Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-01-23
Mrs. Anita Mayer
is Exonerated?
Salem Woman Who Writes Letters
Unfit for Publication Says Grand
Jury Cleared Her.

Mrs. Anita Mayer, who was arrested
here Tuesday afternoon on a charge of
sending obscene matter through the
mails, and who was taken to Portland
for examination, according to the morn
ing paper, has returned to the city. She
claims she was exonerated by the grand
jury, and comes back whittier than laun-
dry fresh from Chinatown. IL there
was any doubt about her guilt or even
her intent in writing the letters which
caused her arrest, there would be moth
ing further to say, but, unfortunately
for the poor lady, the letters are in ev.
idence, and are beyond all excuse or
palliation. They are simply vile, so
bad that If printed in The Capital Jour
nal, or any other paper, it would be
denied the use of the mails. As mat
ter Of fact it would require asbestos
paper and red ink to properly present
the letters with all their warmth Of col.
oring and rich, red-bloodedness. She
tells those she addressed how they could
meet her privately, and lays especial
stress on her physical charms, which, by
the way, she seems to have a much
higher opinion of than her face will
justify. There can DO but one excuse
for her acts and that is that she is in.
sane. Taking this charitable view Of it
we append the wOman's statement.
The Lady's Statement.
Editor Capital Journal: In your is
sue of Wednesday you have an article
which places me in an unfair light.
You claim that I have been very
busy using the mails to establish
friendships with many business men OF
Salem. I did send out several letters
the first part Of Januaf. when I was
in desperate circumstances after had
tried every other m'Te rst Of max
ing ends meet t2Sf ~ ~, {
I wrote q letter on December 90 tC
"The Exalted Ruler" of the Elks, who
by the way, happens to be Mr.. A. Huck
estein, stating that I had several ar
ticles for sale, and asking him, as {
favor, to take the matter up with some
Of the members Of the lodge Of Elks
and help me out. I also sent out at tina
time % appeals to different business
men. As I got no replies to these let
ters, went on Christmas day up to m!
fathers home in Benton county, anC
remained several days,
7 took some of my goods with me
but could not sell anything up there
Ny father let me have so, which wa
all he had. The railroad fare from m,
fathers home to Salem is $l,25 and
paid 65c express on my goods, and
got back to Salem with 10 cents, Satur
day, January 3. I took the 10 cent
and bought a can Of milk and six bun
Saturday evening. Sunday could no
canvass. Monday ! walked 30 block
with no sales. / also went to tw,
places where they wanted help, an,
they were filled.
Monday night ! began and wrote th
letters, some stamps having been sen
me in letter. The language in then
was not obscene--the meaning wa
plain. You have stated that q mum
ber of replies were found in my pos
session when was arrested. That |
not true, ] received no replies, Tb
letters were ignored by the "real
men.
Mr.. Jim Wilson and John Bayne ar
the two men who wished to play to tn
gallery, and get great acclaim as pull
lie purifiers, no matter what effect
might have on the unfortunate victim
If any replies had come after JAM
ary 8, they would have been ignored b
me, for had sold 80 worth Of good
and had something to go on.
I went before the grand jury and tol
them the truth, gave them reference
in Montana on Wednesday, and the
wired to Montana to investigate, an
\ on Thursday was called before tn
grand jury and dismissed.
J I was treated in a kind and courteou
manner by the United States distric