Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-10
A N OF Err MIS- TAX E
The Jail officials Released O Prisoner
Without Warrant.
Then They Wanted Him Badly and
Whfteford Was Caught-The
Case Still I'm Court.

Another unwarranted release Of prison.
er occurred late Saturday afternoon at the
District jail, the person set at liberty with
out proper authority being William L.
Whiteford, young white man, charged
with forging the name of the secretary of
the Columbia Chemical Company to checks
for 5000.
Whiteford was arrested on November :3,
and while the case against him was peEG-
ing in the Police Court, facts were present
ed to the grand jury, and an Indictment
was. reported in the Criminal Court on
Monday last. On the following day White
ford was brought up for arraiynment in
Criminal Court No. 2, before Judge Cole.
Assistant District Attorney Jeffords then
asked the court that order be made
regularly committing Whiteford to Jail be-
fore he WIS arraign I'd. The matter was
discussed at length by Judge Cole, Mr..
Jeffords and the clerk The result was that
an order signed by Clerk F. W. Smith
directing that the prisoner be held to await
trial was transmitted to the warden of the
Jail. This action was taken for the express
purpose of preventing the release Of White
ford upon an order from the Police Court.
The order was in the hands of the warden
before the prisoner was arraigned. White
ford pleaded not guilty, and was committed
TO jail IN default OF Ddll TO await tflal.
Trial of the case began on Friday MORN
ing last before Judge Cole. Before it was
concluded the court adjourned until this
morning, the prisoner, of course being re-
manded to jail. Assistant District Attorney
Mulowney, on Saturday, knowing that
Whiteford had been indicted by the grand
jury, entered a nolle pros. in the Police
Court case pending against him, and the
customary order of release in that case was
forwarded to the warden. 1t was received
at the Jail by Guard Lou Pierce. who sent
it to the prisoner by Guards Mitchell and
Peacock. Notwithstanding the fact that
the Jail records showed that Whiteford
should be held, he was given his liberty,
according to his story, against his.will.
About 4:30 o'clock on Saturday after
noon," said Whiteford to Star reporter
this morning, "a guard came to me in the
JAIL showed me an order Of release from
the Police Court and told me to put on my
things and leave. / told him 1t must be
mistake, because my trial was pending and
that IT would be resumed this morning. He
insisted. however, and / could do nothing
but co.
Exciting Night.
After the lapse of several hours the mis-
take was discovered and an exciting night
followed. The Jail officials notified the
police that Whiteford had escaped" and
descriptions of him We're read at the va
rious police station houses. The entire
police force was directed to look out for
HIM and certain detectives were detailed
specially on the case. Whiteford was To-
Gated shortly before midnight at the house
of Beulah Lyle in the Division. He swas
placed under arrest and locked up In the
first precinct station until 1 am, when
Deputy Warden Russ and Jail GuarA Pierce
removed him to the Jail in a carriage.
Hearing of the case was resumed prompt
ly at 10 O'Clock this morning. Gerard
Pierce was one of the witnesses called and
he explained the release of Whiteford
The testimony of Pierce brought out the
fact that at the time the prisoner was set
at liberty neither the warden, deputy
warden or clerk were in the office of the
Jail, although 1t was customary for one Of
the two to be there at all times. The wit
ness also stated that the Jail record at the
time embraced an order from the Criminal
Court directing that Whiteford should be
held.