Smyrna times., 1923-01-31
DOVER "PO|SON LETTER" CASES
REST WITH FEDERAL OFFICERS
POSTAL INSPECTOR ROBINSON
FINISHES HIS INVESTIGATION
Believe to Be On to the Mysterious
PersOn-U. S. District AttOr-
ney Hughes Has the Case

IeroOH-O. .. DlStThCt AltOT-
ney Hughes Has the Case
Excitement over the receipt by
prominent persons of Dover, of a
number of poison pen" letters during
the past ten days is petering out, and
the town is now looking forward to
the arrest or the discovery of the
mysterious writer. j. B. Robinson, a
postal Inspector attached to the Will
mington office, has been in Dover for
the last few days investigating the
source of the letters, which were
turned over to him by Postmaster
William P. Satterfield. The author
| tiles are not yet sure of the identity
of the writer, although they are work
/ ing on several clues that promise to
lead them into the right quarters.
Doubt exists as to whether there are
grounds for criminal action, because
of the nature of the letters, but this
point will be passed upon by District
Attorney James H. Hughes, who has
been called in to take a hand. 1t is
generally felt at Dover that the writer
VI Tic OlSOil 1cIlGIS Is GlIHeI d
pevert or an insane person. Those
who have received letters, however,
are making little allowance for either
one of these theories, and if the postal
men fail to take any action the State
authorities will be asked to act 1t
developed Saturday that other Dover
persons had received "poison pen"
letters about eight months ago, but
made no mention then of the matter
They are expected to come forward
now and give their letters to me
authorities.
. Those Who Received Poisoned Letters
| The letters have been received by
, Mrs. Charles I. jackson, 1872 South
, Bradford street; Mrs. Harry Hancock,
118 South Governors avenue, wife of
: Councilman; Miss Clara S: Miller, a
: school teacher, Governors avenue;
Mrs Marvel Gooden, Reed street, and
: Mrs. Ethel Fennimore, who lives in
7 the same neighborhood. Mrs Good
ems letter was enclosed in a post of
fee stamped envelope, of the kind
+. that are obtainable at any postoffice
already stamped. The name of firm
: or of a person, at the upper left hand
corner of the envelope had been cut
out Over the rectangular hole had
been pasted bit cut from another
: envelope, upon which was printed
ATLAS Corset Co." The letter receiv-
, ed by Mrs. jackson, on the other hand
!, had no return address. Both letters
: were mailed in Norfolk about three
: weeks ago Mrs. Gooden's letter was
mailed at 1 p. ln., according to the
. poStmark, while that sent TO Mrs.
jackson was mailed half an hour
later. The stamp used by the post
e office clerk in stamping Mrs. Gooden's
Y letter was slightly larger than that
/ used on the one sent Mrs. jackson
/ Both letters were of the same tenor
! That received by Mrs. jackson began.
e "My dear Mrs. Jackson" and was
f signed "Mrs. Johnson" The letter to
e Mrs Gooden was addressed "Mrs
y Marvel Gooden, Dear Mary" The let.
: ter 10 Mrs. Gooden began, 81 have
talked this matter over with my hus.
4 hand, and we think you should know
of the enemies you have. So he ha.
n advised me to write you and tell you.
u Then the letter launches into vulgari
y ties, and makes unbecoming charges
Then the letter proceeds: at is fortu
nate you have no children" Mrs
- Gooden's little boy is shree months
:; old, and she cannot understand how
!" person so familiar with her family, a.
the letter writer seemed to be, ooulc
= have made this error, unless it was il
the nature of blind Another fea
ture of the letter was that it was 4d
dressed to creed street" Only sl,
residents of Dover know there is suel
III a place as Reed street," Mrs. GoOde,
said. "Thst makes me think tn
II writer is Dover resident of Ion,
! u standing. Most letters are just ad
&c dressed "DoTer."
- Obsessed About Mental Disorders
al Insanity is the prevailing theme il
,v all the letters. The writer seems oh
l. sessed with the thought of mental dis
.. orders from various causes. The let
70 ter to Councilman Hancock was al
n. most entirely devoted to this subject
h. 81 honestly do not believe there i
Is anything actionabie in my letter,
,e said Mr.. Hancock Saturday. at wa
le received by my wife, and informed he
ns | was not all there mentally. 81
l. was a very mild letter indeed and
o. do not believe legal action could b
IN taken on the strength of it. 1t is
1e different matter, however, with som
ID of the others. They descend to tn
pt depths of vulgarity. / believe tn
is writer is insane"
i'll
or May Teach Constitution in Schools