The Washington times., 1914-10-25
POISON PEN WRITER
ENDS LONG MYSTERY
Mrs. Pollard Breaks Down When
Placed Under Grill by New
Jersey Official.

NEW YORK. Oct. 25-With the con-
fession of Mrs, Nelson L. Pollard, Of
Elizabeth, n. j., that she was the
author of scurrilous letters to promi-
nent persons, a mystery which has
baffled the police for seven years, has
been solved.
Mrs. Pollard. the comely wife Of an
Elizabeth business man. made a dra-
matte confession last night to Pro Sc
cutor Stein. of Union county, after a
severe grilling. She broke down after
six hours Of severe questioning, and
weeping Historically, begged Mr. Stein
TO save her from prosecution.
What will they do to me?" she
asked after she had affixed her sigma
tEre to the confession. You must not
send me to prison. l meant no harm"
Although Prosecutor Stein said his
duty to the State compelled him to be
silent on this point, it was learned last
night that Mrs. Pollard. in the seven
months since her trial. has written OBJ
scene letters of and to practically every
one who took part in the trial.
Is a Curious Study.
The woman. who presents a curious
study in feminine psychology, has con-
tinued her anonymous attacks upon DR.
and Mrs. Charles F, jones' her next
door neighbors. on Madison avenue,
Elizabeth. Mrs. Jones was the com
Prosecutor Stein, it is said. has re-
ceived one Of the new letters. In ad-
dition. Mrs. Pollard wrote to Mrs.
Erastus G. Putnam, the aged and re-
sIected regent of the Daughters of the
American Revolution
Mrs. Pollard is a member of the
D. A. r.. and many of her recent at
tacks were directed at fellow-members
Of the society.
In addition she either wrote to or
disseminated vile gossip about the
following: Mrs. A. o. Buck, wife of a.
Augustus s. Crane, publisher of the
Elizabeth Daily Journal: Mrs. Cranes
secretary, Miss Lawrence; Mr.. and
Mrs. Fisher, of Orchard street. Eliza
beth, and Mrs. Matthias SteeIman,
D. A. r. member.
beth Evening Times attacking persons
who are prominent in business and pro-
fessional. as well as social. circles.
Mrs. Pollard was trapped as re-
suit Of ruse evolved by United States
Postoffice Inspector Frank A. Butler
and Detective Thomas L. Carey. the
latter hired by DR.. Jones. Letters ad-
dressed to DR.. Jones were delivered,
ostensibly by mistake, at her home.
There they were kept several days, and
when they reached DR.. Jones it was
found that they had been opened and
scurrilous notes inserted.
The insertions all were couched upon
one central theme, indicating abnor-
mality. They were laboriously printed
by pencil. and all the letters were capI-
r. which was invariably written lower
case, except when 1t began word
When the evidence was considered
sufficient Mr.. Stein summoned Mrs.
Pollard to his office. She came without
question. With her was her husband
nd q har OF aiy,,-
er. was summoned. Mr.. Stein took her
into his private office and, with County
Detective John A. Galation as the only
witness. went over the whole history OF
the case.
Maintains Innocence.
Mrs. Pollard stoutly maintained her
innocence. Proof was piled on proof.
and still her compoSure remained -un-
shaken. Then she was caught in a dis
crepancy. Sobbing bitterly, she con-
fcssed to the authorship of one letter.
Other letters were shown her, and fin
ally a full confession was drawn from
her reluctant lips.
problematical. Mrs. Pollard is under
surveillance. but has not been taken
into custody.
Under the laws of New Jersey only a
scurrilous letter written to a female
against her consent can be used in a
new series of letters were written to
women. 1t may be necessary for one of
these to appear as complaining witness.
The Union county grand jury meets on
Thursday. and Mr.. Stein will decide
upon his course Of action before then.
As the case was worked up by Post
office Inspector Butler, it is possible
that Federal District Attorney Davis,
OF Trenton. will place the matter before
the United States grand jury.
last night. and her attorney, Mr.. Schlei-
mer said he had no statement to make
when reached at his home in New
Brunswick.