The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-14
In THE DISTRICT COURTS
Great Interest in the Case of +. II.
Cox, Indicted for Contempt.
Arguments on n Demurrer to BE
Heard This Week-Defendnnt Dis
obcyed the Instructions of the
Judge During the Tendency of
His Wife's Divorce Proceedings.
A question of unusual interest and also

A question of unusual interest and also
of great Importance will come up for con-
sideration in the criminal division of the
Supreme Court Of the District during the
current week. The matter referred to
will come up in connection with the ar
gument on the demurrer to the Indictment
of Frank II. Cox, who was some time ago
held by the grand jury CT the District to
answer a charge of contempt of court.
The offence committed by Cox was his
| disobedience of an order issued by enc of
the justices presiding in the equity branch
of the Supreme Court CT the District.
Cox was being sued for divorce by his
wife, who in her petition alleged that he
was about TO dispose of certain of her
! personal property. One particular article
| referred to in the petition by Mrs. Cox
| was a piano, and this the court ordered
| Cox not to dispose of or remove from the
| District Notwithst standing this order of
which it is alleged in the indictment that
| Cox had sufficient notice, it is said that
| he removed the property from me juris
dietion of the court and left the District
himself.
AS soon as it was learned that Cox had
| left the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court
| of the District the matter was le erred to
the grand jury and an indictment was re-
| turned against him in October, 1897
| About two months ago Cox was appre-
| hended in Baltimore. When brought to
! this city he Immediately gave bond for his
appearance to answer the charge ainst
him. Cox has engaged Attorney H. Pres
ton Galley as counsel, who stated that he
will file demurrer to the Indictment
against his client. Argument on this
question will be heard on Friday Eext be-
fore Justice Clabaugh. presiding n CT m
inal Court No. l. The decision in the case
will settle the rights of jury to indict
for contempt of court.
The ground of the Indictment against
Cox is very unusual one and it is said
he is the second person against whom an
Indictment for similar cause has been
returned by the grand jury in this juris-
diction. For this reason the disposition
of the matter, either on the demurrer or
trial by jury. is looked forward to with
much interest by the members OF the local
bar.
The conviction of Boyd Wallace, col
ored, for the murder of Robert Stafford
on Friday last, leaves but one prisoner in
the District Jail awaiting trial for muir
der. This is William NJ Alexander. who
is charged with the murder of Matthew
Marble Hall alley. Alexander. it will be
remembered, was called to trial in De-
cember last, but the jury failed to agree
upon verdict and were discharged. AT
the meeting of the justices of the Supreme
Court of the District held on December
81 by the reassignment of the justices 10
the different branches of the court for the !
year 1901, Justice Clabaugh who since /
his appointment to the bench, has pre-
sided in Criminal Court No. l, was assign |
ed to Circuit Court No. 2. This change, |
however, will not go into effect until the |
first Monday in February and 1t is be- |
lieved that Alexander will, for this reason, |
be again called to trial before Justice Ga |
baugh retires from the criminal branch of |
the court. Justice Clabaugh will be sue
ceeded in Criminal Court No l by Justice /
barnard --N- -'-~o his appointment to |
ael re igo, has presided |
Oortance on the
r!u5ual .a.. g District courts
Is ll4- H keofer, formerly
l.sbu-e me- MI ate Department,
element of Gov
!. .u...eut fuuas ms case has been On
the calendar for several years. About
eighteen months ago an effort was made
by the District Attorney TO bring it TO
trial. but about that time one of the most
important witnesses for the Government
died. This neoessitated postponement
Of the trial and another preparation and
arrangement of the testimony for the
Some months ago, when Dis
trict Attorney Anderson again tried to
have the cGse set for trial, counsel for
Kieckeofer filed demurrer TO the indict-
ment, and argument was heard on this
motion weeks ago by Justice Cole, who
overruled the demurrer. 1t being sup
posed that no further obstacles will in
tervene to cause delay the case VIII be
allied to trial during the early part of the
month of February.