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| mike |
 Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 9:01 pm |
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Editor
Joined: 23 Sep 2006
Posts: 467
Location: St. Johns County, Florida
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A very interesting collection of personal letters was uncovered in the course of investigating the murder of Athalia Ponsell Lindsley. These letters were sent by Athalia to her sister, Geraldine Horton, who lived in Honolulu, Hawaii.
These letters are mentioned in other topics in this research forum as they tend to lend support to concerns for the true relationship between James Lindsley and Athalia.
The first available letter in this collection is dated December 15, 1973 and was postmarked December 17, 1973.
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| mike |
| Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 9:04 pm |
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Editor
Joined: 23 Sep 2006
Posts: 467
Location: St. Johns County, Florida
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Dec. 15, '73
Dear Geraldine
A lovely day here so I worked in the yard.
The animals are all OK.
Jimmie's dog (puppy) runs the street the same as his other dog & it was hit by a car - the pelvis was cracked on both sides so I'm taking care of the little thing for a few days -
I have never known anyone as stupid as he is & thick headed. He has been a heavy drinker & therefore the reasoning facilities are impared.
2/
Mother and I used to listen to a fine minister & we always sent him a tithe (tax deduction) - mwell, I asked J - to mail a letter for me which was addressed to the minister & enclosed was a $50.00 check - Since there was no letter of acceptance from him, I wrote to inquire - In today's mail I received the ans -
My letter was received but there was no check enclosed - In the mean time, I sent him another letter and $50.00 which he acknowledged - The 1st letter was mailed by Jimmie, who stole the ck out of the envelope
3/
the 2nd I mailed & it was received OK.
Naturally he could not cash the ck be he didn't want me spending MY money that way, instead he was unsuccessfully trying to talk me into buying a new car - fifty fifty with him - naturally he got no where (a couple of times he asked if I'd heard from the minister)
Jimmie is a leach & a complete liar - he lies about protecting his dogs - while he lets them run the street.
I have had the locks on the house changed, so he can't get in also I have told the Osborns (neighbors) to let me know if he comes over
4/
here when I am out however he won't be able to get in.
I usually mail all my letters but 3 or 4 times I let him take them to the P.O. while I waited in the car - instead of mailing them he pocketed them - as I wrote you, so between the last two letters & this which he will open & read he will know what I think of him - since he read them & will read this.
Remember what I told you just now on the phone - It is 4:30 p.m. here and 11:30 p.m. there.
Hope Jean & Ben arrive (back of pg. 2)
(from pg. 4)
OK - Their's is a charter flight & no doubt will be delayed.
All for now -
Love,
Athalia |
Last edited by mike on Fri Nov 10, 2006 1:30 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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| mike |
| Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 9:21 pm |
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Editor
Joined: 23 Sep 2006
Posts: 467
Location: St. Johns County, Florida
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In an almost eerie case of premonition just 15 days before Athalia was murdered, she penned the following letter to her sister, Geraldine, with instructions “if anything ever happens to me”.
In her P.S.; Athalia tips her hand that she has set her sights on a seat on the Board of County Commissioners starting in the spring and summer of 1974.
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| mike |
| Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 9:21 pm |
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Editor
Joined: 23 Sep 2006
Posts: 467
Location: St. Johns County, Florida
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Jan. 8, 1974
To Geraldine Horton - sister
If anything ever happens to me every thing goes to you - I own my home & everything in it- absolutely nothing belongs to my husband James S. Lindsley.
Louise Merrill has the keys - and I will send you the front and back key to my home - Jimmie does not have the keys - since I had the cylinder changed to both doors the last week in December 1973 (about two weeks ago).
Geo. Stallings will draw a new will for me (over)
2/
and I will send you a copy or the original which ever he suggests.
Ester Stookey knows where I hide the keys in the garage, she is good to help with the animals, her number is 824-4576.
The Hide-A-Key small metal box is in the garage behind the large pipe over the comode (toilet)
(hand drawing of the key location)
All for now - Athalia
P.S. If and when you ever make a change list every item & use a carbon paper for copy.
Do not give things away -
Today the market is full of junk - furniture is glued together & falls apart. Stainless seteel cook pans are light as a feather - etc. dress material is inferior - A P L
(over)
The city commissioners here are not paid but the county commissioners get $500.00 per month.
