Milford chronicle., 1911-12-15
POISONED PEN"
CASE DROPPED
Miss De writ, Of EaSt3n, AG-
quilted in u S. Court.
JOYOUS OVER TIE RESULT
Assistant District Attorney Abandons
Prosecution When Handwriting Tes-
timony is Ruled Out.

Prosecution When Handwriting Tes-
timony is Ruled out.
The trial of Miss Harriet De Wit
of Easton, on charges preterrei BY
the United States postal authorities OF
sending malicious and slanaesous let
ters to Rev Elmer E. Snyder and 9TH
ers, of Easton, Pa, came 10 surprising
end. when the government submitted
its case and asked tor a verdict OF
not guilty.
Miss De Witt was placed on trial
before Judge Mcpherson in the United
States district court
The action Of j. c. Swartley, the
assistant United States district attor
aey, in throwing up mis- hands and
abandoning the case came as a result
Of a ruling by Judge Mcpherson eE-
cluding testimony on handwriting,
which he acknowledged that he madc
only under the compulsion uf The rules
and not because he believed it TO be
right and just. Incidentally, he paid
his respects to congress for not hay
ing changed the rulings.
The question arose in the testimony
Of Valentine Schoenberger. a postal |
Inspector, who obtained a sample OF |
Miss De Wits chirography after sus-
piciOn had settled upon her. Mr. |
SWartley sought to introduce this |
writing as evidence, and W. S. Kirk |
patrick, counsel for the defense. OBJ
jected. A long argument ensued by
hs.kh L.
Pherson said:
you make a very ingenious argn-
ment, Mr.. Swartley, but unfortunately
the court is bound by rulings and /
must exclude this evidence. may
add that have no sympathy wi h the
ruling under which | am fore ed to
make this decision.
Il thoroughly unders and what was
the foundation for it, but the reasons
for it have disappeared. However,
congress has never seen fit to change
the rulings, and until such action is
taken / have no recourse. must ex-
clude the evidence"
THAT being the case" said Mr.
Swartley Il must submit my case and
ask for a verdict of acquittal With
that evidence in, would press for a
Without it. l cannot puT-
sue the case further It would be use
less I ask. therefore, that a verdict
of not guilty be taken"
Gentlemen OF the jury, you have
heard what the governments attorney
has said" said Judge Mcpherson.
THE government up to this point has
not succeeded in making out a case
against this defendant and the evi- ,
dence upon which it hoped to found
one is necessarily ruled out by the
court You will, therefore find a YER :
dict OF not guilty" :
The jurors. most of them apparently ,
in maze Of surprise. slowly nodded :
their heads the verdict was recorded s
and court was adjourned. :
Miss De Wits father and mother
embraced her, her counsel shook her
hand and number of the res dents
If Easton who had come for the trial. :,
assembled about her 10 extend their =
over the crumbling OF =
he case agains' her
Miss Florence Willauer appeared as
/ witness for the prosecution It was I,
Hiss Wallauer who, while living with :
Ter parents in the parsonage where I,
dr. Snyder had rooms. was the recip
ent Of attentions f.om the clergyman
which are contended by the prosecu-
ion to have angered and chagrined ,.
fiss De Witt to the point of conhding .
er feelings TO the mails anonymously. y
Miss Willauer told OF instances =,
rhen Miss De Witt had Missed" at :,
er when the witness was in the com a.
any of Mr. Snyder and of other times
Then the defendant had made faces"
t Mr.. Snyder and Miss Wallauer.
Much of the testimony OF Rev. Mr.. 10
nyder, the first witness, was de- M
lgned to show that Miss De Witt is W
ccentric to a degree that caused her pc
, act strangely in many ways, and
nat she manifested malice and ex-
'eme dislike toward Mr. Snyder. The
linister said she had made faces" at Of
i'm and hissed him. TO