The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-11
FLY GETS HARD SWAT
FROM SONG POET u
Best Known Poetess of Passion in Lum, Mich.-
Pop. 75'-Enlivens Proceedings at Hall Trial,
but Others Are Oh, So Modest.

Manuscripts in hand, the gifted author
OF the beautiful ballad entitled III stole
My Heart at Midnight the same being
Poet Edward II. Weaver OF Washington.
ID. C.. was among the very earliest ar
rivals at the Federal Building yesterday
when the tria, of John r. Newcomer.
better known In recent years as John T.
y. Foster and a happy jury In the United
States District Court.
Poet Weaver. however. did not have q
chance to take the witness stand during
yesterdays session of the trial Of Hall.
who Ii In court largely because. as presi-
dent Of the John 7. Hall Music Publish
ing Company, he encouraged poets to
send him their stun. Encouraging sons
writer's to keep on committing lyrics Is
not a breach of the law. not nj least In
the strict terms of the statutes. The
Government. however, does chargc-and
let the aesthetic chips fall where they
may-that Hall. who Is also a poet. used
the mails TO defraud trusting song poets
who swear they sent him priceless lyrics
and sS5 each in real money and then
, didn't get sufficient action In the way Of
publishing the verses as per promise.
Leading Poetcsaes There Too.
Inasmuch rs Poet Weaver was not
called to testify against Hall yesterday
II was absolutely impossible to get the
words of "Hc Stole My Heart at Mid
night" He said one must wait until he
takes the stand. which will probably be
to-day.
mo. no. no." cried Poet Weaver when
Impatient persons painted to his side to
obtain the words. zen all come out
mt the trial. And say, I want to know
Is there a good hotel In this town.
I That was a poser: and before any one
could frame an answer Poet Weaver
gathered together his manuscripts.
donned his wide brimmed black fei;
waltwhitman and swept out OF the court
room.
The literary world that thronged
Judge Fosters court throughout both
sessions had better luck In the case OF
Miss Rosenetta Hsrt. a leading poetess
OF Port Jefferson. l.. l., n Miss Annie
McC. McHenry. easily the best known
poetess OF passion In her home city
which. so Miss McHenry told THE SUN
man. Is Lum, Mich. Later investigation
In a gazetteer backed up the statemen,
of the poetess with the succinct state.
ment: "Lum: A post village Of I.apeer
county. Michigan: pop. rs" Only that
and nothing more.
Both Miss Rosenetta Hart OF Por,
Jefferson and Miss McHenry OF Lum
had 10 sit In court all day without being
called TO testify. either: but both thu
poetesses graciously turned over copie.
Of some OF their verses to the reporters
Then they hurried up town to loot
around In the shops for some things thai
nay be offered by the shops here r.
even greater variety than a shopper
would find In Port Jefferson or ever
In Lum.
.Brightest Part Of All,
The shopping trip suggests, by tn
way. the brightest part OF the whole re
latlonship between the Hall firm and tn.
poets. so some of the complaining wit
nesses confided yesterday. Not count
ing verses beyond price. the only expendi
lures of the Michigan. Indiana. Lon
Island and other poets was. SO far al
regular money Is concerned. the S35 the.
say they sent to Hall to ave thei
lyrics set to music. And in return tn
United States Of America Is stalking then
20 a trip to New York and return, pay
ing their expenses as long as their ser
vices are needed here and subjectini
them to no greater hardship than {
take the stand and recite their own stui
to an appreciative throng.
The lyric that Miss McHenry per
mitted a grateful press table to cop!
before she hurried away In the genera
direction OF the Mcdowell Club Is Gale,
swat the Fly" The poem. for such |
Is by no means Is of the h:ppant qualit!
suggested BY its perhaps Somewhat at
rupt title. "Swat the Fly In. rather. a.
exceptional example Of the didactt
school. which receives too little attentiol
, In these frothy days. Listen:
baby bye. swat the ny. you and I!
How he crawls DER our walls.
Coming from the horses stalls
7 And Into our ~victuals crawls!
= XIII him dead. strike his head. docto
4. said.
: II we'd have our baby live
u protection to him give
Get a swatter made OF sieve.
strike each ny upon his head
He will hurt us--yes, he kiIls
Nultiplies our doctor bills:
. Forces us to make our Wills.
All, all seems lost as the poets a