Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-17
PRELIMINARY HEARING
CASE OF WILLIAM FAIR BEFORE
IS. COMMISSIONERS.
Charged With Using Postal Service for
Fraudulent Purposes-The Argu-
ments of Counsel

The preliminary hearing in the case OF
William Farr, who is charged with using
the postal service for fraudulent purposes,
was continued this afternoon before United
States Commissioner Arson s. Taylor I'M
medately upon reconvening Assistant
United States District Attorney Adkins be-
gan his argument for the prosecutor
which was still in progress at the time or
the close OF the report of The Star for the
day.
The defendant was in court, accompanied
by his attorney, MIR. Charles C. Cole. In
his argument yesterday afternoon Attor
ney Cole declared that the indictment re-
turned against his client was fauity IN
that IL failed to allege with sufficient deli
niteness and directness the intention OF
Farr to use the postal establishment II
pursuance of his alleged fraudulent scheme
The defense further maintained that there
could be no scheme to defraud, for the per-
sons who bought the degrees, If the conten-
ton of the government be correct the
college non-existent and the degrees grant
ed without attendance or examination. knew
they were buying a gold brick ana were
not defrauded in any sense.
District Attorney Adkins. in his argu-
ment this afternoon. replied to number
OF the contentious of the defense and cited
a number of cases of a similar character to
show that the application for certificate OF
probable cause should be granted.
Fairs Defense.
The preliminary hearing was begun yes
terday afternoon. Mr. Charles c. Cole, at
torney for the defendant made an argu-
ment which occupied almost the entire
time and this was followed by adjournment
until This afternoon. Assistant United
States Attorney Jesse Adkins is conducting
the prosecution.
The defendant describes himself as the
president and ex-ofco dean of the Ma
tional College of Law, otherwise known as
the Nashville College of Law. He is said
to have conducted thriving business as
the president of the institution.
He fol merly a resident of Nashville
but at present makes his home in this city.
Farr was taken into custody October q
and subsequently released upon fur
uiShng bail in the sum of 81 800. The in
dlctment against him was returned by the
grand jury of the United States district
court for the middle district of Tennessee
which charges that he used the postal aerv-
ice for fraudulent purposes. In that by such
methods he sold degrees of non-eNstent
institution.
The hearing against Farr was begun upon
an application for certificate of probable
cause. If the application is granted by the
commissioners a second application will be
submitted for warrant of removal of the
defendant to the Jurisdiction in which he
was indicted The exact position of the
prosecution in the hearing is made plain by
the provisions of the indictments and the
accompanying affdavits, by which the
scheme is fully explained
1t is charged in the Indictment that Farr
sent out great amount of literature an
nouncing the existence of the institution OF
learning and every detail of the college was
described The peronnel of the faculty
and the official roster We're given. The sun
of so was asked for inscribing the name OF
the party addressed upon parchment con.
ferring an honorary degree.