The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-06
PRETTY NURSE USED
POISON PEN, CHARGE
lpsilunti Society Received Sean
dalOus Letters for
Three Years.
TRIAL BEGINS TOMORROW

YpsILASrI. Mich. Dec. 5.--This sleepy
old city Of underwear and normal stu
dents is excited over the trial or Mrs.
Margaret McCready. charged with writ
ing the poison pen letters about fpsi-
iantis society folk. which will begin on
Monday in Detroit.
Comely Mrs Peggy McCready' d.
yorcee and professional nurse. was in
dict.d in Dctroi. last June on the charge
of sending improper matter through the
mails. Some OF Ypslanti's best known
residents and their wives were the re-
cipients of the letters, which were sent
irregularlv covering period OF three
years
spite work" says the accused woman
OF the charge. She and her family con-
fidently assert proofs will be shown IN
tho trial that will clear her OF all con-
nection with the letters, but the line OF
defence has not been dvulged.
Mrs. McCready. tail. slender and grace
full. is about 80 years old Her family
lives in one of Ypsilanu's handsomest
lies Of the city.
In 1912 Mrs McCready nUrsed the wife
of James Clark. n baker. until she died.
shortly afterward the first poisoned
letters appeared. II is alleged she tried
to get clark to marry her, but that he
refused 1t is clark she bldmes Tor the
present charge against her
Alvin Edward Leas, livery stable
owner. Is mentioned IN most OF the let
ters Ypsilanti husbands are assailed In
letters sent to them for not getting after
Ieas FOR running with their wives. They
were urged To shoot or punish Leas "
no attention was paid to the letters the
N.ft4 al
count
Absolutely the worst language nave
ever seen or heard" said District Attnr-
uoy clyde |. Webster of the letters. They
contained the most vulgar ana indecent
charges. and persons were referred to IN
them by epithets. Tin, Grand Jury that
indicted her a. the author Of eight OF
the letters declined to specify the lam
guaEr objected to- pronouncing ~ too
obsceu. 10 hc spread on the records OF
g." court
\ f..v ~ the letters were addressed 90
Mrs McCrcadf TGcy charged her with
being out Niia other men and advised h"r
~ stay away. The writing was almost
| illr-lblc Others who received letters
were Cidrk. Lcis. Mr. and Mrs. w. w.
Wireaar. Mr.. ard Mrs. Lou Il. killan'
Mrs Robert H. kul.an aud William e.
Fisk. Several families We're broken up
by tho letters, and the city has reNclled
.n uunoly gossip for three years. the
work Of tn" letters
clark Med % suit against l.cas April
q. 1914 charg.H. SANDER. l"ss two days
later hl"d three counter suits. in one of
" ion Fisk Vas o,defrudaut. Letters
Las received We" .u black hurder.d
envelopes They came shortly after Mrs.
Clark's death. and il was for this rea-
son he CHARGED Clark with Their au-
thor~nip.
Complaint was mad" 20 the Govern
,r.ut when the letters first appeared but
Federal officials did not take up the case
IN earnest until last spring Post
office Inspector \ H. McDouSall of
the 500 wts pat on the case. No
p.rso' VS. spe'iucally named 10 ire
Grand Jury. bur Mrs McCrcady was Sc
ie,,ed by the jury 10 face the charges
Her Indictment vas charged pr!nci.
pally to the testimony Of Albert :. Os.
horn. Men York handwriting expert. She
AS we'll as others who received letters
testified.
The letters were all pronounced tn,
work OF a woman. The boidress Of III,
author startled post office officials. Thu
last letters appeared June 2 l9lt. JUS
wien Ia" Goyerj Wcut was collecting ties
,t.nony for the Grand Jury. The indict
lusut followed Jun. 10. and no turtle
letter, have been received.
"Oh, ! suppose rs about those le'
! ters' Mrs M'Cready exclaimed non
chilantly when arrested ITS all spit,
, work ON the part Of jim Clark
{ she has been ont on $1,000 bal
L. a letter TO Leas the author wrote
f, 81 at,e YOU / wish iilllan would XII
( YOU" Mrs. McCready was referroi TO u
a some OF them ~ Peggy.