Hold Wapello Woman For Misuse of Mail

PERSINGER, PETERS

Posted By: Judy Kelley, volunteer (email)
Date: 10/24/2010 at 16:11:01

MRS. FRED PERSINGER PLACED UNDER ARREST BY FEDERAL OFFICERS.

MARKED STAMPS AS CLUE TO IDENTITY

Letters Received by Another Woman Leads to Complaint and Investigation of Part of Federal Officers.

Davenport, Ia., Jan. 5. - Mrs. Fred Persinger, the wife of a well known Louisa county farmer, was brought here today to face the charge of sending obscene matter through the U.S. mails. Her arrest was made at Wapello yesterday following activities extending over a period of some time on the part of postoffice inspectors.

Upon being brought before U.S. Commissioner A.G. Bush, the woman waived the preliminary examination and was bound over to the April term of the federal court at Keokuk.

According to the information filed the defendant is accused of addressing the offending letters to Mayme Peters, whom Mrs. Persinger claims "sought to alienate the affections of her husband."

The defendant was released upon furnishing bonds in the sum of $2,000.

Wapello, Ia., Jan. 5 - This community was shocked today to learn of the reported arrest of Mrs. Persinger. The woman has always enjoyed an excellent reputation in this locality and her friends are at a loss to explain her arrest. Some time ago the Persingers separated. Domestic troubles had threatened the union from time to time and about six months ago the wife left the home only to return a few months later. Her friends declare that her return was actuated by her interest in the welfare of her children.

Following the arrest of Mrs. Persinger today it became known that federal officers had been active here for some time seeking to establish the identity of letters received by a woman whom Mrs. Persinger believed of her husband to be familiar with. By means of marked stamps sold to Mrs. Persinger the federal officer declares that it was possible to trace a letter mailed by her to the woman in the case. Her arrest is alleged to have resulted from this method of detection.

Mrs. Persinger denies her guilt and has employed Attorneys Weaver and Springer to defend her.

Source: LCHS scrapbook; newspaper clipping with handwritten date of 1917