The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-08-20
Girl Accused Of Threatening to Poison
the NeIshborhood Is Discharged
in Liendecker's Court
Today.
SIX WITNESSES CALLED
Judge Decides That Evidence po.s
Not Show That Miss Welsh
Made Threats to XIII
Neishbors.

The quarrel between the family Of
Mike Welsh and Mrs. Helen Alberts
which was given in The Gate City last
Friday, was aired in Justice Leindeck-
er's Office this morning, when Miss
Ellen Welsh was arrnsned on a
charge Of threatening to kill some of
the neighbors. Six witnesses were
called by both sides. Archer Miller
represented the defense while Ed Nc.
Manus, assistant county attorney. ap-
peared for the state.
Mrs Helen Alberts was the first
witness called and stated that on the
evening Of August Is, she was stand
ing at the front door and Miss Welsh
passed the house and made a remark
that she would poison everybody In
the two houses. followed closely with
another to the effect that she would
poison the whole neighborhood. When
Attorney Miller began questioning her
she became very much nettled and a
wordy war was waged between the
two Mrs. Alberts was the complain
Ing witness but said that until the
present trouble came up she had been
very friendly with the Welsh family,
although she had, at one time, made a
complain to the Humane society about
the treatment that the Welsh's ac-
corded the mother Of Mr.. Welsh.
Mrs Nellie Mcpherson was the
next witness called. She is the moth
er of Mrs. Alberts and her testimony
was coroborative of that given by her
d-.ghter. She expressed the fear that
Miss Welsh would carry her alleged
threats into execution and said that
she was very much of the opinion that
when her daughters baby was taken
Ill a few DAYS age. that Miss Welsh
was the cause of 1t. She testified that
she had also heard the remarks that
Mics Welsh Is said to have made rel
Rtiye to poisoning the entire neighbor-
hood
Mrs Caleb Hewitt, another neigh
for, was called and said that she was
standing at the gate of her yard when
Miss Welsh and Miss Ruth Brodwell
Iassed and heard Miss Welsh say that
she would rather poison the neigh
hors than the dogs" bu. could not
hear her say that she would carry out
her threat.
Miss Welsh testified in her own Do
tense and said that she did not call
Mrs Alberts names because she was
not that kind Of a girl and was In
capable OF using the language attr'o-
uted to her by the complaining wit
ness. She said that she had never
made any threats against Mrs Alber.s
and could not be shaken by. the at
torney for the prosecution. Miss
Brodwell was called and said that she
was not sure that Miss Welsh did MT
make the threats but said tina che
did not hear her. McManus tried to
mix her UP but was unsuccessful in
bis efforts to impeach her TESTIMONY
Mike Welsh coroborated his daugt
ter's testimony and told OF the efforts
81 the neighbors to cause him trouble
After the testimony was taken, Al
torney Miller made motion to dis
miss the case because of insufficient
evidence and Mr. McManus argued a
short time in behalf of the sta &. At
the conclusion of the arguments, JUS
uce Leindecker discharged the defend
ant.
In discharging the defendant, Judge
! eindecker said: Il believe that it
y neighborhood quarrel and they
think that the only way to get revenge
Is to air their differences in court.
% far as can determine there is no
evidence to show that Miss Welsh
made the threats or that she would
carry them out, had she made them.
Inc defendant is discharged"