The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-09-18
WOMAN WITH THE
SERPENT'S TONGUE
FOR SIX YEARS EAsToN, PA, IS
FLOODED WITH RRILOIS
LETTERS.

PHILADELPHIA, Sept IL When
Miss Harriet De Witt the spinster
daughter Of retired truck farmer. or
Easton. Pa. is placed on trial In the
federal court here Tomorrow on the
rather indefinite charge OF nisusing
the mails, the postal authorities
peut to clear up the mystery sur
rounding a system OF anonymous let
ter wr1ting that has terrorized the
church gong folks of Easfon. for the
past six years. Ia that period homes
have been wrecked friends have be
come enemies, ana lovers have been
Separated--all as IA result of series
OF slanderous epistles written in ths
same treacherous hand. and cQucheu
+ in the same venomous language.
Whether the examination Of Miss
DE Wiz reveals her as the writer oc
tne pen printed. venom harped let
ters mat have disturbed the peace ana
quiet of Easton fer the past six years.
OF Vindieate tho assertions OF herself
and friends that she is innocent they
VII unfold To her eager townsfoik tne
history OF her lIte~-a history that, by
j som. trick Of fate, seeins TO be curious-
/ ly in harmony With the rise and cul-
mlnation OF the letter writing.
Miss De Witt is a single woman
living with her parents Her father Is
a retired truck farmer Of Easton. Her
movements ever since the series OF
/ letters began 10 make their appearances
/ In Eastou society. have been yeiled
/ In mystery, EVEN her intimate neigh
/ bors peln" unaware Of her eAistence-
/ Before the letter writing began she
! is said 10 have been a member OF tbs
Christ Evangelical Lutheran Churcn,
OF which the Rev. Elmer T.. Snyder.
| then a young bachelor divine. IS pass
j tor. :,
Attacks Young Minister.
Il was While the iteN. Snyder waA
attending the social pleasures OF his
church that the first letters made
their appeal ance. They were ad-
dressed To members OF the young di-
Niuea Hook and contained charges So
| unspeakable that the resulting furoro
almost resulted in his expulsion. Later.
| when he was engaged to marry
young lady from the West. another
batch OF letters disturbed the peace
OF the church over which he had heid
sway From this time on, 1t is said.
little was seen Of Miss DE Witt.
From time TO time, other letters have
made their appearance, gradually Wild
! ening their scope TIL their circulation
included the members OF families in
every part of tpe town. In fact so
profuse did the letter writing become
that ii is thought that at least four or
more authors have fallen victims To
the disease.
The postal inspectors have been at
work on this strange epidemic for
several years, their only clues being
letters PLACED in their hands by the
Rev, snyder Time and again they
have set out upon promising trail
only to be confronted with failure.
They have. at different times had
under suspicion several members OF
the Rev. Snyder's flock. but in each
case the suspected persons were able
to prove beyond doubt their inno-
! eence--in one case acknowledging an
inability to read or write: In another
proving an abb. and in still another
responding to the suspicion with a
removal from town. But still the
letters found their way into Easton
homes sometimes aftey lapse st
months and sometimes appearing .
score at a time.
Woman Is Arrested.
Gradually suspicion, through fire.
fquent references TO intimate portions
of Pastor Snyder's house and back
yard, became restricted to the region
Immediately surrounding his vicaraEs.
The tenants of the surrounding houses
were put under secret surveillance.
marked stamps were kept for distri-
button among them and samples Of
the postal inspectors built UP their
evidence bit by bit, till at last they
felt that their case was strong enough
to warrant an arrest The next morn
ing all Easton rung with the news
that the mysterious recluse. Harriet
DE Witt. was under arrest, accused
with misuse OF the United States
mails.
At the hearing on September tho
IeHidcnce was found sufficiently strong
TO warrant her detention for trial in
the Federal court on September IS.
though she herself added her denun-
lciation of the arrest to that of many
friends OF the family, and though IL
was generally conceded that the gov
lernments case. as far as 1t was d.
vulged at the preliminary hearing,
showed few signs OF strength II
10 rumored. however. that the postal
inspectors have many surprises in
store for the defense when Miss De
witt steps before the bar.
Alleged Theft OF Watch.
On the charge of taxing watch
belonging to g. T. AGREE, the police O.
the Second District Saturday arrested
Il. Bradley. He will be heard by JuDs
uce John this morning, ~