Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-09-11
WOMAN KILLED CORD,
PETERSON DECLARES


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Kraft. Peterson says the letter Is from
Doctor shattuck.
The paragraph OF the mlssive looked
upon as most significant is as follows:
Your friends all believe that you could
not desire the death OF your associate, on
whom YOU depended for assistance in your
deal. In my opinion. this dastardly MUIR
der was not done by business associate,
but by a Jealous man.
"It is YOUR duty to aid the prosecutor II
you can, but l suppose you dislike to ex-
pose the weakness OF your friend"
SO far Peterson has declined to give his
opinion as to who Is meant by the
friend" referred TO in the letter, and
what II indicated by "his weakness" "
The letter was mailed from New York
and Immediately after receiving II Peter
son turned It over to Prosecutor Kraft.
1t follows
Friend Olaf-Have been away since
Saturday to visit a sick niece and on my
return am surprised to hear that you are
still held: but you must be patient and
give the prosecutor time to clear this
terrible crime up and honorably release
you. The death Of Mr. Cord and your ar
rest have probably upset your business
plans. but II you will let me take Up the
Florida timber deal / will see to Il that
can be contaminated in time
THE Florida attorney apprct lated the
condition In which you have been forced
and Is doing his best, but the pagers you
sent, owing to your unfortunate arrest,
cannot be used. If you want me to see
tho Florida timber men and close with
them. II possible, upnder the agreement
to protect you as above, write me that
you are unable to renew the Florida con-
tract and must give 1t up, and have some
friend write me name of the timber COM
rany and terms of your contract and
will see them at once"
The paragraph referring to the weak
ness of your friend" follows, and the
letter concludes:
Believe In your innocence: your
friends at the proper time will come to
your aid. You must be patient and
finally demand an honorable discharge.
This Is necessary to clear your name
from the stigma of arrest and misrepre-
sentation from the papers.
yours truly"
Peterson is positive, he says, that the
letter is from Doctor Shattuck. despite
the fact that it bears no signature. He
says he can tell the writer from the
phraseology and also from his knowledge
of the Florida timber deal.
Doctor Shattuck Is the man from whom,
Peterson got an option on a big tract
or timber land IN Florida NThe physi-
clan takes care of the practice of an
other doctor in New York in the sum-
mcr months. 1t is a practice frowned on
by majority of physicians:
Peterson was asked specifically II he
thought the friend" referred to as hav-
Ing a weakness" in the letter meant
Lewis Grocer Lewis. the defaulting
Philadelphia bank treasurer. whose name
has been brought into the case. He
In the negative, and declined to
give any opinion as to the Identify of the
friend.
In this connection the Prosecutor ana
his detectives are interested in a renort
from Frank II. Miller. a Camden private
detective. to the effect that a mysterious
stranger spent several hours with Peter
son at Palmyra the Friday before Cord
was murdered. description of This
man has been given to the Prosecutor
and his men are searching for the stran-
ger The description will not be divulged
at this time.
Details Of Peterson's business transac-
tions with Cord are still trickling into
the Prosecutors office. Peterson appar-
emily told many friends and acquaint-
ances that he was "up against Il" fnan-
cially the week before the murder. but
that he expected to get a large sum OF
money soon. He tried to get one broker
to sign note that he said Cord had re-
rused to sign. Peterson, according to
'his man. seemed to be angry at Cord. A