How would you feel to find out that goodies, those "care packages" you sent to your deployed military service family member, were diverted to a warehouse and never given to the addressee? For starters, any food items would probably be worthless. But wouldn't that be considered mail fraud? Is the military exempt from such charges even when the contents of the mail are perfectly appropriate?
Of course, this incident was 100 years ago. Rules may have changed, but would outrage?
From the Arizona Daily Star, Saturday, July 29, 1916:
Dainties for Guardsmen Stored, Not Given Them
Chaplains Request That Public Send Gifts in Their Care to Insure Distribution
DOUGLAS, July 28.—At a meeting of chaplains of the regular army and national guard organizations stationed along the border in Arizona and New Mexico, held here today, a discussion is said to have revealed the fact that tons of supplies sent by friends of national guardsmen to the various organizations in which they are enlisted have failed to reach the guardsmen. Instead of being distributed as they should, dainties, extra clothing and other comforts, intended to make border duty more pleasant for the men, were said to be stored in warehouses.
The chaplains requested that the people of the country be advised that in sending presents to relatives or friends in the national guard, the packages should be sent in care of the chaplains attached to the particular organization of which they are members.
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That’s good advice, but what about all of the gifts stored in warehouses. Were they ever distributed? What happened to these "stolen" dainties?
That same paper held the news of another suicide. It would seem self-destructive behavior is nothing new.
Young Man Ends Life Because Sweetheart Valued Love Lightly
Too Late Mercedes Regrets Faithlessness; Would Woo Life Back
Tragedy and comedy mingled in a curious manner yesterday evening in the dingy little home of Alfano Chacon, on South Meyer street. Ignacio Ruelas, a miner, crazed by the unfaithfulness of his sweetheart “Mercedes,” shot himself to death while lying on one bed in the front room, and on the other couch Jesus Bojorquez, better known to the town as “Charlie Chaplin.” a half-witted young fellow, was stretched laughing and joking, entirely unable to comprehend the terrible tragedy being enacted.
Rules shot himself twice in the mouth with a 38-caliber revolver, evidently an old weapon. He was dressed. In firing the short he had held the gun in his right hand and guided the muzzle between his lips with his left hand, which was stained and burned with powder. The shot was fired about 9:30 o’clock, soon after Ruelas came to the room.
Young Chacon lives with his mother at this place, and Jesus Bojorquez, the simple minded boy, is his brother. He took Ruelas in to stay with him out of kindness.
Rules and his sweetheart came to the city three days ago from the Old Yuma mine, where he had been working. She deserted him immediately on arriving in town, friends of Ruelas said yesterday evening, and her unfaithfulness drove him into a sort of dementia. He left no word of any kind telling the reason for his act.
While Coroner Comstock and Officer Mills were investigating the case, Mercedes herself rushed into the room sobbing and crying. The officers interposed when she was about to throw herself across the bloodstained, prostrate form of her dead lover, and she sank into a chair, screaming and crying wildly.
Later she was sent from the room to a neighbor’s house, where she moaned incoherently her grief at the sudden end to her lover.
Young Chacon was sleeping in the back room when the shot was fired and immediately ran from the house to relative’s nearby, where he fainted. He was given medical treatment and recovered.
Not much was known of Ruelas except that he was a hard working young man. His father and mother are said to reside at a mine nearby.
The shooting and subsequent excitement, with the investigations of the officers and the great throng about the house, did not have any effect on “Charlie Chaplin.” He lay on his couch and laughed and made funny gestures through the whole proceeding.
The remains were taken to the Tucson Undertaking company to be prepared for burial. Funeral arrangements will await the arrival of the father and mother.
