretary Hitchcock in the
| land fraud cases After reading it, l
said to The Secretary:
Yes, this letter was mailed in
Boston. 1t was sent there to be re-
| mailed, but it was written from the
| West The letter indicates that the
| writer has an ak to grind and 1t is
| this He is giving information about
certain persons who are selecting
lands in Oregon; unquestionably he
has lands there himself, and is being
| interfered with. Now, we will look
at the plat and see who is interested
in these Oregon lands | was well
up on the details of the plats in those
| days
I'VE found that one man was buy
| ing lands in this vicinity when he
could, and by the then popular meth
Cd, acquiring lands fraudulently from
| the Government. ] looked this man
up, and found that he had an office
| in Chicago. wrote a letter to him
| there. and asked him what he would
| tack for certain lands | knew he
| owned and | had the letter mailed
| from Portland Oregon. He replied
| to me there, and the typewriting was
| Just the same as that of the anony
! nous letter-wrtten on a typewriter
| of the same make and with a purple
! ribbon.
THE man was fiabbergasted when |
| called upon him in his office at chi
| cago and thanked him, on behalf OF
the Secretary, for the anonymous in
formation he had been giving us.
No Real Mysteries.
ITO get back to the question of
mysteries. the finding Of writers Of
anonymous letters illustrates only a
! little of what ] mean when | say
. there are no mysteries.
After you get him. the criminal
understands that he has left d track,
though he laid his plans ever 50 care
| fully. 1t all seems so smple-after-
| ward 1t always seems that the par
| ticular track left might have been
avoided.
For example, United States Sena-
tor Mitchell, Of Oregon, was convicted
Of participation in the land frauds.
Senator Mitchell's law partner. Judge
! Tanner, while being interrogated by
| Mr.. Heney stated that there was
partnership agreement drawn up at
the time of the formation Of the part-
nership between Senator Mitchell and
himself, which contained a stipulation
whereby all moneys received by the