New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-18
HIDE POISON PEN
NOTES, HER PLEA
Girl Writer Wins Promise
That Brother Shall Not
See Letters.
SCORED, BUT SMILES
OVER THREE WEEKS"
Tiny and Demure, She Keeps
Silent on Love Affalr--Held
In $4,000 Bail.

Don't tell my brother what was IN
theml Oh, please don't show him the
lettersl Ha, he seen theml Please,
please, don't show them 70 himl" This
wish. repeated over and over, that her
brother Sigmund might not learn the
nature Of the poison pen letters which
she had written, was the principal
concern OF Miss Tessie Samuels, OF
Goshen. N. Y, who was srraigned be-
fore Commissioner Clarence S. Housh-
ton in this city yesterday, charged with
misusing the mails.
Assistant United States District At
torney Edward W. Mcdonald asked
that she be held in $4,000 bail, but later
consented TO have the amount reduced
TO $4,000, which was furnished by tho
National Surety Company.
Miss Samuels, who Is tiny lass,
appeared shortly after 2 o'clock. She
was dressed in heavy mourning for her
mother, who died six weeks ago. A
thick veil concealed her features, but
when she lifted It for a moment she
revealed q pretty, albeit colorless, face,
with regular features, gray eyes and
dark hair. She pleaded mot guilty"
in voice so low that It could not be
heard a yard away. On the way to the
msrshal's Office she stopped and shiv-
cred with fear when a fashlight was
exploded in front Of her
Plea to Hide Letters.
To one reporter Miss Samuels plead
ed ooh, don't let them show my
brother the letters!" Postoffice Inspec-
tors T. F. Fitch and NJ. Duryea, who
made the arrest, granted this request,
and Sigmund Samuels, who runs a
clothing store in Goshen and who ac-
companied his sister, does not know
now the contents Of tho offending mis-
sives.
Later, in the office OF her lawyer,
( Abraham Landau, Of S46 Broadway,
Miss Samuels lifted her veil and shyly
answered a few questions put to her
| by Tribune reporter. 1t was sppsr-
ent at all times that she had no idea
Of the seriousness Of her crime or Of
the possible consequences. She was
demure and modest and acted like
scared child.
She said that she was twenty-five
years old and had gone to school at
Ursulins Convent Middletown, and
later to Goshen High School. In
baby whisper she said:
-Four years ago another girl and
thought It would be good joke to
write letters to girls who we're going
to be married. But wo didn't Then
year before last / read an anonymous
letter in a paper, and that gave me the
idea again. So | wrote my first let
ter"
Miss Samuels said that she never
wrote the letters at any particular
time, merely when the mood struck
her. She never knew any Of her VIC
| tins.
Questioned about the woman in
Goshen TO whom she sent three letters,
she answered: Eyes, knew her by
sight. didn't have any grudgo
against her. | didn't like the way she
looked"
Miss Samuels said that she had had
love affair two years ago, and that
she had been disappointed. But her
lawyer would not allow her to give any
"A 10 oft II
10 discuss her reported receipt of two
letters, from which she claimed 10 nave
learned her Objectionable vocabulary.
She said that her principal occupa-
ton was TO keep house for her two ia
tiers and two brothers. She did not 90
out much, she said, and her main d.
version was reading books. By thi.
time Miss Samuels had become les,
afraid OF her questioner.
asked.
A broad smile spread over her feat
ures, quite astonishing every one pres
ent, as heretofore she had just looked
scared.
What are you smiling nbout?" was
the next question.
81 was just thinking" said Miss
Samuels, demurely.
But what makes you smile sol"
The book | was thinking Of" an
swered Miss Samuels, looking very
arch.
And what was its title?'
Miss Samuels had TO giggle. She
continued to giggle, and the question
was repeated three times. Finally she
said: Three Weeks"
Miss Samuels returned to Goshen
last night with her brother. pending
hearing next Monday. In the mean
while her counsel will consult with
Prosecutor Mcdonald as to the advisa-
bllity OF having her examined by
alienists.
Sgmund Samuels told the reporters
that he hadn't the slightest thought
that such epistles were being penned
by his sister, and he said that she had
always been simple, inoffensive
creature, who worked hard keeping
house, and attracted very little atten-
ton. Her mother had been operated
upon In August, 1914, and again since
then, and from that date the girl had
been very much worried, state which
became acute when her mother died,
making her a. orphan, as her father
died some years ago.
Mr.. Samuels said that one OF his
two brothers were confined in the Inter
Pines Sanatorium at Goshen, whore
he had been a patient for nine years.
He said that he did not know that
his sister had had love affair until
Thursday, when she told him about a
man to whom she had been engaged
two year. ago.
Miss Samuels was arrested on COM
plant of Miss Nellie Calf Hoffman.
OF TowaLda. Penn, now wife OF As
sistsnt United States District Attor-