The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-12-31
MISS ERWIN BACK IN SCHOOL.
ANONYMOUS LETTER WRITER
HASN'T DRIVEN HER OUT.
Rowayton schooitcachcr Denes Her Ac-
cusers and Goes TO Work-Hasa Con-
stable Escort Her TO School for Safety
Mystery in the Case Decpens.

Mystery In the Case Decpens.
RowArToY, Dec. so.-Escorted by Con-
stable Landrigan, Miss Elizabeth A. Erwin.
the young schoolteacher who has been
accused of writing the anonymous letters
which of late have put this village in a
turmoil, went to the schoolhouse this
morning and resumed her duties as first
assistant to the principal. This wa IN
fat defiance Of the ultimatum issued last
week to Miss Erwin by G.. II. Vosburgh,
Jr., OF South Norwalk. counsel for John
Mcclellan, the principal of the school here
whose name has been conspicuously as
ISOLATED with the accusations against Miss
Erwin.
Mr.. vosburgh said on Tuesday last that
unless Miss Erwin did a certain mysterious
something between then and to-day, legal
proceedings would be begun against the
person who wrote the anonymous letters.
The mysterious something referred 10
by Mr.. Vosburgh was that Miss Erwin
should resign ~ teacher in the Rowayton
schools-in other words that she should
virtually acknowledge the authorship OF
the letters and leave. This Miss Erwin
fatty refused TO do. She said that not
only would she take no such step IA that
but tina she would leave nothing uflturn"i
herself TO discover the writer OF the letters.
What she would do toward those who, she
said, had so UNANIMOUSLY tradioed her was
a matter for future consideration on inc
part Of her lawyer.
So to-day Miss Erwin resumed teaching
her classes as usual, was in no way inter-
fered with, and, so far as can be learned;
there are no proceedings on foot toward
bringing her into court. She asked the
constable 10 GO with her to school to-day
because she SAID ~ felt nervous and APP
prehensive as the result OF the strain
she has been under. and there
was nobody elst TO go with her save
him. To a Sun reporter this evening
she said hat she was apprehensive of physi-
cal violence on the part of the principal or
somebody in sympathy with him she
asked George Stevens, the school com
mitteeman. for permission to lock the d'or
Of her schoolroom while she was teaching.
This. Mr., Stevens told her. was not neceS-
sary. and she kept the door open ~ usual.
Thus far no steps have been taken loos-
ing toward the retirement OF Miss Erwin
by cancelling her license. and there are no
indications az such a move. Pubic opinion
with the past few days has swung over
very strongly in Miss Ervin's favor and
there is a general disposition to look upon
her az the victim OF a particularly CON
temptible conspiracy. A w~ell-known busl-
ness man in the village said this afternoon
that IL no action were taken To clear up he
mystery there would he a district meeting
on the subject with the view of running
down the person or persons who are guilty
aud Kidding the school once and for all u
a situation that il seriously hampering the
school work.
Rumor was current here in the village
and in South Norwalk to-day that there
was last wear a case Of anonymous letter
wrilng very similar 10 that wh'ch has
afflicted kowayton. The runor also had
Il that this newly reported case OF letter
writing. like that in RowGyton, concerned
a teacher in the village school. his mat
ter j. Being investigated and an effort -
being made ia secure som" 81 IN" letters,
three Of which are said 10 he IN existence.
ANONYMOUS letter writing seems to have
been q matter ~ rather frequent occur
renee in Connecticut villages Of lat" and
there IL q suspicion Ina a good deal OF u
bc traced "a the same source.