National Republican., 1880-03-19
IN CONTEMPT.
Judge Macarthur Orders tho Arrest OF Five
Persons In tho MnYhew CRse.

Persons In the Mayhem Case.
An account was given in THE NATIONAL
REPUBLICAN yesterday Of the attempt Of
Sheriff James H. Ritchie of Prince Georges
county, Md, to arrest Sylvester Mayhow, the
plaintiff in suit against Charles RUPERT aud
Leonard SchoTert for 5000 damages, at the
courthouse on Wednesday, the cause was
Oh hearing, and Immediately after Mayhem had
left the witness stand. 1t was also stated that
Mr.. A. L. l.. Reese Policeman Howell and
others were connected with the matter, and
Justice Macarthur had promised to give the
matter his attention after the jury retired
with the case. This announcement had tho
effect of drawing largo attendance to Circuit
courtroom No. 1 yesterday, among the gath
ering being noticed many members of -ie bar.
The jury retired about | o'clock and after a
fifteen minutes recess His Honor returned to
the bench. His Honor asked Mr.. Arthur
Brney, of the counsel for Mayhem, IL he had
prepared the papers so as to present the mat
ter In proper form, and upon being answered
In the affirmative, was directed to read them.
The affidavit of John II. Balm, Of Forrest
vile, Md, was to the effect that he had been
informed that Mayhem had been arrested in
this city for stealnga horse from him. The act
referred to occurred some three years ago. lie
had long ago become satisfied with Mayhcw's
explanation of the matter, aud directed tho
prosecuting attorney to strike the case from
the docket. He supposed that 1t had been
done, but the attorney told him that while In.
tending to do so he had neglected to do 1t, but
would at the first opportunity. Mayhem had
been steadily employed vt the blacksmith shop
in that place, and the old charge had been for.
gotten.
Deputy Marshal Williams in his affidavit
stated that he knew Mr.. Keesc. lie camo
into his Office two days ago with two subpunas
that he wanted served, and said that tho
parties were hard to get at, but that he could
get them, aud asked that lie be deputizod to do
so, aud permission was given. Later Sheriff
Ritchie, of Prince Georges county, Nd, came
here with warrant, aad the deponenent told
him in the Circuit courtroom No. l. and in
the presence of others, that he could not serve
it without rcqusition, Mr.. Birncy tncn
read a telegram to Sheriff Richie, signed by
MIR. Keesc, as deputy marshal, to be here on
the 18th instant with warrant for Mayhem.
The affidavit Of Howard l.. Prince, clork Of
the Police court was 10 the effect that Detoc
tive Acton, in company with Sheriff Ritchie,
came to the Police court for q warrant for tho
arrest of Mayhem, but upon being told that
the case was three years old he declined 10
issue the warrant.
Mr.. William l.. Hodgkins, of tho Police
court was present at the time and corrobo.
rated what Mr.. Prince said.
Mr. b. L. Joy, who was a witness In the case
of Mayhem VS.. RUPERT, stated that Mayhem
between tho two court.rooms; Reese came out;
he asked Mayhem If lie knew Richie, and he
replied that 1t was the sheriff.
The Sheriff said that he wanted Mayhem,
and they all went toward the marshal's office.
Sylvester Mayhem made oath that he went
out to see Richie, aud that Reese came out
| with a policeman The latter said that he
| wanted the afhant and took MIN to the mar
shal's Office. He then put nippers on him
| and took him to Police headquarters. Reese
| knew that he was plaintif in tho suit. w. A..
Davidson, one of the jurors of the court,
heard James West say not to let on that they
had gone for an officer, and alterward said that
| Reese sent for the officer.
J. w. Howell, policeman, stated that he
| made the arrest, and at the time Reese told
him that he had copy of the warrant for
him in his pocket. He took him to Police
| headquarters, and Captain Vernon said that
| he had done wrong. The papers did not war
rant it, and the man was released Kecse
told the deponent that he was a bailiff of the
| court
Captain Vernon stated that he ordered the
mans release. His Honor took the names OF
| August Il. L. Kcese Sheriff James Ii. Richie,
Officer John w. Howell, Detective Joseph
Acton and John West, and ordered the clerk
20 issue bench warrants for tho arrest Of the
parties, and that they be brought before him
at 10 o'clock this morning
The court said that this breach of propre-
ties, rs well as respect to tho court, occurred
in tho recent trial, and was n breach likely tc
effect the destinies of that litigation, but, that
such mightnot be the fact, this proceeding was
postponed and no action taken until the jury
sitting in hearing upon that cause had retired
Now the whole proceeding was a matter of rec
ord, and the parties could appear and max,
their explanations. This ended tho matter
for that time. 1t will be more interesting 10
day