Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-09-02
Bundle of Water-Soaked
Letters Found on Man Re-
veal He Tried to Win Wife
Back
BY MARGARET DALE
Ieased Wire Service to The Journal.)
(Convripht 1900


Copyright, 1927
CHICAGO, Aug. 31.-A bundle Of
water-soaked letters, found on the
body Of William M. Talcott, bitter
foe and ultimate victim of the love
cult of Albert J. Moore and his Life
Institute, revealed today tragic
struggle between husband and wife
and the wreckage of home brought
about through acceptance by Mrs.
Talcott of Moore's teachings.
The body Of Talcott, his pockets
weighted with stones, was found late
yesterday in Lake Michigan. Posi-
tive identification by the wife and
his sister confirmed the fear that
Talcott, who had been missing frou.
home for a week, was the unidenti-
fed man who had leaped from the
deck of lake excursion steamer.
The letters in the dead mans
pocket, written to his wife, and from
her, told in terms of pathetic endeaJ-
ment how Moore's hypnotic influence
over Mr.. Talcott had shattered their
home, wrecked their domestic hap
piness, and finally caused The hus-
band, in despair, to seek his death.
For four months the couple hal
been separated. Now, completely
Frustrated by the death of her hus-
band, Mrs. Talcott finds no solace
in. the teachings Of the cult which
brought about their estrangement
and bemoans the day when Moore's
influence first entered her life:
"My darling Will, for you are ali
of that to me and neither God no.
man can make you otherwise" reads
| one of the dim, discolored letters in
Mrs. Talcott's handwriting, under
date of July %, last.
ct love you as I never believed
I was capable of loving any one,
and I ache to to go straight to YOU
arms" the letter continued. I'm a
peculiar way, which you and I will
already in your arms though I am
far away from you physically. Bur
every time that 1 am just full of
love for you and would go straight
| into your arms and heart, and both
of us would be very happy, you re-
pei me and I am forced to keep
away.
81 am considering your request to
give up the Life Institute eve1,
though it is the one thing in the
world that have most wanted, and
| though it satisfies me as nothing
| else has ever done. l am willing
| to give it up if that is the best thing
| for us both and the children.
know have been away from home
| more than I should be, but I feel
you love and trust me just the
same if you could only know what
| this work is to me. If I could find
a flaw in the religious side of it !
would be willing to quit now, but
can not help but believe that it is
the truth. Take the fourteen points
which are the basis of all we teach
Which ones do you find holes in and
where are the holes? Write your an
swers that 1 can look them over
calmly, dispassionately. I need your
help now as 1 never did before.
| (Signed) seriously and lovingly,
| SHIRLEY"
A carbon copy of the answer be-
gins: Dearest Shirley" and begs
her kindly to "renounce this fanati-
cism and return to me and the chill
dren," and continues:
| OnleSS you QeClQS very soon 10
abandon the institutes responsible
tics you have shouldered so long,
and at such frightful cost, there
is only one course open to me. I'm
til now have only been outraged
by your conduct. This new compli.
cation renders the situation desper-
ate and action on my part neces-
sary unless you change your course.
If you truly love me as you say, you
will heed me. 1t is up to you to de.
eide quickly what is to be our flu
ture and that of our children. Low
ingly, WILL"
On August IL Talcott brought suit
against Moore and the latter was
convicted of fraud and fined.
Mrs. Talcott defended Moore vail.
antly during the trial and remained
his staunch follower after his con,
viction. In view of these results
after he had his wife examined and
pronounced entirely sane. Talcott
took no further action and finally
ended his life. His sister says he
was mentally unbalanced when she
saw him the day before he disap.
peared."