Mather House Hit By Mail Tamperer

University police yesterday searched for clues in a case involving Mather House mail tampering between September 27 and October 2, Saul L. Chafin, chief of police, said yesterday.

The police called in the U.S. Postal Service to investigate the opening and ripping of mail delivered to the Mather House mail room in the foyer of the towers, Chafin said, adding the postal inspectors had not responded yesterday.

Postal officials refused to comment yesterday.

Mail Frenzy

Chafin said various letters had been ripped in half, others had just been opened, and contents had been removed from their envelopes but left in a box on the floor. He noted one letter containing a check was ripped in half but could "just be pasted together again and used."

Police said it was still impossible to determine whether any letters had been stolen. However, Chafin said the tampering seemed to be the actions of a dissatisfied person.

Chafin said it was disturbing that the tampering could have occurred for a six-day period in a room which is accessible only to Mather residents. He added the police have not ruled out the possibility that the letters were tampered with on only one day.

Man-handled

Chafin said the tampered letters had already been "handled" when the police arrived at Mather yesterday to investigate, which ruled out the possibility of dusting them for fingerprints.

Mather House officials refused to comment on the incidents yesterday. Dean Fox also refused to comment.

Police will conduct a full investigation of the tampering to determine whether or not those responsible for the tampering are Harvard-affiliated, Chafin said.

Mail tampering of this sort is punishable by a $2000 fine or five years imprisonment or both, according to U.S. Code Title 18, Section 1702.

Mather residents contacted yesterday expressed disbelief at the incident. "It's pretty surprising that something like that could go on here," William S. Friedman '79 said.