Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-03
DOlNG'S APPOINTMENT
It Was Freely Discussed About the Court
House Today.
What Chief Justice Bingham Says
Warden Leonard Summoned BE-
fore the Justices.

The appointment of ex-Deputy Marshal
Chas. H. Doing by Warden Leonard as q
Jail guard caused an unusual amount of
discussion about the City Hall, because Do
ing is the man who permitted Capt. H.
w. Howgate to escape twelve years ago.
Said one prominent official Of the District
Supreme Court to Star reporter this af-
ternoon: what in the world was Leonard
thinking Of? Why, he couldn't have done a
more unwise thing. He certainly knew that
Doing was the man from whom Howgate
escaped; If he didn't he should have. for
about everybody else knew, for 1t was pub
lished in the papers last week.
Capt. Leonard might have known, too,
that the appointment of Doing, particularly
just now. would cause his action to be
severely criticised. II the man had been
appointed to I'LL an existing vacancy it
would. perhaps. not have been so bad, but
a man had to be dismissed to make room
for Doing. l very much doubt II the court
Will allow the appointment to stand"
Must Have Lost His Head.
Another high official of the court, one
who is believed to be close friend to
Warden Leonard, spoke of Doing's appoint
ment in a similar strain. remarking that
Mr.. Leonard seemed to have entirely lost
his head in the matter. why" said this
official, IF Leonard was so anxious to ap-
point Doing, why in the name Of sense
didn't he do 1t at some other time? Why
didn't he appoint the man at some time
or walt until the HOwgate case was over?'
The Chief Justices Explanation.
To a Star reporter Chief Justice Bing-
ham stated that he had approved the ap-
pointment of Mr.. Doing. But" explained
the chief justice. II did so entirely ignorant
of the fact that he was the man from
whom Capt. Howgate escaped. Indeed,
didn't know 1t was the same man until l
saw 1t in Mondays Star. Capt Leonard
said nothing about it to me. He said he
was a good man. and Mr.. Doing was
recommended for appointment by Maj. l..
L. Williams. one of the clerks of the court,
and by MIR. Barnard,of the firm Of Edwards
q Barnard. Persona lily. know nothing of
the man."
When asked whether the court would al
low the appoir tment to stand, the chief
justice replied: II do not know. That is
a matter to be hereafter considered by the
court"
Had Leonard Before Them.
1t was understood that the matter was
discussed by several members Of the court
this afternoon. but whether or not any
action was taken could not be learned. 1t
Is known that Warden Leonard was called
before them this afternoon, presumably to
have him explain his reasons for appoint
Ing Mr.. Doing. One of the members Of the
court, one believed to have been a warm
supporter of Mr.. Leonards application for
appointment as warden, Is stated on ex-
decided opposition to Doing's appointment.
This member of the court is said to have
been profoundly astonished when he read
OF the appointment; is reported to have said
that 1t was a case of either Warden Leon
ard or Guard Doing going.
MIR. Doing Relieved.
At 2:45 o'clock Warden Leonard tele-
phoned from the jail that he had relieved
Mr.. Doing from duty. He said that he had
the greatest confidence In the world in re-
gard to Doing's competency for the place,
yet he thought that, under the circum-
stances. he had better relieve him. He said
ne had arrived at this conclusion himself
and had notiiieJ MI Doing.