The Washington times., 1902-07-11

seats. brought IN verdict Of not guilty.
There was an unusually large crowd
present
No Evidence Against Webster.
The Governments case against the ac-
cusei was weak in that there was no
evidence whatever 10 show that Webster
had either written or mailed the letters
in question.
Webster was represented by Attorney
Samuel G. E-ent, OF this city. and Ed
mund Burke, OF Washington. The pros
ecution was conducted by District At
tOrney Edgar Allen, assisted by Assist
aut District Attorney Hugh Gordon Mil
ler
The court did not convene until about
1880 o'clock, owing to delay In the
arrival OF Judge Waddill. who was de-
tained owing to a slight accident on
Long Bridge. When the Webster case
was called District Attorney Allen an
nounced that the Government was ,eady
70 proceed, but counsel for the defe9ce
asked the indulgence of the court until
tomorrow. On the ground that the trial
was based on a new indictment. which
would necessarily cause the presenc., Of
new witnesses. The court decided that
the Government side would be heard,
after which the case could 90 over uaLil
tomorrow. Counsel for the defense de-
INJURED to each count OF the indict-
ment, but the court overruled the de-
murrer, and the case proceeded.
Letters Too Obscene to Print.
IN the Indictment two letters we're
named. One bore the Alexandria post
mark and the date December ., 1901. and
the other OF December 90. 1901. Both
were addressed to 'B. C. Burnett. cor
ner of Duke and Peyton Streets" and
were signed with woman's name. The
Indictment set forth that the language
used was too vile to be spread upon the
minutes of the court.
Mr.. Thomas Burroughs. assistant post
master, was the first witness. He
identified the pOstmark on the face OF
the envelopes, but was unable to saw
whether or not they were posted in the
office or In the street boxes He stated
that on one occasion Webster had called
on him and told him OF having received
anonymous letters OF an obscene and
vile character and asked for the ad-
dress OF postofice inspector.
The two letters in question were iden-
tilted by Richard c. Burnett. He stat
ed that for some time he had received
as many as four or five letters of
similar character per week. He told OF
having held a conversation with Web
ster. and said that he was led to believe
that Webster was their author This.
he said. was because OF a striking sim
la~ff tr. t..
letters and certain remarks Webster
made The letter, he said. was received
the day following his conversation with
Webster. He said that Webster made
visits to him on Sundays. and this
further strengthened his suspicious.
Failed to Prove Authorship.
This was followed by long argument
en- the adInissiblity OF the two letters
as evidence. The defense claimed that
the prosecution had failed up to that
point to prove the authorship Of the
letters.
The court, however. ruled In favor Of
the prosecution. The court room was
then cleared of everyone except the
court officials and the representatives.
OF tUt press. anu iilt ltlltTS were read.
The district attorney omitted some por-
tions.
Miss Ada Langley. OF 32i North st.
Asaph Street. was then placed on the
stand She denied being the author cf
the letters which lore her name at the
bottom OF them. She stated that during
the last months in the year 1901 she was
the recipient OF numerous anonymous
communications. which We're In a SINH
lar handwriting.
Letter Carrier p. +. Downey identi-
fed the letters before the court as hav-
ing been delivered by him to Burnett
Government Plans Upset. |
PostofIice Inspector Owens testified
that the two letters had been handed
him By Assistant Postmaster Thomas
Burroughs. He said that he had never
seen the defendant write anything. He
then corrected himself and said that
he had seen him write two names this
morning. The court asked him where
they were He said that he could get
them. and he walked TO a nearby table
and picked up some pieces Of paper.
which he proposed to paste together
The court. however, ruled the entire
proceedings out of order.
The Government then rested the case
and the defense announced that they
would place no witnesses on the stand.
and asked for the dismissal of their