Evening journal., 1892-11-16
HELOvEDT COUNTESS
Elmer Billings Letters Read in
Court at Philadelphia.
THE WOMAN HELD FOR CONSPIRACY.

Sensational Evidence I'm Druggist Toplis'
Suit Against Billings aud Mrs. Anita
McMorrow, Alias Countess Eetancoupt.
Thirty-two million Dollars Out OF Sight.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. l6.-The hearing in
the case Of Mrs. Anita McMorrow, better
known as the Countess Betancourt, who
is charged by William G. Toplis, a German
town druggist with obtaining S9.50Oby false
pretenses on the representation that she pos
sessed S32,0OO,0O0 Of Spanish bonds, took
place before Magistrate Durham. The
charge Of obtaining the money under false
pretenses was dismissed, but the magistrate
held the countess under $1,000 bail for
court on the charge Of conspiracy.
The allegation OF conspiracy was that
the countess and Elmer NJ. Billings,
secretary Of the Mercantile Safe Deposit
company, Of New York, had conspired to
defraud Mr. Toplis.
His Hearts Darling.
TO substantiate the charge of conspiracy
letters from Billings to Mrs. McMorrow
were offered in evidence and read. They
were filled with love passages Mr. Bill
lings addressed her as his "heart 5 darling"
and in other terms of endearment.
The countess came to the magistrates Of
flee accompanied by her husband, John Nc
Morrow. Druggist Toplis testified that he
had known her for three years In Septem-
Der Of last year she asked him for loan,
and showed the witness package tied
with red and yellow tape and richly deco
rated with red seals. On the outside OF the
package was some writing in Spanish,
which, translated read:
Certificates OF deposit Of $1,000 900 IN
gold belonging to Mrs Anita Betancourt
de McMorrow. After my death this should
not be opened except by my testamentary
executors, Mr.. Henry G.. Grant and his ex.
cellency, Don Antonia Mantilla de Los
Riaz, minister of Spain at Washington"
He said that she also showed him paper
| containing a list of American railroad Sc
curities valued at $40, 0,4JO000 She told the
witness that she owned these securities.
Toplis was questioned concerning hi.
meeting with Billings in New York, and
said he met Mr.. McMorrow and Billing.
/ by arrangement The countess had in
| duced VOplis to 60 with the understanding
that IF Mr.. Billings liked him heAvoult
be engaged TO write letters for Mrs. Nc
Morrow and cut the coupons from hel
bonds"
Love Letters Laughed At.
Then followed the reading of tl,e lov,
letters which Billings wrote TO the countes
from New York The crowded court room
was convulsel with laughter during tn
peading John McMorr0w, the husband
edged close TO the magistrates platform
while the contents Of TIE epistles wer
being ,diyulged The letters were Of tn
most difectionate nature possible Tn
first epistle read was dated Aug. Is, 1871
and was to "Aly only darling Anita'
After letting of his love Billings con
cludes
81 am continually having cause TO prais
and admire You e. 'lur uni. ended l0.'
for me. How would like 20 hun you an
feel your warm Lowell / will write tor
again, Dollie, this evening
Your Elmer is true % his Anita. N
loves you as he loves no other. What b
has is yours, and no other. In haste, an
yours till death, ELMER
Another letter read was even mor9 aifec
tionate than the first. Il was dated Aug
%, 1892, and was to "My only love. m
darling Anita Billings rehearses his at
votion TO the countess and says.
II leave kiss Ia cross mark signifying
kissl here for you, and VIII think Of Yol
lovingly till l see you. God bless you an
help you to rejoice in the love OF yours anI
only yours. Elmer, true till death"
The defense protested against the readin
Of the letters. Mr.. Heyerin, however
argued that they were relevant
The last witness lVas George T. Lewis
who said that Mrs. McMorro@ owed hin
5000. He was IN New York severa
months ago and Billings SHOWED him tw
vaults, in which Mrs. McMorrow kept he
S32, 600 Of bonds
Billings also told the witness that Mrs
McMorrow's income was s5,625 a day, AM
that she was the richest woman in America