Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-03
HELDF0RGRAND JURY
Decision in the Case Of Macmillan
M.Folk.
IMPROPER RELATIONS WITH A CHILD
The Girl Placed il Charge Of Police
Mafon.
HER CONDUCT IN COURT


Macmillan M. Folk today had a prelimi-
nary trial before Judge Kimball on the
charge OF having committed adultery with
hattie Minnie Davidson. a girl about six
teen years OF age and was held in $1,000
oali Tor the action of the grand Jury. The
girl was placed in the'care of the matron
OF the first precinct station pending the
final disposition of her case
Mrs. Minnie May Folk, wife of the ac-
cused. was the first witness She was
called to the stand and sworn, and imme-
diateiy Lawyer Bepdheim, counsel for
FOLK said he would object to any evil
dence Mrs Folk might give in the case.
Judge kimbah asked. Upon what
grounds?"
the accused. Va
PROSECUTOR Mullowny explained that Mrs
+ oIk had r1eht to refuse to testify against
ner husband If she desired, and the latter
SAID she would rather decline
Are you the wife of. Mr.. Folk?" Judge
Kimball asked.
am" was the response.
70 you prefer not to give any evidence
ton. MAI 4ueS-
Il decline to give any evidence in this
case except that the accused Is my hus-
pand, returned Mrs. Folk
Your honor" said Mr. Mullowpv sJt
was the fact that Mrs Folk - the wife Of
the defendant that 1 wanted to prove by
the witness, and am entirely willing that
she shall be now excused"
Attorney Bendheim objected vigorously
to the acceptance of Mrs. Folks reply to
Judge kimbalrs question. but the court
ruieu tndd the answer was competent and
would be considered by him. Mrs Folk
was tnen excused by the court.
The Fathers Sorrow.
Mr.. William H. Davidson, father of the
girl In the case, was next called to the
stand. His testimony concerning the COM
promising circumstances in which he had
found his daughter was given in a manner
which betokened great sorrow, and 1t SEEM
ed to be only by strong effort that he
could control his emotions.
He informed Judge kimball in detail
OF folks movements during the two hour.
preceding his discovery of his daughter in
FOLK apartments. on 18th street. Satur.
oay evening, and Immediately afterWard
MIR. Davidson testified further that Thurs
day evening his daughter left her home,
No. G3O Pennsylvania avenue northwest
ana, as she did not return within reason
able time, he and his wife, the girls step.
mother. became anxious about her, and
II stituted inquiries as to her whereabouts
After much seardh and with the aid of
detectives Muller. Baur and Gallagher.
Mr. and Mrs. Davidson found the young
woman in the back room of Folks store
in bed and undressed.
Mrs. Davidson corroborated her husbands
evidence as to the manner in which the
girl was found.
When the daughter took the stand she
admitted she had always been we'll treated
by both her father and stepmother, but
now. she asserted she, did not care what
Detective Baur testified as to the stems
taken to find Miss Davidson, nd which
eliminated Saturday evening in the arrest
of Folk and Miss Davidson.
Minnie . Witness. oo.
At the conclusion Of Detective Baur's
evidence. Miss Davidson was called to the
stand. She tossed her head in a defiant
manner and looked fmpudentIy at Judge
Kimball and Prosecutor Muliowny in turn.
10 those questions which tended to crfmt-
nate or disgrace her, she many times re-
fused to answer at all. In other instances
she declined even to answer a simple aues-
ton from Mr.. MulIowny until informed nv
Judge ktmhall that unless she answered he
would send her to jail,
Upon being sworn and in RESPONSE tn
questions by Mr.. Mullowny. Miss Davidson
Davidson: that she is about sixteen wears
oid. and that for the last few months she
had attended school at Mount at Agnes
near Baltimore: She came home. she said
to spend the holidays December 90 ana one
week later left her home.
She had. she said. known Folk since last
summer, when she met him at one of The
river resorts. She denied that during her
absence from the city she had corre3ponded
with Folk.
Makes Some Admissiona
Continuing her testimony. she said she
left home Thursday night. but refused pos,-
lively to say where she spent that night or
where she remained Friday.
She said she went to Folks store Fri
day evening. some time after dark. be-
cause she wanted to, and not because he
had requested her. She related in con-
siderable detail her movements that even
ing. and claimed to have remained in the
room back Of the store that night She
said that Folk was present about half of
the night, but refused positively 10 say
whether or not it was the early or after
part of the night. She admitted that she
that after her father found her under the
compromising circumstances in which he
had said he had, she admitted that Folk
had purchased an eiderdown wrapper
which she had put on.
Mr.. Mullowny then asked where she spent
Thursday night.
She declined to say, and Judge Kimball
did not compel her to answer.
Mr.. Mullowny asked Miss Davidson
whether she saw Folk Thursday night hut
she declined to answer.
Judge Kimball again interposed. "You
must answer or go to JAIL was his stern
comment.
Mr.. Mullowny repeated his question, and
Miss Davidson answered, snappishly:
Yes, saw him.
Mr.. Bendheim's Exceptions,