The evening times., 1896-04-25
HELD HIM ON The CHARGE
Ex-Justics Hooker to Answer for
Alleged Criminal Libel.
Said He Was Beaten by Reubsa NJ I,
and Didn't Get Brea kfast Until He
Had Served u MIX Route.

william ]. Hooker, former justice
| OF the peace in the Arlington district of
| Alexandria county, Va, was held for the
grand jury in $500 bonds this afternoon
| by Judge Miller. Bail was furnished by
| Mr.. Frank Hume. The charge against
Mr. Hooker was criminal libel, preferred
by Adolph Reubsam, an engraver in the
hydrographi office, Navy Department.
The cha rye grew out OF an article which
appeared in The Morning Times on August
26, 1885. 1t was a recital OF the alleged
wrongs OF a German orphan boy named
Joseph Ginter, but who was more familiariy
known as "Orphan Joe The lad was a
former inmate OF the German Orphan Asy
lum, in this District, but had been bound
out to Ruebsam, who, 1t appears, CONDUCTS
dairy in Alexandria county, i'll addition
to his duties in the government service.
The article was based upon an interview
with Justice Hooker. and Reubsam swore
out warrant charging him with criminal
libel.
When the case was called in the police
court today ex-COngressman Turner and
Attorney Andrew \. Libscomb ppeared for
the defendant. while Prosecutor MuliOwny
represented the government.
The first witness was complainant Reub-
sam. He testified TO getting the orphan boy
in the habit OF beating his children. The
malice on Justice Hooher's part, added the
witness. grew out OF a COW case, which
the plaintiff had transferred for trial from
Hooker to the county court.
1T may seem funny remarked Reub-
sam. that I refused 10 pay for COW 1
hadn't received
1T would seem more funny" said Attor-
ney Lipscomb, "if you had paid for it."
Ruebsam acknowledged that he had
slapped the orphan boys face because
neighbors informed him the boy had
smacked his children.
what right had you to assault this
boy?'' demanded Lawyer LipscUmb.
To this query Ruebsam made no reply.
He added that the boy started out with
his milk wagon TO serve his route at
O'Clock a. m. He did not get his break
fast before starting out, because he did
not want any. II the lad lOitered on the
route he would not get back home before
! or O'Clock in the afternoon.
He had not heard that Justice Hooker
wanted the boy for the purpose OF using
him as plaintiff in an assault case against
himself. He acknowledged finding Joe at
the house OF Mr.. Taylor. neighbOr, and
bringing him to Washington at night. The
boy was fifteen or sixteen years of age.
what have you against Mr.. Hooker?''
asked Attorney Lipscomb,
do you read The Times replied Rueb-
sam.
Yes, I do read that bright newspaper"
was Mr. Lipscumb's reply. "and l admire
the manly manner in which 1T denounces
public abuses.
Prosecutor Mullowny asked If City Editor
Osgood OF The Times was in court. He
said he wanted to show that Hooker was
actuated by motives of malice and came
over from Virginia TO The Times office TO
furnish the data from which the article
was written. MIR. Osgood not having been
suSpenaed, Reporter GIeathouse was called.
called.
He trestified to writing the article from
Information furnished him by Jus tice
Hooker, and by dissertation. He Wis
ited the justice at his home i'll Virginia
to get this information, having received
Instructions TO do so from the city editor.
Mr.. Greathouse did not know from what
source The Times first heard of the al
legged abuse of orphan Joe.
Joseph Ginter. the boy himself, was the
next witness. He testified to telling Mr..
Taylor in Justice Hooker's presence that
Ruehsam caguht him by the throat. threw
him to the floor and slapped him. He also
told of having TO serve his milk route with
out breakfast. When he returned he re-
ceived an allowance of tea or coffee. bread
and sometimes ba con. but not enough to
satisfy him. Dinner was not ready for him
until after Mr.. Ruebsam returned from his
office. between i:30 and O'Clock in the
evening. In the meantime, the boy said,
he had to work on the farm.
Attorney Lipscomb said the boy, who was
Il government witness, had confirmed all
that was stated in the article.
And he added, ''if The Times gets an
other chance it should roast ReGbsam
again.
The boy said further that his stepnother
had him confined in the asylum. He was
born in Germany. and his fatSer and step
mother were separated.
The poor devil. = said Lawyer LipScomb,
lis cufred and kicked about by everyone"
Ex-Congressman Turner added that the
boy on the witness stand had told that he
was brutally beaten, un1er-fed and over
worked by this grinnng ape locking at
the plaintiff, a rather small man, with
full beard aud eyeglasses, and who was
smiling broadly.
Turner's remark turned Reubsam's smile
into n stormy frown, and he sprang to his
feet.
Il object 10 such remarks,"' shouted
Prosecutor Muliowny.
VERY we'll" retorted Mr.. Turner, then
1 will leave the grinning ape out of the
case"
Continuing, Mr.. Turner said Justice
Hooper was prompted by the holiest and
most noble OF mouves-the protection of
an orphan boy.
lis il crime in this CITY," he exclaim-
ed, when we hear of an outrage perpe-
trated upon a helpless orphan, to ask the
press 10 investigate it? The Times sent
one OF its best reporters, and he made
an intelligent report of these abuses
Prosecutor Mul!owny suggested that the
matter should have been brought 10 the
attention of the orphan asylum authorities
and not taken by Mr.. Hooker to "a ne wspaper.
mo" said Mr.. Lipscomb, ''wc will do
as we have done"
Then you will take the consequences"
retorted the prosecuting officer.
VERY we'll" continued Lawyer Lips
comb '.if you are going to start system
of persecution through the district attor-
ney's office. start it."
Messrs. Lipscomb md Turner demandedtO
know where was the libel. The govern
mcnt's own witness had shown that he was
assaulted and not properly fed.
Judge Miller said malice had been shown
on the part of Hooker toward Ruebsam.
and whether the article was true or false
it contained the elements OF criminal libel
for that reason. The defendant was held.
VIII Spend Their Lives In Prison.
Wilkcsbarre, Pa, April 25.-James Pas
sayclla, the alleged bandit king of the
flo in, he