Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1895-03-29
Tho obscene.Le,ter Case.

llueu III IulS paragraph operative 6L once.
Tho Obscene-Letter Case.
The case of The United States vs. Mary
Dickson came up in the federal court
at Bismarck to-day, the charge being
that of Sending or causing to be sent an
obscene letter through the mails" When
the case was called DR.. Harcourt ap-
peared before the court, was intro.
duced by Attorney Stoyell, and stated
that he had just come from the bedside of
the defendant that she was enceinte, and
that she could not for some time appear
in court without serious danger. Assist.
ant United States Attorney w. P. Miller
was not satisfied with DR.. Harcourts
statement. He asked that, as there were
some very peculiar circumstances con.
nected with the case, the statement of
the physician be put in writing, sworn to
and signed. This DR.. Harcourt refused
to do, as his examination of defendant
had been hurrisdly done. Mr.. Miller then
asked that DR.. Bentley be sent to ex-
anime defendant-Nrs. Dickson. On his
return to court DR.. Bentley stated that
he found the defendant suffering consid-
erably from nervousness, but thought
that he could have her ready to appear in
court next day. As it was necessary
for several of the government witnesses
to return home for few days, if pos
sible, by consent of counsel the case
went over to next Wednesday at p. m.
Whatever may be the outcome, it will
probably be long time before wife
and mother in Emmons county will again
be the victim of vile and filthy alta ok
through the medium of an anonymous let.
ter. It's too expensive.
The fact that the Record is a couple of
days late this week enables us to give the
particulars of happening that grew out
Of the trial. 1t will be remembered that,
year ago. when the preliminary exami.
nation took place, Attorney Stoyell, for
defendant. claimed that he could prove
by two or three Bismarck business men
that the letter was in the handwriting OF
r. H. Thlstlethwalte. then in England,
Ioa the frst.evcning ct sthe examination
before Commissioner Hoskins the defend
ant testified that Thistlethwalte had no,
been inside Of her house for several
months previous to the day on which tht
letter was received (although a number
of people knew he was there for sew
eral hours during the afternoon or
which the :lrop. letter was mailed) anc
that she knew nothing whatever abou
the matter. In the next evenings exam
ination, TO the astonishment of every,
body present the defendant testified tina
she had directed the envelope for This
tlethwaite. Her testimony was duly
written out, signed, and sworn to. The
case now comes into court on this show
ing.
As soon as the government attorney
reached Bismarck and looked over tn
papers IN the case subpoena was at ono
issued for Thistlethwaite. W. 8. Cassel
man, being brother of the lady whom
the vile letter attacked, had natural,
taken deep interest in the prosecution
of the case. On the evening of the da.
on which the case came up Casselmal
was in the Sheridan House lobby con
versing with Mr.. Laughlin, commla
sloner of agriculture and labor. This
tlethwaite came in and for awhile stoo'
near Casse1man. As the latter was sit
ting down in a chair Thistlethwait
struck at HIM. Casselman lodged tn
blow and then went in on the aggressive
When the entertainment closed 1t wal
found that one Of Thistlethwaite's eye
was also closed and his face badly battered
while Casselman was unmarked and un
hurt. The result OF the unprovoked as
sault gave unbounded satisfaction to th
large crowd who saw it. After the com
bat was over, Thistlethwaite exclaime
that he would kill Casselman, threa
which it can be proved that he has mad
against two others during the past winter