The herald., 1895-10-26
THE BEAUTY DOCTOR ON TRIAL
Mrs. Nita WIZARDS Victims Con-
tinue Sad Stories
SEDUCTIVE LETTERS DID 1T
Some Wonderfully Constructed EpistIes
Introduced in Evidence
Peculiar Larceny Case-Bagiey EmbezzIe-
mept Examination-kennett Jury
Completed General Notes

There was much larger crowd than
usual in attendance at the United States
district court yesterday morning when
the trial of the Willards was resumed be-
fore Judge Weliborn and jury. All the
parties in interest were on hand, the
handsoi.e little beauty doctor occupy ing
a seat by her counsel, J. Marion Brooks,
esq.,, and was apparently not in the least
worried as to the outcome. This young
woman, Mrs. Nita l.. Willard, is but little
more than girl in appearance, but she
has great self-possession, and sat I'M
moved during the reading of her wonder
ful letters, only occasionally whispering
some suggestion to her counsel. Mrs. Mia
has nerve, besides youth and beauty, and
as a fake letter writer has never had an
equal in this locality.
The first witness called was Mrs. Minna
NJ Stephens of Gilrov, Cal. and she &C.
cupied the stand during the greater part
OF the day. Mrs. Stephens was one of the
ladies who fell into Mrs. Wizards trap,
being caught by those seductive letters
promising steady employment at good
wages in managing branch agencies for
the sale of the famous beauty wonder,
the demand for which was so great that
it could only be met by the most siren
uous efforts.
The lady told how she pawned her
watch to procure $40 to send to Mrs. Will
lard for a first installment of the face To-
ton. which was expected to 60 off like
hot cakes, but didn't. Mrs. Stephens
became distrus:fui after she sent the $40,
and wrote several letters to Mrs. Willard,
which evidently worried her consider
ably.
Her replies were read by District At
torney Denis, and they exhibited the
prolific vocabulary commanded by the
interesting defendant. They were vou-
minous and ranged in expression from
familiarity to scorn. in one of them she
addressed Mrs. Stephens as Minnie"
and told her to "brace up, dear sister,"
She affected to laugh at the Jack of faith
in the honorable intentions of the Won
der combination. and assured her cores
pondent that she would do everything in
her power to assist her.
The tone OF the latter changed when
Mrs. Stephens wanted her money back.
Mrs. Willard informed her that she was
very much disappointed in her, and that
she had better drop the whole business,
but that owing to hard times she could
not let her have the $40 just then, al.
though she might do SO later.
Other letters were written in reply to
an interesting letter by Mrs. Stephens,
saying that Mrs. Willard had gone tower.
M ont to visit relatives. Then followed
two signed in an unin.elligible manner,
threatening Mrs. Stephens with proseu-
tion for criminal libel for her ''insults'
to Mrs. Willard.
"You don't scare us worth a cont"
nj ato taI
that Judge f. A. Willard had learned of
her insults and that she would rue her
action for her miserable charges OF fraud.
Page after page of these letters were
read, and when the last had been iden
titled the witness was turned over TO
counsel for the defense for cross-exami n
alton.
.Mr. Brooks asked Mrs. Stephens if she
was living with her husband, to which
she replied that she was not. Mr..
Brooks then wanted to know why the
lady and her husband had separated,
when Mrs. Stephens fatty declined to an
swer the question.
Mr.. Brooks insisted that this was
perfectly proper question, as going to
show the status of the witness in the
town where she resided Mrs. Stephens,
while stating that it was from no fear
that it would incriminate herself that she
refused to answer, still declined to do so.
At this point United States Attorney
Denis came to the rescue of the witness,
and a lengthy and heated argument en-
sued, Mr.. Denis insisting that 1t was not
proper, al d that the statutes expressly
protect witnesses from having indienities
thrust upon them.
Judge Wellhorn then dismissed the
jury. and, after listening to the argu-
ments for few minutes longer, took the
matter under advise.nent until O'clock,
taking recess until that hour.
When court reconvened Mrs. Stephens
again took the stand, when Mr.. Brooks
stated chat he would withdraw the objec-
tonable question and then started in
on bis s-examination. Mr.. Brooks
is always entertaining. and he proceeded
to amuse himself in his own fashion with