I will campaign for county commissioner starting in the spring & summer. |
Last edited by mike on Fri Nov 10, 2006 1:06 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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| mike |
| Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 9:40 pm |
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Editor
Joined: 23 Sep 2006
Posts: 467
Location: St. Johns County, Florida
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On January 9, 1974, Athalia wrote another letter to Geraldine where she tries to convince her sister to leave Hawaii and move to St. Augustine and live in the home at 124 Marine Street that was formerly owned by their mother; now owned by Athalia.
In Jim Lindsley’s statement after Athalia was murdered, he claimed that the Marine Street home was going on the market for sale after the holidays and that Athalia was going to move in with him on Lew Boulevard.
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| mike |
| Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 9:40 pm |
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Editor
Joined: 23 Sep 2006
Posts: 467
Location: St. Johns County, Florida
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Dear Geraldine-
Hope you insure the package with the table cloth - insure for $200.00 return receipt.
When the depression takes effect in a few weeks it will last about 15 years then it takes years for a come back, the last was about 1929 to '39 & slowly it got better, until about 1959 then it began to speed up until now.
2/
Hawaii is too much like Miami Beach - I have citrus trees, persimmons, grapes, pears, plums, pomgrantes, bananas, apples, guavas, Japaneese plums. I will plant asperagas soon + the papaya seeds.
This is a lovely home well located with 1/2 acre of ground - the garage will become income property - you are getting no where in that place - this is a place to build on a good foundation.
You do not have a husband, " " " own a home, " " " " business and location.
Think about it. Love, Athalia |
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| sunset |
| Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 7:48 pm |
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Frequent Contributor
Joined: 06 Oct 2006
Posts: 31
Location: St. Augustine
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Quote: If anything ever happens to me every thing goes to you - I own my home & everything in it- absolutely nothing belongs to my husband James S. Lindsley.
I find that statement very disturbing. The fact that Athalia wrote it only days before she was murdered I find even more disturbing. |
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| hbob |
| Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 5:58 pm |
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Active Participant
Joined: 05 Nov 2006
Posts: 13
Location: Bakersville
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My impression, from then, bears this out, Jinx was totally amoral, I doubt he ever worried about anything, but getting caught. Jinx was a successful character, but only if all you count is snagging money. Would I have trusted him to cover my back in a foxhole? Ain't no way! I attended school with Danny and Jimmy, I do have personal recollections of all of them. I even attended Lillian Lindsey's tap dance lessons, a couple of times. Then, I learned that no one wanted to go squirrel hunting with a tapdancer, and I adjusted. I still remember the battle I had with my mother, over this.
The last thing I will do is consider Jinx Lindsey as an unimpeachable "pillar of society", he never was, he was just a part of the "good old boy" system, as was Dewey Lee.
Athalia, and Lillian, were both well above Jinx, so far as sophistication goes, but Jinx seems to have had some sort of animal attraction, that they couldn't resist. You don't have to understand something, to see it. |
_________________
bob |
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| mike |
| Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 7:29 pm |
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Editor
Joined: 23 Sep 2006
Posts: 467
Location: St. Johns County, Florida
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Given Athalia’s own words to her sister Geraldine, I can’t say that I am surprised that someone would hold that opinion, Bob. For example, Athalia’s comment “I have had the locks on the house changed, so he can't get in also I have told the Osborns (neighbors) to let me know if he comes over here when I am out …” might indicate that she didn’t trust him in the house when she wasn’t there.
Certainly the “pocketing” of Athalia’s contribution to the Gospel Temple http://identityclues.org/supporters/viewtopic.php?t=103 doesn’t help Jinx build trust. |
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| suzyz123 |
| Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 10:10 am |
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Volunteer Contributor
Joined: 06 Jan 2007
Posts: 11
Location: St Augustine
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| Were there ever letters that her sister wrote back to her? I'd love to hear her point of view also. |
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| mike |
| Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 10:20 am |
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Editor
Joined: 23 Sep 2006
Posts: 467
Location: St. Johns County, Florida
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suzyz123 wrote: Were there ever letters that her sister wrote back to her? I'd love to hear her point of view also.
Suzy, I recall that we have a copy of one letter from Geraldine that was sent to Jinx but we may not have it scanned and posted just yet. It was advice from Geraldine in Jim's dealings with Athalia; the best thing for him to do in cases of conflict - let her have her way. |
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| 70mmgreen |
| Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 10:53 am |
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Supporter
Joined: 29 Jan 2007
Posts: 3
Location: Nashville
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| After reading these it paints a really different view point with regards to Jinx...I admit my only knowledge of this story is from the paperback I bought a few years ago which all but says the neighbor did it! These letters are pretty obvious in tone.I know I'm not the first to ask this question...Could the husband have set this whole thing up? |
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