Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-24
Periury.

To the Editor of The Evening Star:
1 wish The Star could have given TIE
public last night Officer Ringers explana-
ton OF the testimony against him. on which
the Wells case was dismissed by Judge
kimball L presume the case was not vet
closed when The Star went to press The
charge OF perjury is a serious one, and
when II Is voiced by judge on the bench
IL becomes doubly serious: but judges like
other men, are not infallble, and the pub
lie has right to judge for itself. Webster
defines perjury as a law term as follows:
At common law, willfully false state
ment in fact material to the issue, made
by witness under oath in a competent
Judicial proceeding. By statute the penal
ties OF perjury are imposed on the making
OF willfully false affirnations
(Note.)-lf man swear falsely in nom
Judicial afffaavits, IL is made perjury by
statute in some Jurisdictions In the United
States.
1 was not present at the trial of the
Wells case. but from a reliable person who
was present, and reports of the conclusion
of the trial In this mornings papers L un-
derstand that the basis of the charge of
perjury against Officer klinger was a state
ment. not under oath, made by him nine
years ago, when he was a minor to the
effect that he was two years older than he
actually was, and that his motive was not
to bear false witness against his neigh
bor, but to comply with a requirement,
which he was told was immaterial, in or
der that he might enlist as a trumpeter in
the marine corps. If / am misinformed as
to the facts, The Star will please set me
right.
OF course, II is not to be presumed that
the judge ever made such a false state
ment. Judges always keep their bibs
clean, and. il they went in swimming with
out permission. were judfcious enough 10
dry their hair before going home, so as to
avoid embarrassing questions and always
knew the date of their birth, so as TO be
nnr Ton xH-fty n.
facts. 1t has been reported that George
Washington claimed that he could not tell
lie. The only man l have ever heard of
who made the claim Il never told a ie'' is
said to have made IL under competition
for prize to the man who should tell the
biggest lie. and he won the prize. Sc
riously, there are very few men who could
stand an Investigate ton as to the truthful
ness of all their statements as minors
King David prayed that the Lord would not
remember against him the sins of his youth
officer klinger, like Sergt Daley, having
been so rash as to incur the enmity of the
nquor men, has great reason to repeat
hourly another prayer Of David, found in
his Doth Psalm, as follows:
Be merciful unto me, ., God: for man
would swallow me up; he, fighting daily.
oppresseth' me.
Mine enemies would daily swallow me
up; for they be many who fight against
me- o Thou, Most High.
Every day they wrest my words: all
their thoughts are against me for evil
They gather themselves together, they
hide themselves, they mark my steps, when
they watt for my soul
do not suggest all DaYid's maledictionsj
but i do hope, and l believe a great ma
Jority of the good citizens of Washington
hope that Officer. klinger and his like
who are few enough among our policemen,
may triumph over then enemies and long
continue to be our defenders.
'- .''' A PARKHURSTIAN.