Evening star., 1911-08-31
May Have Inspired Girl to
Write Accusing Letters.
MAILED TO MANY PEOPLE
Arrest Of Miss De Witt Creates a
Sensation at Easton.
EvADED POSTAL. INSPECTORS
Suspicion Strengthened When Shs
Finally Copies One Letter-En-
gagged to Washington Man.

EASTON Pa. August 31.-If Miss
Harriet De Witt, fine looking. thirty
four years old and prominent socially
sent the offensive letters to the hand
some pastor of Christ Lutheran Church
the Rev. Z. f. Snyder. as was charged
when she was arrested, 1t is believed
that she really was actuated. by love
and that her object was to attract the
clergyman's attention to herself. But
as against this is the fact that many
other persons received similar letters
all apparently in the same hand, in the
last ten years.
Among these others are Mrs. Clarence
Parson. Mrs. David White. Mrs. Bessie
Crater Mayfield. Mrs. Margaret White
Tiffany, Mrs. George B. Shipman. Miss
Florence Willauer, the Rev. Dr. j. C.
Seegers. pastor Of st. Johns Lutheran
Church; Clarence Beck. r.. X. Lerch
and J. NJ. r. Sinner.
Engagement Broken.
The letters started shortly after the ar
rival of Mr.. Snyder In Easton ten years
ago. 1t was at that time that David
Butz. now Of Washington, had broken his
engagement with Miss De Witt. Mr.. Sny
der was the first to get the letters. They
were of such a character that the postal
inspectors refuse to allow them to be
seen. Then women began to get similar
letters so defamatory In character that a
panic ensued. The authorities were no.
titled by Mr.. Snyder, and inspectors
worked on the case for a year, but for a
long time none suspected the demure and
pretty Miss De Witt.
Finally the wife of a druggist was
dragged into the affair, and she was ac-
cused of sending the letters. This led to
differences among well known families,
which had not been healed until the SEN
rest.
The young womans parents are heart
broken over the arrest of their daughter.
She will have a hearing before United
States Commissioner Newton B. Turner
Friday morning.
Story Of Arrest.
The story of how Miss De Witt came
to be accused was told by Postal In
spector Valentine Schoenberger. who
brought about the arrest.
These letters. which we believe to
have been sent by Miss De Witt" said
the inspector, were all printed by hand
and there Is not one out Of the upward
OF tnOuSdnQ WHICH We nave III OuI
possession which could have been gotten
up in less than three hours.
When indications pointed to Miss DE
Witt as the author. We endeavOred &c
give her a private hearing In her own
defense. All efforts to interview her
however,, were for a long time Of nc
avail. Whenever / called at the home
Of her father, George De Witt, she had
locked herself in her room, or was In
the country. About six weeks ago ! go1
an interview with her, however. and
asked her to print one Of the letters In
the style in which the scurrilous com.
municatiOns came to the complaining res
idents of Easton.
Penmanship Similar.
1.-THE similarity of the penmanship CON
vinced me that Miss De Witt was re
sponsible for the communications. From
the time of that interview also the let
ters which had heretofore been coming
in an uninterrupted flow ceased.
"She has not pleaded guilty, but W.
think the governments case Is complete.
At the preliminary investigation Mis-!
De Witt was shown the letters on which
the accusation Is based. She declared hel
innocence. and offered to prove that sh'
herself was the recipient of similar let
ters. When asked to make good he
word she produced several letters sent t.
her through the mail, printed in the same
manner as those sent to Mr.. Snyder
These letters had been duly mailed. bu
are believed by the postal authorities t
have been sent by Miss De Witt to her
self as a precaution in case sine shoult
be accused of the authorship.
Mr. Rrtz Is Silent