Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-07
POISON PEN,' DIPPED IN
IRE, MAKES ATTACK ON
ZIEGLERSVILLE WOMAN
Mrs. Lucas Schell, Former
Philadelphian, Wife of Hotel
Man, Told to Quit as
Lodge Member
A WIDOW IS SUSPECTED
BIZ a star Correspondent

zTEGLERSVILD1, Pa, Dec. 7.-"Poison
Pen" letters sent to Mrs. Lucas Schell.
former Philadelphian and wife of the
hotel proprietor here, have set this town
on edge The letters, which attack her
in scathing terms, were showed under n
side door for three consecutive nights
They also advised the woman to quit the
lodge of which she is member saying
that women Of her character are not
wanted" The notes we're signed MEM
bers"
The town is divided as to who sent the
| letters. Some of the villagers think that
certain "members' sent them, while
others are of the opinion that they were
| sent by young widow from another
| town
! Mrs Schell, who was recovering from
n serious Illness at the time, suffered a
| relapse. Her husband, Lucas Schell,
| formerly of Howard street and Susque-
hanna avenue, Kensington, vowed he
would get the offenders He took the
missives to the chief of the lodge, who
was paying n visit in the town at the
time. The chief of the lodge, which is
known as the knights of Friendship,
passed It over to the head of the wom
ems auxiliary, known as the Companions
of Friendship, of which Mrs, Schell was
n member.
a special meeting was called, and Miss
Lillian Kraft financial secretary, read
the three letters to an audience of 80
women. Several members objected say
ing 1t was not proper for letters of such
n nature to be read in an open meeting.
The letters were read, however, and the
women who objected left the room.
All present disclaimed any knowledge
OF the sender of the notes. and resolutions
were adopted acClaiming Mrs. Schell a
member in the best of standing. The
matter was then dropped, Mrs. Schell be-
ing convinced that lodge members had
nothing to do with the letters.
THE FIRST LETTER.
The first letter. which merely advised |
her to resign from the lodge, follows:
Dear Mrs. Schell:
Can't you see by the way decent
people treat you that you are not
wanted in the lodge any longer? You
are no credit to our order and you
should take the hint before any action
is taken. "MEMBERS"
When Mrs. Schell paid no attention to
the note, believing it the doings of n
joker, a second letter followed, which,
according to Mrs. Schell, contained OBJ
jectiOnable language.
a third letter. just as bitter and scath-
ing, according to Mr. Schell, followed
mentioning the name of Mrs. Henry
Christman, neighbor and member of
the auxiliary Mrs. Christman denied
all knowledge Of the note today, and
said that she and Mrs. Schel We're good
friends
According to Miss Kraft and other
members of the lodge, suspicion now
points toward woman who had been
visiting Mrs. Schel. This woman, n
young widow from a nearby town, is
also suspected of sending similar notes
to two girls In that town, according to
Miss Kraft.
Shortly after the notes were found the
widow left for her home and has not
returned to zieglersvilIe. Mrs. Schell first
the woman of sending the let
ters, Miss Kraft says. but later retracted
her accusations, Whether they were sent
by her or by members OF the lodge is now
the subject of debate over every back
fence, in every saloon and on every oc-
casion that gives the slightest pretext
TO refer to il.
The auxiliary made arrangements to
nave a Norristown detective seek the
sender, but Schell refused to have the
Investigation made, saying he wished the
matter to be dropped.
TITS all over, and the sooner 1t is for
gotten the better" he said today. II
iont want a lot Of investigations and
'Ows going on around here 1t would
lurt my business. Everybody knows us
rom Norristown to Zieglersville, and
sven in Philadelphia, and there is no use
)othering about the matter. 1 don't be-
ieve the person will write any more
etters since they see that it does us no
larm."
GRATERSFORD STIRRED.
Gratersrord. a town four miles from
lere, noted for its popularity in summer
Imong tourists, is also stirred up over
Poison PEN letters that have been re-
eived by Miss Florence Yerger and Miss
'rieda Kline Miss Yerger is known as
he "village belle" and 1t pretty. Miss
Kline, who is also pretty, is attending the
Business College, in Phila-
ephia.
The letters which were received by the
girls i'm the summer and fall were par
icularly bitter in their denunciation of
he manner in which they were alleged 10
ave acted. Miss Yerger was the object
# three of the notes, while Miss Kline
;ot but one. According to Mrs n. A.
ierger, mother of the lS-year-old girl
hey We're written to promote i'll feeling :
'etween the YergeTs and the Graters, a
family. The Graters' name was
mentioned in two of the notes as having !
ccused the girl, Florence. with objection