Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-28
SHERIFF SHEA ARRESTED
HE AND HIS ALIiEGED ACCOMPLICEs
OUT ON BAIL.
Mr.. Shea IssuesaA Statement Denying
the Charge OF Criminal Assault
-Hearine Tomorrow.

Sheriff EdwardrT. Shea, William Shea,
Herbert Boteler, William Todd Fox and
Leo Smith, the FIVE well-known residents
of Prince Georges county. Nd, charged
with criminal assault upon Miss Lucy Hart,
appeared before Justice Of the Peace Sears
at Upper Marlboro yesterday for a pre-
liminary hearing. The accused were in Gus
tody Of Constable II. j. Moffatt and Deputy
Constable Howard o. Emmons. They were
also accompanied by Charles ii. Stanley OF
Laurel and James c. Rogers of Hyattsyilie,
their counsel. The accused sheriff and the
four others were served with warrants
Wednesday, the same having been issued
by Justice Carr of Hyattsville, and all vol
unteered to go to Marlboro.
When the case was called before Justice
Sears counsel for the accused demanded an
immediate preliminary hearing. States At
torney Levin asked for postponement.
and, after quite heated argument, 1t was
decided the case should go over until to-
morrow, Saturday, morning. This matter
settled, there arose the question as to who
should have custody of the accused es-
pecially the sheriff Justice Sears decided
to place them in charge of Constable Moi
fatt and to hold him responsible for their
appearance in court tomorrow A bond of
S2,5OO was given to protect the constable,
and the five men returned last evening to
their respective homes.
Sheriff Shea made statement yesterday
concerning the charges against him. Pro-
testing his complete innocence, he said:
MY brother and myself were at the home
of Mr.. Roger Smith Sunday afternoon and
had been there, l guess, about an hour
when Todd Fox and Herbert Boteler rode
up. We remained there possibly half an
hour. Then they got on their horses and
William-my brother-and l got in the bug
gy and drove up the hill toward the resi-
dence of Mr.. Milton E. Smith. On the way
we met Miss Hart and the two little Cum
nlngham girls, who were picking chin
quaplns on the side of the road, which is In
full view of Mr.. Roger Smiths residence.
we passed and went up to the gate of Mr..
Smiths home, where we met the two War
field boys. While coming up to Mr. Smiths
house there was no attempt on my part or
as far as / could possibly see-and I was
within talking distance to the rest of the
poys-any attempt on the part Of those
with me to do anything improper to Miss
Hart. 1t was in the broad daylight, In full
view OF two or three houses, and certainly
no man of common sense would have so far
forgotten himself to have undertaken such
disgraceful thing as they have accused US
OF doing.
From Mr.. Smiths my brother and I
drove TO Beltsville to take the 5 o'clock
train to Washington. We got there before
1t came, and while waiting for the car Oden
Roberts came along in his buggy and asked
me to go to Laurel with him. l got in and
went as far as Center station where / went
to notify a party that he was to be sum-
moned as juror for this term Of court. /
left there on the o'clock train and went
direct to Washington ! never heard any
thing about the alleged assault until the
next day, when party in Washington told
me what was reported l have come to
MARLBORO today prepared to defend myself
with all the proof necessary against the
attempted scheme TO injure my reputation
In my community and in the whole county.
AS for the other persons connected they are
abundantly proved when the case comes up
for trial, If it ever does come up