The evening times., 1900-03-30
WHIIECAP LETTERS READ.
Preliminary Hearing In nm Unusual
Cuse of Assault.

Case of Assault.
BALTIMORE, March 30.-The prelimina-
ry hearing in an assault case which grew
out of "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 assauIting 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 TO petition against sd
looms Mr. Smith received letter about
two weeks ago incIosed in pastebOard
box about five inches long, three inches
wide and one inch deep. 1t was sent by
package delivery express wagon.
The letter was headed Beware" under
which was drawn a representation Of
skull and cross bones in black ink. The
letter was as follows:
Hallelujah Schmidt and Cohorts...
Praise the Lord
Did YOU ever hear Of WhitecapSE
WaIl NOT IrprV on
Of your Amen Brothers Of Salvation Army fame
will make their acquaintance.
Praise the Lord
And you will also find out how much Beer you
buy at Lansdowne for 10 cents. Be careful.
beseech you, if you and your Ayearian Brothers
want to live here unmolested attend to your own
affairs and let others alone.
Praise the Lord
Look out, they are on to you.
Praise the Lord
Truly yours.
| Captain OF Whitecaps.
| Company ]. Jack the Ripper
! John B. Smith was the first witness. He
| testified: II started from myshome Sun
| day afternoon. March %. about 430
| O'Clock to take a bicycle ride. | had not
! gotten more than fifty feet from my door,
I 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
| was about TO leave the gentlemen Watson
I grabbed me by the shoulders and turned
| me around. facing him. He swore at me
| and accused me of telling people in the
neighborhood that he had sent 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.
1 Lewis Reeser took him of me. and he then
| struck me several more times. Mr.. Reeser
| took him away again. and | 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 / went home.
| where 1 have remained since and have not
: been able 10 work.
| In answer to questions by Justice James,
| Smith said as soon as he got the letter he
/ thought of Watson as il contained many
pet phrases used by Watson. such as hal
| Ielujah' praise the Lord" and said he
! had talked to Watson about the Salvation
! Army. Smith said he at once sent for Mrs.
| Watson and asked if she thought her hus
/ band had written the letter and later
I asked Watson. but he denied il. Smith de
| MED that he had gone about the village
1 and told people that Watson had written
/ the letter Smith said the meeting OF the
! residents al which it was decided to get
up the petition to discontinue the saloons
| was held at his home.
The Messrs. Reeser verified the state
ment of Smith as 10 the assault and said
J il started over the letter.
| Mrs. Smith said she did not think The
letter was written by Watson. as the
! handwriting did not correspond TO pos
| tai received from Watson some time ago
| Dr. F. H. Ruhl testified that he was
| called in to attend Smith Sunday night
| about 9 o'clock and found him UncOR-
scious on the floor suffering from hys-
| terics He revived him and when he
! called the next day he gave him medicine
! for his stomach. He said his condition
! was due to excitement Watson made no
| statement before Justice James. The land
| owners at Lansdowne have taken steps
to prevent any further trouble. and rail-
road as well as private detectives have
! haeu DIaCpd on DUTY.