The evening times., 1900-03-30
WHITECAP LETTERS READ.
Preliminary Hearing in mn Unusual
Case of Assault


Case of Assault.
BALTIMORE. March 3O.-The prelimfua-
~ hearing in an assault case which grew
out OF a "whitecap" letter sent TO John B.
Smith. Of Lansdowne. Baltimore county.
took place before Justice John p. James at
the Mt Winans Station House last night
william Watson, Of Lansdowne was
charged on the oath of Mrs. Annie Smith
with assauItlDg and beating her husband.
John B. Smith. on Sunday last Mr. Wat
son prayed jury trial and was released on
81 900 bail for the Baltimore county court.
According to the testimony Of the wit
nesses a number Of the residents Of Lans-
downe formed an organization some time
ago for the suppression Of nuisances in the
neghborhood and for the promotion Of the
general good OF the community An effort
was made TO do away. with the saloons, as
the residents claimed that the boys and
men were made to drink and that they were
a nuisance. Mr.. and Mrs. Smith took an
interest in the movement, and Mrs. Smith
secured signers 20 petition against 81
looms. Mr.. Smith received a letter about
two weeks ago incIosed in a pastsboard
box about five inches long. three inches
wide and one inch deep. II was sent by
package delivery express wagon.
The letter was headed Beware under
which was drawn representation Of a
skull and cross bones in black ink. The
letter was as follows:
HaneluJah schmidt and Cohorts::.
Praise the Lord
Did you ever hear # WhitcCapss
VFrr rrHf anil.
o. your Amen Brothers Of Salvation Army fame
viii make their acquaintance.
Praise the Lord
And you viii also find out how much Beer you
can buy st Lsusd0wne for 10 cents. b. careful.
besecch Ju, IL you and your Ayeariau Brothers
want % live here uumoiested attend 90 y0ur oUU
dhairs and let others alone.
-Pri-c the Lord
Look out. they are on TO you
Praise the Lord
Truly yours,
Captain Of Whitec4ps
Company ]. Jack the Ripper.
John b. Smith was the first witness. lie
I testified Il started from myshome sun
day afternoon. March .. about 4.3O
O'Clock to take a bicycle ride. / had not
gotten more than fifty feet from my door,
when / met several gentlemen ] knew and
stood talking with them about ten min
utes- In the meantime Watson came from
his home and stood in the crowd. As
grabbed me by the shoulders and turned
me around. facing him He swore at me
and accused me Of telling people ia the
neighbOrhOOd that he had stut the white
cap letter. He said he would Kill me and
struck me on the lower jaw. knocking me
over my bicycle and against the fence
Lewis Reeser took him of me and he then
struck me several more times. Mr.. Reeser
took him away again. and l started TO-
ward my home. calling him a cur He
ran at me again and was beating me
when William Reeser. a son Of Lewis
Reeser. took him away. and I went home.
where / have remained since and have no.
been able TO work"
In answer to questions by Justice James
Smith said as soon as he got the letter he
I thought o. Watson, as 10 conJ1iunC many
pet phrases used by Watson. such as hal
lelujah. praise the Lord and said he
had talked 10 Watson abou1 the Salvation
Army. Smith said he al once sent for Mrs.
Watson and asked If she thought her hus-
band had written the letter and later
asked Watson. but be denied IT, Smith de-
. MED that he had gone about the village
and told people that Watson had written
I the letter. Smith said the meeting OF the
I residents at which it was decided to get
up the petition TO discontinue the saloons
was held al his home.
Inc AtraiS- heeSef feilued ihe state
ment OF Smith as 10 the assault. and said
it started over the letter.
Mrs. Smith said she did not think The
/ letter was written by Watson as the
I handwriting did not correspond 10 a pos
l tai received from Watson some time agu.
( DIT. +. II. Ruhl testified that he was
] called in TO attend Smith sunday night
/ about o'clock and found him uucou-
| scious on the floor suffering from hys-
! Jerics. He revived -him and when he
1 called the next day he gave him medicine
for his stomach. He said his condition
was due 10 excitement Watson made no
I statement before Justice James. The land
/ owners al Lausd0wue have taken steps
/ to prevent any further trouble. and rail
/ road as well as private detectives have