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Description: Crime Related Page 14
Newspaper published in: Washington, D. C.
Page/Column: 14
Washington Post April 5,1912 Crime Related Page 14
Lawyer Fined for Contempt.
Notwithstanding his plea to Judge MULLOWNY that he had forgotten that he had received a retainer, Attorney John M. PATTERSON, a negro, was fined $10 yesterday for contempt of court, with the alternative of spending two days in the District jail. PATTERSON failed to appear in court when one of his cases was called. Judge MULLOWNY sent out two bailiffs in search of him, and he was taken to court. He has until Saturday to pay the fine.
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Doomed Slayer Gets Respite.
Arthur JOHNSON, condemned murderer, yesterday was granted another reprieve, and Justice WRIGHT, of the District Supreme Court, set the date for the execution on June 15. The respite was allowed that the appeal to the United States Supreme Court on the question of the legality of a qualified verdict in first degree murder cases in the District might be passed upon by the higher court. In the trial of JOHNSON his counsel contended that in case of a conviction the jury might qualify the verdict by adding "without capital punishment." Justice WRIGHT held to the contrary.
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Used Friends' Name to Swindle.
Mrs. Katherine FREEDER, of 1112 Thirteenth street northwest, reported to the police yesterday that a man about 35 years of age called at her house and asked a loan of $13. He was a stranger, but represented that a friend of hers in New Orleans had told him to call on her
if he ever “got up against it.” Mrs. FREEDER accommodated him, and then communicated with her friend, who said she had never heard of the man.
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MEMBERS OF CONGRESS THE VICTIMS OF GRAFT GAME WORKED BY BOYS
A startling tale of "graft," carried on within the granite walls of the House office building, was laid bare yesterday when Alfred SPIVEY, 124 Heckman street, and Leo HANCOCK, 133 F street southeast, appeared before Judge DeLACY, of juvenile court, to answer to charges of larceny preferred by Representative Ben JOHNSON, of Kentucky, and a dozen or more secretaries of representatives.
According to the testimony of Representative JOHNSON and the numerous secretaries, the two boys - Alfred SPIVEY and Leo HANCOCK - have got from the pockets of various representatives sums aggregating more than $11 within the short period of two weeks. Their method of obtaining funds for candy, chewing gum, trips to picture shows so impressed those whom they visited that they met with but a few failures.
Told Tales of Ball Team.
Representative JOHNSON told Justice DeLACY that the two lads walked into his office one day last week and took him into their confidence by describing in detail the ball team the youngsters of Capitol Hill were organizing, and which was to be called the "Congressional Sluggers." Of course, no ball team was complete without suits, the boys explained, and it was their duty as a committee of two to supply the required apparel.
Through the generosity of an afternoon newspaper, the boys said, they were given the privilege of soliciting subscriptions, and after they had obtained a certain amount the paper was to furnish them with suits. Representative JOHNSON subscribed then and there. So did many others in the House office building.
List of Those Victimized.
After waiting several days for the appearance of the paper, Representative JOHNSON reported the matter to the police. Other reports were made, almost a dozen in number, and the police set out on the trail of the financiers. They were apprehended in the House office building several days ago. admitted their guilt, and were taken to the house of detention. After promising never to repeat their offense the boys were placed on probation for six months.
Complainants against the lads were Representatives Ben JOHNSON, BOOHER, BACON, and NEELEY, and Secretaries Harry GILLESPIE, Miss Katharine DICKEY, Margarite BARR, N. K. DAGER, Fred B. MORGAN, Charles E. BRUCE, Henry B. HARE, and H. L. THOMPSON.