The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-04-06
PLEAS OF THE PRISONERS
Several Noted Culprits Arraigned
Before Chief Justice Bingham.
MOST OF THEM PLEAD GUILTY
Howard Bachelor, Who Forged His
Brother-inLaw's Name; Charles
and John Barns, Also Cha rged
With Forgery, Sent to the Pen.

Among the prisoners arraigned this morn
ing before Chief Justice Bingham, holding
criminal court No. 2, was Howard M.
Bachelor, young man said TO be twenty
years Of age, who was accused of forging
the name Of his brother-in-law, E. z. Wat
kins, TO sundry checks drawn upon the
Farmers ana Mechanics National Bank of
Georgetown. Bachelor pleaded guilty to
the indictment, and asked permission TO
make a statement, which was granted.
He said the forgeries were committed be-
cause OF the attitude of his own family to-
ward him. He was out OF employment and
had no money. position which ne had
procured as conductor on the Metropolitan
Railroad was relinquished because of his
deafness, he being unable to hear the cleo
trio bell.
The accused afterward went to members
of his family, he said, asking for something.
They refused, although, he stated, they
were employing others. His brother in
law, Mr.. Watkins, had previously given
him check for $50, and he used the money
to purchase his outfit as conductor. Be
coming desperate, Bachelor said, after
losing his situa ton, he concluded to see if
the bank would cash a check which he
would draw. lie got the money on several
checks.
The court gave him the lowest penalty,
one day and year in the New jersey State
prison.
Charles j. Roberts. Col Tom Ochiltree's
late valet, who was arrested in Boston
short time since and brought to Wash
ington upon the charge of stealing sundry
valuable articles from his chiefs room
at Chamberlin's Hotel, was also brought
before Chies Justice Bingham, and after
pleading guilty, was sentenced to the
New Jersey State prison for two years
Roberts made a statement. He said he
did not know why he took the goods,
except that he did not like his place and
wanted TO get away from it. He engaged
with Col. Ochiltree, he said, under the
impression that he was to have the po-
sition of private secretary; but it after
ward transpired that he had to battle the
colonel and perform other duties which
he disliked.
Another item in Roberts statement was
that the value OF goods stolen by him were
overestimated. He did not consider that
they were intrinSically worth what Col.
Ochiltree valGed them at, although from
their associations, the owner might con-
slider them worth what the itemiZed state
ment disclosed.
Roberts said he was a citizen of New
York BE came here in February, and
during the Inauguration week was a
clerk at WIZARDS Hotel. The goods stolen
consisted of diamond studs, rings, stick
pins and other articles of jewelry, besides
handkerchiefs, gloves and other articles
'too tedious to mention" according to
Attorney Jeffords. Nearly everything, The
prisoner said, had been restored, largely
through his own efforts. He also claimed
to have returned willingly when arrested.
John w. Barns. bright young n.ulatto,
aged nineteen. who was charged with
forgery. presented the plea OF guilty, and
asked the mercy of the court Barns wrote
a letter on or about March Is. To Charles
F SpTague, signing TO it the name OF
c. n Ffouike, and asking for a donation
for charity Mr. Ffoulke returned a check
for S25, which Barns received, Endorsed
Mr Ffoulke's name upon it, and presented
the paper to the Riggs National Rank,
upon which it was drawn. for payment
He did not succeed in getting the money,
MdN dlNtf W uth dIu " It's
sentenced to the New Jersey State prison
for term of one year and day, the
lghtest sentence admissible under the
circumstances
John G. Jones, the colored lad, who has
been since FebruaryS last in jail, charged
with the murder of his elder brother,
Robert A. Jones. the circumstances APP
pearing in The Times of February 9, was
arraigned, and pleaded not guilty. IL
the hoy was ever Indifferent to the situa-
ton his term in Jail or some other in
fuence has changed his view of the case.
His face quivered with emotion during
the reading of the indictment, and when
called upon to plead, the tears came and
in a broken and choked voice he declared
he was not guilty, and named Attorney
Oscar Luckett as his counsel. He was
sent hack to Jail.