Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-10-15

A GIRLS STORY OF AN. ASSAULT.
Serious Charge Against Lawyer Jordan.
coNFLrcrIsa TESTIMONY IN THE CRIMINAL
COURT TO-DAY a VERDICT OF mot
GUILTY"
Today in the Criminal Court the case Of ].
Parker Jordan, an elderly member OF the Dis
trict bar, was called, the indictment being for
an assault and battery on the 9Th ofSeptemoer'
1885, on girl named Isabella Carroll, with the
intent to commit rape.
Mr.. Taggart appeared for the government,
and said that 1t was expected to prove that the
accused had written to the girl TO come to his
office, and she came under the belief that he
Treasury department.; that he then locked the
door and attempted liberties with her, but her
Mr. Charles Pelham, Who With Mr.. A. B. VIII.
liams, appeared for the accused, denied that the
facts alleged would be proved.
since sna the
rence), testified that she frst saw the defendant
at the corner Of 9th street and Louisiana ave-
and he spoke Of getting her place. Next she
received note from Mr.. Jordan, telling her TO
come no 70 MS Once and they went to the Trees,
another mole and went to Jordan's ONCE,
when be shut and locked the door and assaulted
a + she Viz eo aa e
sixteen years old. He took hold Of her should.
ers, and, In the struggle with him, she skinned
frightened that after he opened the door she did
not know which way she went home. She at
once informed her mother. They then went to
procured warrant for his arrest. On cross
examination witness said that she had been to
sunday school to see her sunday,scho teacher,
VINO was trying to get her place. Jordan's
door was locked with q light brass key. She
was afraid that he would choke her If she
hallOed loud.
Mrs. Carroll, the mother of the prosecuting
witness, testified that she lived at 1886 NJ street
south; that her daughter went to see Jordan in
husband having died about two years before.
rms closed the testimony for the government.
Mrs. Fannie Brooks testified that year ago
she occupied the house on Louisiana avenue,
where Jordan had his office; that she saw the
girl three times at the house. Twice she went
third time she stopped about ten minutes; the
last time She made no alarm, and when she
went out she appeared pleasant. Jordan had
he used to call witness to watch the office. The
room that Jordan occupied was the back parlOr,
and at the time the folding doors were open and
j. Parker Jordan, the defendant, testified
that on the morning in question he met the
girl, and supposing that she was the lady he
was trying to get employment for, he addressed
her She said she was not, but that she was
looking for place. He then told her to 60 to
his Office and after he returned from the Police
Court he had a talk with her. He then read the
notes, saying that he could get the place for her
and she would receive $50 per month. He then
recounted the interviews he had with her, and
said that when the last note was written he had
forgotten that the department was closed, and
when she came he told her SO. She said he was
place; and then he told her If she thought that
OF him to leave. He denied that he made any
assault upon her: He explained that his office
and his sign. The building being about to be
sold he did not get a new key.
On cross-examtnatton witness testified that
he was admitted to the bar in Illinois in 1s43,
being then 20 years old. Witness was shot at
Norfolk, but not for insulting a woman; left
there for New York, and was a partner with
Mr.. Godfrey, the husband OF the lady now en-
gagged in the celebrated divorce case. Witness
was not married in September, 1884. Witness
mission. He was then poor and homeless and
SO occupied the room as an office. Witness had
spoken for place to the appointment clerk for
the girl, and at that time he was asking place
tor no other person; was quite certain that he
could secure the place.
Michael B. German, clerk at police head
office an entry that August 23d J. p. Jordan re-
ported that q colored boy had stolen his sign
The deiendsnt testified that he was II years
old.
Richard L. Wallach was called in rebuttal
and testified that in September of last year he
was one OF the deputy marShalS; that directly
after the trial in the Police Court the defendant
was placed In his custody, and he went with
him to the office and witness thought he had
unlocked the door, but he explained that he
had no key to the door and went through the
motions from force of habit; Witness, when
he got in the room accused Jordan of having
said he had no key and yet he unlocked the
door, and that drew out the explanation.
John a. Dougal was called as to the reputa-
ton of Mr.. Jordan for truth and veracity, but
the defence objected on the ground that the
character had not been put in issue.
There was long argument on this PROPOSE
ton, the government claiming that as Mr..
Jordan had taken the stand in his own behalf,
his character for truth and varacity could be
inquired into the same as other witnesses, and
after recess MIR. Taggart produced several au-
thorities.
The defense claimed that the presumption OF
good character continued and 1t could not be
attacked unless the defendant opened the
The court said that the question was as to the
right of the government to ask as to the charac-
ter of the defendant for truth and veracity.
After reviewing the discussion, the judge
asked if defendant went upon the stand if he
lost any Of his rights as such, and said he would
sustain the objection.
Edward Devlin testified that three or four
months before he was called as locksmith by
Mr.. Jordan.
Mr.. Harper, deputy clerk of the Police Court
was called by defendant, and read the record in
the case, showing that there was but one wit
Mr. H. Clagett testified that at the Police Court
the girl said she did notknow what kind OF key
Jordan had.
Mr.. Hewlett corroborated Mr.. Clagett
VERDICT OF NOT GUILTY.
The case was submitted to the jury without
argument or charge, and a verdict of not guilty
was rendered.
Transfers OF Real Estate.
Deeds in fee have been filed as follows: w. II
Davis to F. j. Macmillan, lot 90, SO. 9S7
S1,612.5O. A. Jardin to Thos. Hyde, lot 81
SO. 159; S9,699.62. ". o. Williams ct al; to g.
G. Bradley to H. Butler, lot and parts and s.
SO. S12; $2,b54.12. same to s. r. Henry, W.
half 3, do; 5000. A. Jardin to ID. RittenhOuse
SUBJ 81, 50. 159; S9,401.36.
Local Notes.
The LIE Droit Park Whist club, at its annual
meeting last evening, elected the following Off.
GERS: Gen. VIM. Birney, president; Mrs. Dudley
vice president; Henry Cannot, secretary; Mrs.
F. H. Getchell, treasurer; A. 8. WOrthington,
esq.,, executive officer. Gen. Birney having de-
clined on the ground that he, a third-term man