1935-05-20 — Page 15

THE

HONGKONG TELEGRAPH. MONDAY, MAY 20, 1935.

LETTER-WRITING CRIMINALS:

ANONYMOUS SCANDAL-

MONGERS.

BY FRANCIS ILES

IT i is a curious form of mentality which finds its expres-

sion in anonymous letters and an interesting one to examine. We need not take into account the person who writes, a perfectly genuine letter, usually, of warning, out of the best motives, and does not care to sign it. By the phrase "anonymous letter-writer" one means a person who is actuated by nothing but malice.

The motive, of course, is the desire to hurt. It may be out of revenge for some real or fancied injury; it may be with no more reason than that the other person holds different opinions from those of the writer, in the matter of religion, politics, or even art. Every professional author and journalist gets plenty of anonymous com- munications from this type of unhappy creature, who, of course, is definitely unbalanced.

venom

The News Chronicle, In a criminally libellous at that. When loading article, has made the in- detected (and that is unfortunately teresting point, in referring to the not easy) the offenders are heavily remarkable

which they punished.

This being the case, it is to- bring to their job, that the medium employed is nearly always' the post-markable anomaly that there should eard. Presumably the reason for be one State Department which

but netually | this is the hope that inore people not merely protects will see, and wonder nt, the shrewd encourages this peculiarly despie- blow.

able activity. Anonymous lettera

It goes without saying that the are welcomed by the King's Pruc- annoymouя lotter-writer is a tor's office, and the charges in them coward. But it is not enough to are investigated with care.

What is regarded as a crime in say that cowardice plus the desire to hurt make the annoymous letter- the ordinary way is apparently writer. Lots of us lung at times to considered a meritorious act when tell another person just what we the divorce of some unhappy couple think of him ip the blumtest may be prevented by it.

WRONG METHODS? possible terms. But we seldom do

so. It may be beenuse we are 100' This isn matter which has not kind; more probably it is because receive all the consideration it we have not the courage.

deserves. Any decent-minded citi

But we do not write the fellow an zen may feel that the State should annoymous letter. What, then, la disdain to use such mean sid; for to the King's the third component in the mental atmoymous letters recipe which makes the anonymous Proctor are invariably netunted by letter-writer? It is the sense of nulfes of the most contemptible

kind.

power.

Moreover,

By the act of sending a savage,

The encouragement nbusive, or Indecent communien- thus offered to this particularly in- tion anonymously to another per-pleasant type of mind is definitely son, these people obtain a definite against the public interest. There gratification. Probably they are, must be many who, having tasted to outward appearances, weakly or blood with a letter to the King's timid; they are certainly repressed. Proctor, go on to indulge their per The writing of such a letter relenses į verted tastes nt their repressions.

other victims.

the

expense of

SECRET POWER

I have personal knowledge of one They picture the horror, pain case, which may or may not be IN instructive. The and despair of the recipient and typical, but they feel themselves corresponding-writer of an anonymous letter to ly moro Important for having caused the King's Proctor (she was later It. It is a very interesting reflec.identified) invented a whole batch tion that precisely this sanie sense of the most scurrilous lies about a of secret power exists in most mur-couple whom she did not know at derors. Indeed, the general all.

characteristics of the anonymous If they had been true any one of letler-writer and the murderer are them would have been enough to by no means dissimilar.

[stop the divorce suit which was There is evidence that the anony-pending. This suit was a perfectly mous letter-writing habit grows genuine one, and on investigation on its addicts. Miss J., let us say, the charges were found to be totally "feels she has a grudge against Mrs. untrue. But the investigation, B. Probably she will in the first which was quite open, and involved place write an anonymous letter of a number of highly unpleasant abuse to Mrs. B. herself. That questions put to maid-servants and will keep Miss J. quiet for a time, friends, naturally caused much na she reflects with delight on Mrs. scandal in the neighbourhood and B.'s distress. But it is not long great deal of worry and pain to before Misa J. feels the need to the victims.. -widen her seope.-Sho-beginu thon.

writing annonymously to Mrs. B.'s The reason for the writing of the friends, making wild and libellous letter was that the writer feared accusations against Mrs. B.

that a relative of her own might

PURE SELFISHNESS

It in for this reason that the law marry one of the parties to the is particularly vigilant against divorce suit: and if that happened anonymous letter-writers. It is, of she, the writer, might lose a legacy. course, no crime to write a letter That was all.

and not sign one's name to it.

Madge Evanis

Richard Dir

Here are five of the prominent American streen stars who recently signed to make Dritish motion pictures. Michael Balcon, English film executive, who succeeded in affixing their names to attractive contratis, disavowed any intention of raiding Hallywood player lists.

A focal polat of interest in the colourful scene on the Shanghai Race Course for the Tattoo in connection with the Silver Jubilee celebration is the castle shown above. In front of this re-creation of feudal days a show of pagentry was given

J

Five prominent Shanghai Chinese philanthropists recently received "Third Class Tani Yu Jade Medals" from the National Government in appreciation of their philanthropic activities. Two of the honoured five persons had to ask representatives to receive the medals in the brief ceremony because they were absent from Shanghai. Our picture shows (from left to right) Messrs. Chang Ying (more popularly known as Chang Shixo-ling) Wong King-young and Tu Yush-sen, after they had received

their medals,

The writer was never punished had she written that same anony- JUBILEE TRUST FUND suggestion the Trust was formed,

But these communications are Af for this deliberate libel. No effort most always highly libellous, and was even made to trace her. Yet

mous letter to a private person and not to a Government Department, she would, on conviction, have re- ceived a severe term of imprison- mont.

has specifically included rural as SUBSCRIPTIONS REACH TOTAL well as town areas within its scope.

OF £750,000

The money will be used to assist Youth Organisations. The Trust London, May 19. is not a charitable appeal, but ”“á Subscriptions to the King It is high time that the State George Jubilee Trust Fund have mark the completion of twenty- national tribute to the King to ecased to rely upon venom and to now passed the sum of £750,000. encourage cowardly malice. officers of the Crown should treat that it has amazed everybody.

The response has been se large five momentous years."

As a permanent commemoration anonymous letters as the judges Millionairea and unemployed of Jubilee Year it will look for- treat them-that is, tear them up workers have contributed, and the ward to the welfare of the coming unread.

subscriptions have included sums generation which will provide the Now let Us sec how many from a penny stamp to cheques for backbone of the country in the anonymous post-cards I get for this several thousands sterling.

years that lie ahead.-British article.

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