The sun., 1892-11-16
BRo1E Lcvn 10 4 COUNTESS
Peculiar Letters that Alleged Com
spiracy Hearing Diyu Ecd.

PHILADELPHIA. Nov. l5.-The hcnrlns in the
case OF Mrs. Anita McMorrow better known
as tho Countess" Bctancourt. who Is charged
by William q. Toplis. n Germantown druggist.
with obtaining $1,000 by false rrctenccs on the
representation that she possessed Si2.W0OOO
OF Spanish bonds. took place before Mag glstrnto
Durham this afternoon. The charge OF OBJ
tanning the money under false rretenccs was
dismissed. but the magistrate held the
Countess" under $1,000 bail for court on the
charge OF conspiracy.
Tho allegation Of conspiracy was that the
Countess md Elmer NJ. Billings, Secretary OF
the Mercantile safe Deposit Company OF New
York. had consrlrcd to defraud Mr. Toplis.
TO substantinte tho charge OF conspiracy
letters from billings to Mrs. McMorrow were
offered in evidence and read. They were fllod
with love Passages. Mr.. Billings addressed
her as his hearts darling" and In other
torms OF endcarmcnt.
Tho Countess came to tho maeistrato's offlce
accompanied by her husband. John McMorrow
Druggist Topis testified that he had known
her for three years.
In September OF Inst year she asked him for
a loan, und showed the witness n package tied
with rcd and yellow tape and richly decorated
with red seals. On tho outside OF tho pack
age was some writing in Spanish. which. trans
lated. read:
Certificates Of deposit OF s32.o00.0OO in
gold belonging to Mrs. Anita Betancourt de
be opened except by my testamentnry e,xecn-
bon AntGnia Man,illa,;i 10 Los isiaz. Minister oi
Ho suid that she also showed him a paper
containlna q list q Amc5icap railroad secari.
ness that she owned these securities,
Tonlis WIS questioned concerning his sTs meet. It.
mst Mn Mr. and 'B Bngs bI BY rn
ment. Tho Countess had induced Ioplis to
wh S m he woaa ns 10 M Will B
letters for Mrs MGNl9rrow and cut the cou-
At the meetlng in New York the witness said
that the Countess and Billings retired to pri-
vats, room and held n long conversation;
moss whether he thought it advisable to have
Avery y. llarrington assoeiated With him
After reflection Topls advised Billings to take
charge Of the estate alone. ,...
rsn nWs a Tsss to s c ss @
York. The crowded court room was convulsed
dSEnH the the edged clos.
tents Of ~ episties were being diygssd: -.
dated Aug. Il; 1862. and was to. NY only
darling Anita After letting of his love.
Billings concludes:
lam continually having cause to praise and
admire yon FOR r., your p%nhounded % l2ve & f9r me me:
warm love! l will write you again. Dollie. this
Your Elmer Is true to his Anita He loves
you as he loves no other. What he has Is yours.
and no other In haste. l am yours till death.
ELMER"
Another letter read was even m ore Affection
ate than the first. 1t was dated Aug. %. 1902
and was to My only love. my darling Anita"
Billings rehearses his devotion for the Count
II see what you say about Importance OF de-
Gliding soon about the mortgages. | hope We
! sball see our way clear by that time SO that
We can go by first OF September. In your let
ter you tell me to telegraph you not to como
| until next week.
| ~ will do as you request. but II you are not
| coming this week ! shall come on Saturday
| afternoon. and see you returning Sunday even-
! ing"
| Ho winds M thus: II leave kiss Ia cross
| mark signifying n kissl here for YOU. and will
| think OF you lovingly till soc you. God bless
you and help you to rejoice In the love Of yours
| and only yours. Elmer. true till DEATH"
| Tho defence protested against the reading
| OF the letters. Mr.. Heverin. however. argued
| that they were relevant.
The last witness was George +. Lewis. who
said that Mrs. McNTurrow Dwell him $4,000:
| He was in New York several months ago and
! billings showed him two vaults in which Mrs.
| McMurrOw kept her 32.OOO.OOO OF bonds.
Billings also told the witness that Mrs. Mo-
| Murrow's income WAS SJti25 n day. and that
| she was the richest woman in America