Text: J. H. Whitty, “Poe's Quarters Here,” The Sun, vol. LXXXVII, no. 3, September 3, 1919, p. 8, col. 5

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN — Sir: I have read the several letters in THE SUN entitled “Poe in Ann Street.” That Poe ever lived at 4 Ann street is greatly in doubt. The odd and unexpected often turns up in Poe's affairs, but his residential record in New York city is apparently clear enough to indicate no such turn of affairs as suggested by Mr. Werner's letter.

As to the conversations of the late Judge Shea about his father, J. A. Shea, and the publication of “The Raven”: The lapse in the time and lack of information as to the occupation of his father evidently caused confusion in the mind of Judge Shea. His statements seem quite erroneous. Poe was a contributor to the American Whig Review, and there is no evidence to indicate that the elder Shea had anything to do with the publication of Poe's poem in that publication. All the evidence, on the contrary, goes to show that the elder Shea, who had a connection with the New York Tribune, evidently asked Poe for a copy of “The Raven.” This was given to him and appeared in the Tribune on February 4, 1845, after it had been printed in the American Whig Review and the Mirror.

Poe may have visited the cellar of “Sandy Walsh,” but is unlikely that he ever wrote “The Raven” or anything else there.

J. H. WHITTY.

RICHMOND, Va., September 1.