The Detroit times., 1914-12-11
"Never Wrote An Anonymous
Letter in My Life" She De-
clares on Stand
ONCE TOOK POISON. SHE
SAYS, ON CLARK'S ADVICE
Bears Up Well AS She Gives
TestimOny-Weeps Violently
as Session Ends


anonymous letters To prominent resi-.
dents OF Ypsilanti took the stand ia
her own defense Thursday morning,
and barred the innermost secrets OF a
woman's soul in the attempt to save
herself from prison. She positively
denied writing any OF the obscene
notes.
Her testimony tended to neu-
tralize that OF A S. Osborn,
handwriting expert, who testified
for the government. The woman.
after careful examination of one OF
the sooalled standard letters which
Osburn had used as basis OF com.
parison with the anonymous com
munications, swore that the letter,
while almost an exact copy of one
she had written, had been copied on
another style OF paper and that sew
eral words In the text had been
changed. The letter had been mailed
to James Clark.
Another letter to Clark. which Mrs.
McCready admitted was genuine and
which had not been tempered with,
was read to the jury by Attorney
Frank II. Watson. OF counsel for the
defense.
In this letter reference Is made to
an alleged attack by Clark on the
defendant, ana his advice later that
she go home and take poison"
Just before the opening OF court,
Thursday morning, several women, OF
whom there nave been many at the
trial, complained TO Judge futile that
many youths were hearing the testi.
Inony. which they characterized as
'salacious in the extreme"
1.-THE testimony In this case is Just
as fit for the senior law students as
it Is for the women in the court
room,n said the Judge.
He instructed the marshals TO see
that no one under 81 years of age
was admitted to the courtroom and
refused to admit messenger boys for
several newspaper reporters.
Mrs. McCready viii be the last wit
ness for the defense The govern
ment Is expected TO call several In re-
buttal.
Mrs McCready bore up we'll under
the trying ordeal retaining her self
possession admirably after rather
bad start After the Jurors had filed
out for the noon recess, however, she
burst into a paroxysm OF weeping and
was borne from the courtroom by her
mother, Mrs Kiliian and several other
women who are interested In the
case.
DR.. Herbert Harper. brother of the
defendant, was recalled to the stand
for cross-examination when the trial
was resumed Thursday morning.
District Attorney Webster asked
him IL he could identify the hand
writing In several letters said TO have
been written by his sister. He re-
fused to commit himself and was dis
missed after a few questions were
asked.
James Clark, originally suspected
of the authorship of the letters, was
next called by the defense.
"Mr Clark. when you obtained
several OF these letters from Mrs.
Robert Kilian did you tell her that
you wanted her to start suit against
Leas and that you would pay the ex-
pense of any litigation concerning the
letters" asked Mr.. Watson.
Il most certainly did not" replied
the witness. r
That's ALL" said Watson.
On examination by the district at
torney, Clark gave his version OF the
events which occurred In the home
Of Or. Harper the evening after the
defendant returned from California.
He substantiated the story told by
the physician, Wednesday, except to
deny that he had named any particu
lar person as furnishing the informa-
ton contained in the letters or that
he had offered TO shield Mrs. Nc
Cready II she would make an affidavit
blaming Leas.
Mrs. Robert Killian was the next
witness.
Mrs. Killian, you heard the ques-
ton I asked OF Mr. Clark--you may
tell the Jury whether or not you had
such a talk with Mr.. Clark and re-
peat IL you can, what he said on that
occasion" said Mr.. Watson.
"He said that II my son would
start suit against Leas for damages
he Clark, would see that 1t didn't
cost him cent" replied the witness.
Mrs. Killian was dismissed with
out cross-examination.
Mrs. Louise Harper, wife OF DR..
Harper. was next called. She told OF
the events In the Harper home on
the occasion of the visit OF Messrs
Fisk and Clark, WHICH her husband
described Wednesday.
She told OF the arrival OF Clark at
her home. Immediately after his ar
rival. she swore, he accused Mrs. Nc
Cready who was present, OF writing
the letters.
az don't believe you wrote those
letters OF your own free WILL Clark
said" testified Mrs. Harper.
"'You were forced TO by Leas, and
II you'll make an affidavit TO that
effect. I'll protect you. | was stand
ing at the head OF the stairs and
heard everything that was said.
"My husband asked Mr.. Clark II
he couldn't fix this thing up with Leai
as his sister had nothing TO do with
those letters. ] heard Mr.. Clark say
No. I've paid $1,000 already to gel
eas, and I'll pay $4,000 more If
ave to- Shortly after that | heard
nv husband tell both OF the men thai
tey had better leave the house
District Attorney Webster was un
Die TO shake the story told by the
fitness. which corroborates that o.
er husband.
Mrs. Harper was excused. and Mrs
Margaret McCready, the defendant
vas called at 1915 o'clock.
She appeared to be- very nervous
As she took her place, and was sworn
as a witness.
Where do you liver" was Attorney
Watsons first question