The Washington herald., 1911-12-12
POISONED PEN"
CASE is DROPPED
Woman Defendant Quickly
Called Not Guilty.

Philadelphia, Dec. 11.-The EaSton
poison pen" case came to an abrupt
end here to-day when Miss Harriet De-
witt was declared not guilty of the
charge of sending hundreds of anony-
NOUS letters to Rev. Elmer E. Snyder
and others.
Miss Dewitt was placed on trial this
morning and the Rev. Mr.. Snyder had
just left the witness stand when As
sistant District Attorney Dwartley Of
fered in evidence a specimen of Miss
Dewitt's handwriting obtained by Pos
tai Inspector Schoeberger.
W. S. Kirkpatrick, of Easton. coun-
sci for the defense. objected to the
admission of the evidence. He was sus-
taind by United states District Judge
Mcpherson, who declared he believed
admitted, but he was bound to rule 1t
out until Congress changed the law.
THE United States courts are working
under laws passed more than a century
ago. he said, "and their origin dates
so far back that the reason for them
must have long since disappeared"
Abandons the Prosecution.
Mr. DwartIey then announced that he
would abandon the prosecution, and
Judge Mcpherson instructed the jury to
return a verdict of not guilty.
None of the scurrIlous letters were
read in to-day's proceedings. The Rev.
Mr. Snyder said he had received three
hundred OF the missves, and all of
them were abusive and insulting. He
said he had never regarded Miss Dewitt
as more than a friend, although he had
paid some attention to her before his
marriage.
Thousands Of letters have disrupted
Easton society in the last nine years. ac-
cording to the attorneys. Most of the let
ters were filthy in language, replete with
obscene expressions and words. and near
ly all charged unnamable things and
practices against DR.. Snyder and his
friends.
The prosecution went over the relative
location of the Snyder and De Witt
houses seeking to prove that the defend
ant was situated in a place that over
looked the parsonage. A description Of
Miss De Wits Kisses and actions enliv-
ened the afternoon session.
Throughout the day Miss De Witt show
ed no embarrassment or emotion, fire.
quently comforting with and prompting
her attorneys. but her aged father and
mother were i'll at ease and showed dis
like Of their position.
Minister Tells His story.
Miss De Witt Strengthened in her chair
as Rev. Elmer Z. Snyder, who. It is said,
is her chief victim, was called to the
stand. He is a tall. good-looking man,
and was dressed more like a prosperous
business man than a clergyman. After
describing the location Of his own and
Miss De Wits houses he declared that
he was unmarried when he received the
first defamatory letter. He said he had
rented the parsonage to family named
Wibauer.
Il have known the defendant since
1901" he said. Il met her at the home of
Mrs. A. K. Michler, a member OF my
congregation. I kept up a speaking ac-
Quaintance with Miss De Witt.
In 1902 received the first letter, and
after that l got as many as two a week" "
Prosecutor Swartley produced pack
age OF letters and asked the witness to
identify them. He replied that these were
the alleged poisoned pen" missives he
had received.
IT gave these letters to the postmaster
at Easton," he said, and told him how
I had been given them. 1 was married on
June 13 to a girl born in Easton, but
raised in California After l married
received another letter.
whenever 1 met Miss De Witt on the
street she threw up her head and shifted.
Whenever she saw Mrs. Snyder she
rushed inside and slammed the door un-
til 1t nearly took the hinges of. I saw
her do this myself" said the clergyman
Indignantly.
Kissed at Them.
IF Mrs Snyder and I came out on our
porch, Miss De Witt would grab her
cushion and f1ounce into the house. An
other time when my wife and l came up
the street in our automobile, Miss De
Witt passed US and hissed, We'll, do
you see it all?''
Miss De Witt hissed at US when we
passed her. Before I was married 1
walked down the street and the defend
ant called, Look out, little girl, you'll
Slip 1 do not know that the defendant
knew Miss Florence Willauer, daughter
of the man to whom I rented my house.
Miss Fillauer is here, however. and can
testify. The De Witt house overlooked
the parsonage"
During the pastors testimony, Miss De
Witt smiled twice, once when the wit
ness repeated her cry, Look out, little
girlI' and again at a reference to Miss
Willauer.
Did you ever go out to mail letters
mo, sir" replied the witness. while
Miss De Witt smiled, and the crowded
court room snickered.
Did you pull down your curtains when
you took exercise, just before going to
bed?" inquired the attorney.
THE curtains were down" said the
minister.
In reply to a question, he said he knew
Mrs. Bessie Shipman, who lived two
doors above the parsonge. She received
one of the slanderous letters.
Swartley turned him over to former
Judge Kirkpatrick for cross-eXamination.
The clergyman denied that he had ever
paid Miss De Witt any social attention.
The defendant he said, did not attend
his church. He always saluted or nodded
to her.
WOMEN LEARN TO SHOOT.
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