The Washington times., 1904-06-11
NO EVIDENCE TO
HOLD MRS. ELIAS
Woman Made Defendant in
Civil Suit.
PLAT HAS A POOR MEMORY
Gropes Pitifully in the Dim PASTA
Big Crowd on
Hand.

NEW YORK. June lf.-Hannah Elias
the negress whose house was broken
into by detectives on Tuesday night TO
set her. is now a free woman. Her re-
lease yesterday followed one Of the most
extraordinary hearings had in a police
court in this city in a long while.
Not a bit of evidence was produced
upon which to hold the negress. and,
after futile questioning of Odd Mr.. Plat
for an hour. the prosecution itself asked
that tho woman be released.
The hearing closed with a warm dis
pute between Magistrate Ommen and
the acting district attorney, Mr.. Rand,
as TO who was responsible for the wom-
ans arrest. Magistrate Ommen declar-
ing that promised evidence on which he
bad issued the warrant for the woman's
arrest had not been produced The act
ing district attorney declared that he
had produced all he had
Let as leave the parties in this scan
dial to stew in their own grease said
Mr.. Rand
Civil Notice Served.
After her release the Elias woman
was served with the order of arrest in
the civil suit brought by Mr.. Platt to
recover the money she has got out of
him She immediate gave $4,000 bail
and was released She went to her
handsome house in Central Park West,
a mob chasing her carriage for blocks.
She expects to go TO a summer resort
next week
NOBODY who heard the aged Mr.. Plat
try to remember what he knew about
the woman and his relations with her
in the court room has any other idea
than that. unless much corroboratiNe
evidence Is produced, the woman VIII
still retain possession Of all her money
and property and come out as victorious
in the civil courts as she did yesterday
in the police court
The district attorney, in fact. declares
that so far as he could discover, there
was nothing in the civil case.
Pity Felt for Platt.
II was Mr. Platt's inability to remem-
Der that made the case go TO pieces
For almost an hour the palsied old man,
with all the infrmities Of age, sat on
the witness stand. facing the negress,
with the acting district attorney ques-
tioning him as he might question
child. II was hopeless.
Mr. Platt CROPPED pitifully in the dim
past only to come up against the blank
walls OF departed memory. He couldn't
remember that he had ever brought
civil suit. lie didn't remember signing
the complaint. even.
The nearest he could fix his first meet
ing with the cOlored woman was with
He gave one answer one minute and
an entirely inconsistent reply the next,
until the faces Of those who had gone
there to stare at him and the woman az
they confronted each other reflected
only pity for the aged accuser, whose
memory utterly refused 10 come 10 his
help. Nine out Of every zen Of those
who watched him wondered also why
the woman had ever been arrested at
the, cost OF broken doors =,
sarn1r~ 9th rr~ff VI
Warren. Mr. Platts lawyer, and SEN
sational attack was made upon his mo-
tives by the counsel for the negress.
Crowd Outside Court,
An immense crowd had turned out to
see the negress and her accuser face
to face for the first time But adnis-
sion to the court of special sessions,
where the hearing was held, was by
pass only. and hundreds were turned
away disappointed.
Among these were many negroes. most
Of them well dressed and bediamoned.
a few got in. Nine-tenths OF the spec
tators who did get in were women.
While the examination went on, scores
stood outside the court room and hun
dreds surrounded the building.
AS soon as Magistrate Ommen had
taken his place on the bench the doors
were locked. Announcement was made
shat any diSOrderly demonstration would
result IN instant NlAGtmEnN. men the
negreSs was brought over from her cell
IN the tOmbs. There was craning OF
necks, especially among the women,
when she entered The court room was
packed thea Everybody employed about
the building who could possibly get in
was in. Lawyers, clerks. and even
judges were there 10 get a look at the
prisoner and her supposed victim.
Wore Same Clothes.
The Elias woman wore the clothes
she had on when arrested. There was
no hesitation in her step when she was
led to a seat beside her counsel. and
when she was seated her face became
perfectly placid and remained so
throughout the proceedings. She was
the calmest person in the room from
outward appearances.
With Washington Brauns. her counsel.
was the former assistant district at
ttSorney who was prepared TO put Mr..
Platt on the rack Of cross-eXa nina ton
II necessary. IL wasn't.
Strange Statement Made.
Before calling for Mr.. PIatt. who was
in the library. Mr. Rand got up and
made statement which at once reveal
Cd the popularity OF the proceedings.
He said.
About q week ago II came 70 the at
tcutiOn Of the district attorney thar
John r. Platt had lied ~ he supreme
court sworn complaint "a which Inc
charged that I'm monthly payments he
had paid this dcfenlant 500. 900. each
ana every one Of these PAYMENTS haV-
Ing been made in fear Of Il threat 10
expose him 10 infamy ard disgrace. thai
being eNtortion under sections $50 and
653 Of the penal code.
Under these circumstances 30 seemed
TO the district attorney TO be entirely
his duty 10 investigate AMI see T. a
crime had been committed. IN order 10
do this. Mr.. Plat was brought before
a magistrate and signed this criminal
complaint. That gives your honor guf-
ficient evidence on watch 10 hold this OK
animation. The district attorney is not
committed 10 either side. ] am here
simply TO elicit the truth
Platt Takes the Stand.
Mr.. Plat was then called. There was
another craning Of necks, as the door
opened and he was led In.
The spectators saw an old man, bent
and shaking with age. led lettering 20
the witness stand. supported By his SON
in-law. In appearance ne bore a close
resemblance 10 Andrew H. Green
AS he was led 10 his seat counsel for
HfHfa oh 81.