Evening star., 1901-05-27
CHARGE OF PERJURY.
Another OutcrOpDinE Of the Towles
Case in Police Court.

Another OutcrOpDinE of the Towles
Case In Police Court.
Charles C. Bryan and Zenas c. Robbins
were today released on $4,000 bonds by
Judge ODonneu in the Police Court 10 an
swer when called upon the charge that
they committed perjury in the Towies~ case
which was tried in the Criminal Court some
time ago.
In the case of Mr.. Bryan the record
states that Erastus l.. Hawks appeared be-
fore Justice S. Herbert Giesey on May 25
1901. and made oath upon information and
belief that February 10, 1900 The Traders
National Bank of the city instituted a suit
in the Supreme Court Of the District of
Columbia against Henry D. Towles. Chas
c. Bryan, Gilbert B. Towles and Zenas c.
Robbins to recover from the defendants
the sum of $4,000. with interest at
mum until paid from sepseraner is, 1850;
the cause of action being a certain prom
issory note, dated December %. 1898 which
was signed by the defendants and made
payable to the order of Edmund Brand
and indorsed by him to Robert E. Bradley
and by the latter to the Traders Bank
and that Mr.. Bryan testified at the hear
ing In the Criminal Court that he signed
the note in question after Mr.. Zenas c.
Robbins, upon faith and belief and upon
the representation that the signature Of
Mr.. Robbins was his genuine signature
while he Is now Informed and believes and
ture of the said Lenas G. Robbins to the
note in question was a forgery. and that
Mr.. Robbins never signed the same.
Mr.. Hawks then charges in his affidavit
that Mr. Bryan We'll knew the signature Of
Zenas c. Robbins to the note described
was genuine
In the case of Mr.. Robbins. Mr. Hawks
asserts that the former made oath before
B. f. Edwards, notary. March 13, 1900
that he never authorized or empowered
any one to sign his name to the note in
question, either as maker or indOrser, and
that If his name appeared thereon it was
placed there without his knowledge or
consent that he was not indebted to the
Traders Bank either in $l5,ODO or any
other sum whatsoever on account of the
note to recover the amount of which suit
was brought, and this statement he de-
ClareS untrue.
In conversation with a Star reporter,
Mr.. Clarence A. Brandenburg the attorney
for Mr.. Bryan, stated:
This is the most outrageous case of
officiOus intermeddling by outsider that
ever came under my observation. In a
civil suit Instituted by the Traders Ma
tional Bank against Mr.. Bryan, Mr. Rob-
bins and others, affidavits of defense were
filed by them, setting up their defense. The
note sued upon is one of the series of
TowleS notes. in connection with which
series Mr.. Gilbert B. TowIes was indicted
and recently convicted of forgery. After
comforting with the attorneys of the bank
who informed Mr.. Hawks that it was pure
- a eiNh "ottet diit tiidt tilSS desired TO
take no part in such proceeding and af-
ter applying to the district attorney for a
warrant. and having been denied Mr.
Erastus Hawks went before a justice of
the peace and swore out the warrant in
this case, as stated in his affidavit on in
formation and belief
The affidavit of defense upon which the
warrant is based was filed about six
months ago. Mr.. Hawks has absolutely
nothing to do with the case. He is not
acting with the consent or under the d.
rection of the bank the plaintiff in the
case, or its attorneys. He is acting solely
on his own account. 1 appeared before the
Police Court this morning myself suggest
ed the giving Of bond In any amount,
and by direction of the district attorney
the proceedings will be suspended until
the trial of the civil cases. 1t is the old
effort to coerce the payment of disputed
debts through the medium of the Police
Court. The case simply suggests the inn
portance of amending the law which en-
ables any magistrate. for small fee, to
issue warrant against any citizen on
the oath. based upon information and be-
lief, OF any person. after the law officers
of the government refused to issue such
warrant