In the story, Neal found an apparently unimpeachable source — Arthur O. Anderson, a medical doctor, scientist, and head of USAMRIID's Office of Human Use and Ethics — to voice objections to the sharing of confidential patient information by a professional caregiver, Jean Duley. Anderson also questioned the judge's acceptance of Duley's unverified allegations.

Lest we leap to judgment, we should remember that no one under our system of government is guilty until he/she has had a chance to defend themselves. Sadly, Bruce Ivins is now beyond defending himself.

We may never know who is the perpetrator of the anthrax crimes, particularly if the FBI, who hounded Ivins, should now declare the case closed.

ROBERT Y. LEE

Frederick