Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-01-31
SOCIAL SENSATION,
~ WHICH MEMBERS OF THE BEST SOCIETY
JOHANNESBURG FIGURE.
u, shaw Is Arrested for Sending Through the
Nails Anonymous Communications Of
an Obscene NatnrG

A very sensational story comes from
p,rkersburg, which will afford a very
sweet morsel for the gossips Of that
c;tv 10 roll under their tongues for
many a day. The parties mentioned in
tbe scandal belong to the best society Of
thst city.
Miss Hilda Fischer Is a beautiful and
accomplished young lady, about TWEEN
tv-two years Of age, Of vivacious tenn
perament, and an acknowledged leader
in society. She is the daughter Of a
wealthy shoe merchant, one of the Oldest
and most highly respected citizens Of
pqrkersburg. For several years she
has been in the habit Of paying visits
m relatives In Cincinnati, and remain
ing for months at time. About a year
sgo story was noised about connecting
her name with that Of q conductor on
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, alleg-
ing that she was too intimate with him.
The story was spread by the goSslps
I'm the community, who were envious Of
the personal charms OF Miss Fischer. In
due time she heard the tales, but con-
tinued her visits TO Cincinnati, select
ing another route, however, in going
there.
About this time her friends began re-
cpIying through the mail anonymous
communications, devoid Of date or post
mark, and charging Miss Fisher with
II - hn 4
ductOr. The letters were explicit In re-
gard to the time and place of the al
legged improper conduct. All OF the
Young ladys friends received these let
ters, which were Of nature unfit for
publication. They were circulated pro-
miscuOuSly, evidently with the purpose
Of poisoning the minds of not only her
intimate friends, but the public In gen.
eral, against her, and thereby casting a
serious SlUr upon her character. Miss
Fisher noticed that her acquaintance
were acting in a peculiar manner,
and stunning her upon all Oc-
casiOnS. She was puzzled TO
account for their strange actions,
and began to brood over the situation,
with the result that she lost thirty
pounds in weight in less than year,
and was reported 10 have at one time
contemplated suicide.
Miss Fischer had for a lover an esti-
mable young man, belonging to one OF
the most prominent families OF Parkers-
burg. He, too, received the anonymous
communication, but never referred TO
the matter while in her company. Az
ter receiving a second and third letter,
of the same mysterious nature, the
Young man consulted her father, who
in turn saw ais daughter about it. This
explained the peculiar conduct OF her
friends, and while the charges were Of a
very serious nature, she felt relieved.
The matter was then placed In the
hands of.the Government post Office in
sDeCtOrS, HoOten and NaylOr, who al
once started to work upon the case.
Judge Jackson, of the United States
Court, in his charge to the grand jury,
urged the members to use all efforts 70
ferret out the persons guilty Of sending
anonymous communications, and espec-
tally those OF an obscene nature. The
grand Jury was in session upon the case
four days, and thirty witnesses were ex'
amined, all Of them ladies and gentle
men standing high in social circles.
Among the number were three bankers.
The similarity between the language OF
the letters, and the language used In
conversation by Mrs. Otis Shaw, and
also the similarity OF the handwriting,
furnishes ground for the suspicion that
she was the guilty party. She was twice
brought before the grand jury Tor eX'
oh hnna
very much excited, although she Stoutly
protested her innocence Of the charge.
On last Friday, United States Marsha
H. 5. White arrested Mrs. Shaw, and
she furnished bond In the sum OF $500
for her appearance at the next term OF
the Circuit Court.
Mrs. Sauie Shaw Is about forty-fve
years Of age and quite handsome. She
is the wife OF Otis Shaw, well known
shoe drummer, and is said to be
woman of great tact, culture and refine
ment. She moves in the best society
and has been an intimate friend or Miss
Fisher ever since her childhood. She
suffers from heart trouble and 1t was
feared the shock resulting from mel
arrest would prove fatal, as she was
very much agitated when the marsha
Called'tO arrest her.
The officers OF the Government made
most diligent inquiry and search II
regard 10 the truthfulness Of the eharg
es against Miss Fischer, and found then
10 be malicious ISLANDERS, and without
the shadow OF foundation in TACT. hei
friends are rejoiced at the turn anair'
have taken, and she IS reinStated in the
position in society to which she is right'
iy entitled. To add to her miStortunes,
the lover who had been true TO her IL
spite Of the slanderous charges against
her character, and who has never
breathed a word OF the matter 10 her
died last week, after brief Illness
The prominence Of the parties, ane
the sensational nature Of the whole al
fair, makes the case one Of unusual In
tereSJ.
Gymnastie Exhibition.