Text: Mary J. and T. C. Leland, “A Story Spoiled,” Richmond Daily Times (Richmond, VA), vol. 77, no. 99, April 26, 1851, p. 2, col. 3

[page 2, column 3:]

A STORY — We find in the New York Day Book the following authoritative contradiction of a story that has been going the rounds of the press: POE AND ANNABEL LEE. — Dear Foster: — The story you published last week under this head, from the Evening Post, was so good a one that the public and the papers seem indisposed to part with it, and determined it shall be true at all hazards, notwithstanding your explicit and truthful denial of it. The shelter, sympathy, and hospitality part of the narrative we wish were true; and if Mr. Poe were alive to-day, we would be glad to render to him all that the story attributes to us. The circumstances detailed may be true with regard to somebody; but to us, the parents of the child whose obituary notice was quoted, they are as inapplicable, and were as new as to any reader who perused them. Neither of us, to our knowledge, ever saw Mr. Poe, and certainly we never spoke to him in our lives. We are curious to know whether the affair is one of the idlest fabrication, or whether we are blushing under the honors of others. Will the Milwaukie Free Democrat, with whom the story started, please explain? Yours, &c. MARY J. AND T. C. LELAND.