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Spaceways, v. 3, issue 5, whole no. 21, June 1941
13
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SPACEWAYS 13 BEACON LIGHT by S. F. CYNIC The Beacon plays, and perhaps none too gently, upon the most talked about affair in the fan world for 1941, so far. We refer to the case of Earl Singleton. At the moment of writing, certain parties aver that the Singleton "suicide" was a hoax. The question which occured to your Cynic and no doubt to many of you, first of all was: "Was the 'suicide' a hoax or is this wave of confessions a hoax?".It is perfectly true, of course, that the circumstances of the "suicide" were higly suspicious and that many factors did not seem to fit in. Singleton's relatives, according to report, seemed to arrive up from Texas in record time. He (Singleton) was supposed to have been discovered dead sometime on the morning of Monday the 10th (although he is alleged to have died on the night of Sunday the 9th) and dispatches immediately shipped to his relatives. I don't know, of course, how long-or rather, how soon-a telegram from Boston can reach wherever in Texas Earl's parents live. But, at any rate, they managed to arrive on Tuesday the llth. I'm not saying the trip coudn't have been made in that time, because my geography is pretty hazy and maybe one can fly that distance in record time. But it doesn't sound awfully plausible. Secondly that distance in record time. But it doesn't sound awfully plausible. Secondly, they were supposed to have taken the body with them to Texas. Now it wasn't stated in that brief note from "O. K. Smith"- a friend kindly copied the contents out for me-when Singleton's parents took the body back for cremation, but the inference the note gives is that they did so Tuesday the 11th. Which is higly suspicious. A case of suicide, hushed up or not, would bring in the police department and it is gravely doubtful if the body could have been recovered and sent back so soon. Remember, again, Earl was supposed to have been discovered Monday morning, perhaps in the wee sma' hours, but Monday morning nonetheless. I believe a body has to lie in state for three days, and, under such circumstances an investigation would most likely compel a delay. Now we come to the Boskone. Chief actor here was Gertrude Kuslan who put on an interesting exhibiton for all. Referring back to notes received some time ago, opinion of those present differed. Don Wollheim, for example, thought it was an act and in pretty poor taste; John B. Michel thought it was phoney; Doc Lowndes regarded it with suspicion. I have his permission to quote a brief paragraph from a letter. "Consider the circumstances. All we have for this is a letter from 'O.K. Smith' who may or may not exist. fans have not forgotten Bob Tucker's 'death' of several years back. So it was not unlikely that some would come to that meeting ina highly suspicious frame of mind to say the least. Obviously a show had to be put on, one which would serve as an evader of any overt questioning, which would succeed in diverting any discussion of the affair for the moment. And Trudy Kuslan was obviously the person to put on that act. I doubt that Dr. Swisher and Mrs Swisher were in on the 'hoax'; their very real regret served to taper off any crudity on the part of Miss Kuslan, and the generally bewildered atmosphere contributed by those who suspected nothing clinched the business. I, for example, realized that, right or wrong, this was no time to ask questions. And it also occurred to me that it might be important to someone that Earl Singleton be thought dead. Why this might be I could not guess, but consideration of the possibility has made me keep quiet about the affair and I trust you will do the same until and unless later developments make it okay to ask questions and state statements." On the other hand, and this is interesting, Jessica Gould, who was with Trudy Kuslan a good part of the time while the latter was uptairs, avers that Trudy was crying her eyes out up the "show" came on. However, the fair Jessica might have penetrated the disguise, been told the "secret" and have pledged secrecy. (It is to be noted that in her "confession", Miss Kuslan regrets having "deceived" Leslie Perri, and expresses wonderment as to whether or not Mrs Pohl saw through her "act" - but Truddy makes no mention of Jessica Gould, who, apparently, was with her a good part of the time as well.) However, the "hoax"
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SPACEWAYS 13 BEACON LIGHT by S. F. CYNIC The Beacon plays, and perhaps none too gently, upon the most talked about affair in the fan world for 1941, so far. We refer to the case of Earl Singleton. At the moment of writing, certain parties aver that the Singleton "suicide" was a hoax. The question which occured to your Cynic and no doubt to many of you, first of all was: "Was the 'suicide' a hoax or is this wave of confessions a hoax?".It is perfectly true, of course, that the circumstances of the "suicide" were higly suspicious and that many factors did not seem to fit in. Singleton's relatives, according to report, seemed to arrive up from Texas in record time. He (Singleton) was supposed to have been discovered dead sometime on the morning of Monday the 10th (although he is alleged to have died on the night of Sunday the 9th) and dispatches immediately shipped to his relatives. I don't know, of course, how long-or rather, how soon-a telegram from Boston can reach wherever in Texas Earl's parents live. But, at any rate, they managed to arrive on Tuesday the llth. I'm not saying the trip coudn't have been made in that time, because my geography is pretty hazy and maybe one can fly that distance in record time. But it doesn't sound awfully plausible. Secondly that distance in record time. But it doesn't sound awfully plausible. Secondly, they were supposed to have taken the body with them to Texas. Now it wasn't stated in that brief note from "O. K. Smith"- a friend kindly copied the contents out for me-when Singleton's parents took the body back for cremation, but the inference the note gives is that they did so Tuesday the 11th. Which is higly suspicious. A case of suicide, hushed up or not, would bring in the police department and it is gravely doubtful if the body could have been recovered and sent back so soon. Remember, again, Earl was supposed to have been discovered Monday morning, perhaps in the wee sma' hours, but Monday morning nonetheless. I believe a body has to lie in state for three days, and, under such circumstances an investigation would most likely compel a delay. Now we come to the Boskone. Chief actor here was Gertrude Kuslan who put on an interesting exhibiton for all. Referring back to notes received some time ago, opinion of those present differed. Don Wollheim, for example, thought it was an act and in pretty poor taste; John B. Michel thought it was phoney; Doc Lowndes regarded it with suspicion. I have his permission to quote a brief paragraph from a letter. "Consider the circumstances. All we have for this is a letter from 'O.K. Smith' who may or may not exist. fans have not forgotten Bob Tucker's 'death' of several years back. So it was not unlikely that some would come to that meeting ina highly suspicious frame of mind to say the least. Obviously a show had to be put on, one which would serve as an evader of any overt questioning, which would succeed in diverting any discussion of the affair for the moment. And Trudy Kuslan was obviously the person to put on that act. I doubt that Dr. Swisher and Mrs Swisher were in on the 'hoax'; their very real regret served to taper off any crudity on the part of Miss Kuslan, and the generally bewildered atmosphere contributed by those who suspected nothing clinched the business. I, for example, realized that, right or wrong, this was no time to ask questions. And it also occurred to me that it might be important to someone that Earl Singleton be thought dead. Why this might be I could not guess, but consideration of the possibility has made me keep quiet about the affair and I trust you will do the same until and unless later developments make it okay to ask questions and state statements." On the other hand, and this is interesting, Jessica Gould, who was with Trudy Kuslan a good part of the time while the latter was uptairs, avers that Trudy was crying her eyes out up the "show" came on. However, the fair Jessica might have penetrated the disguise, been told the "secret" and have pledged secrecy. (It is to be noted that in her "confession", Miss Kuslan regrets having "deceived" Leslie Perri, and expresses wonderment as to whether or not Mrs Pohl saw through her "act" - but Truddy makes no mention of Jessica Gould, who, apparently, was with her a good part of the time as well.) However, the "hoax"
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