M.S. McClellan hit by vicious hate mail campaign; store seeks customers’ help to find perpetrator

Upscale clothier M.S. McClellan has been receiving what its owners describe as “anonymous, hateful, personal and harassing letters” and has sent out an appeal to its customers for help identifying the perpetrator.

logoIn an e-mail sent today to customers, owners of the store, located in the Melrose Place shopping center on Kingston Pike, describe the troubling situation. “With each successive letter, the hateful language has gotten worse and the attacks more personal,” the e-mail says. “We are also working in conjunction with the Knoxville Police Department and would like to ask you to assist us. If you know anything or have any information about who could possibly be sending these letters to our store, we would appreciate your help. All correspondence will be kept confidential and there is no need to divulge your name. You may call our store (584-3492 . . .ask for Bob or Matt) or send an e-mail to Bob ([email protected]).”

In an interview, Bob McClellan said that after he sent out the e-mail today, one of his customers came to the store and brought a similar letter that she had received at her home. The handwriting on the letter she received seemed to match the four letters sent to M.S. McClellan, he said.

“The letters contain angry rants against people who have been successful, who have prominence or who have perceived wealth,” Bob McClellan said.

McClellan said it is troubling because the letter writer knows things about people who work at the store as well as the home address of the customer, a doctor’s wife.

M.S. McClellan has been in business since 1966. It is a mainstay of the upscale Knoxville retail scene.

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4 Responses to M.S. McClellan hit by vicious hate mail campaign; store seeks customers’ help to find perpetrator

  1. Melinda Meador, on September 24th, 2009 at 8:14 am said:

    I simply do not understand why or how anyone could be so malicious. Envy can be an ugly thing. It’s especially ugly when it leads to attacks on one of the few independent clothing stores left in the area. The personalized attention that customers receive there is a major part of what has led to M.S. McClellan’s success. I, for one, am grateful for it.

  2. Jeannine McKamey, on September 24th, 2009 at 11:22 am said:

    Matthew, Betsy, Dee and the rest are warm, wonderful people who sell first-class merchandise with elegance and flair. I can’t imagine any viable reason for such attacks. I am praying that all at the store are blessed with peace of mind through this trial, and that the perpetrator has a change of heart and stops this insanity.

  3. Jerry Askew, on September 24th, 2009 at 2:57 pm said:

    I am glad that Matt, Bob et al are working with the police on this. At some point we have to stand up to unacceptable behavior if we want to preserve anything resembling civil society. In many respects, M.S. McClellan’s is the quintesssential American business and we should all rally to its defense.

    Even when I was a young buck, new in town and couldn’t afford to shop there, the staff still treated me with dignity and respect whenever I visited just to look around. I’ll always remember their many kindnesses. There are lots of us in town who feel the same way.

    Hang in there Matthew.

  4. Richard Cate, on September 25th, 2009 at 2:35 pm said:

    When someone begins to hassle great folks like the McClellans it makes me wonder again where our culture and society are headed. Hang tough Matthew & Bob no small minded anonymous twit can impair the great successes you have achieved, the community presence you have developed or your excellent professional and personal reputations. Hope to see you soon. Richard

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