The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-09-22
SERVED TWICE FOR
ANOTHER'S CRIMES
Innocence of Beck Proven
at Last.
TRUE OFFENDER CONFESSES
Government Offers Swede $4,000 in
Lieu of All Claims for False
Imprisonment.
TRUE OFFENDER CONFESSES

LONDON. Sept. 2.-Wiluam Thomas.
whose confession that he is the John
Smith who was convicted in 1877 of OBJ
tanning money and jewelry from women
under false pretenses, brought to light
the astonishing miscarriage Of justice
in the case of Adolph Beck, who has
been sentenced to five years penal
servitude
Thomas pleaded guilty to n charge
similar to the one on which he was
convicted twenty-seven years ago, and
10 those which twice sent an innocent
man to prison.
Without Parallel.
The case is quite without parallel in
the annals of the British courts, and
has created a most profound sensation
here
1t betrays gross stupidity or worse on
the part of the police, and shows that
British Justice as administered by Brit
ish Judges is far from impeccable.
Thomas under the name of John
Smith was convicted and sentenced to
prison in 1871 for getting money ana
jewels from women: In lSSV sInlla 3r
named Adolph Beck was arrested and
identified by the police as being the
man who had been sent to prison three
wears before He offered to prove that
chance to prove an abb, but the ponce
railroaded his case through the courts,
and he was sentenced to five years
penal servitude.
Tried to Make a Career.
lie served his time. and when he was
released began TO make the best of the
career that was left to him. But in 1896
a series of crimes similar to those that
sent Smith to prison in 1877 and Beck
in 1850 was reported, and Scotland Yard
Immediately arrested Beck, charging
him with being the criminal.
Again despite the protests OF 1nno-
cence and his alleged ability 10 prove an
aIihi he was sent to prison FOR nNe
wears de was released in 1901 and again
began all over again. Last July, how
ever. William Thomas was arrested,
charged with crimes similar to those for
which Smith and Beck had served
terms Of Imprisonment. Thomas con-
fessed TO the police that he was the
Smith that was sentenced 20 penal
servitIIde in 1877, and that he had been
guilty of the crimes for which Beck
had suffered There was absolutely TO
similarity between the men ana no aPI
parent reason why the pOlce shoulu
have hit on Beck as the guilty one,
The matter was first taken up by u
r Sims. the dramatist and teuliletonlSt'
who wrote a series of articles in the
0paiIv MALI protesting against the
gross Injustice that had been done an in
nocent man The case was dubbed the
English DTeyfus case. Sims openly
charged the police with conspiracy, and,
considering the strict laws OF England
was exceedingly bold in the manner IN
which ne criticised the action or the
Justice the same man having presided
at both trials. He showed that on Doth
occasions Beck had tried Vainly 10 pe
allowed to prove his Identity ana TO SUD-
nit an alibi ana tnat the court NoulG
not listen 10 him, condemning him al
once on the word Of the police
Press Demanded Justice.
All the other papers in England took
up the case. and demanded governmental
INVESTIGATIONS. The matter was the sub
fest of several questions in parliament
and Premier Balfour FASTENED to as
sure the nation that the government
would do all in It's power to right this
very great wrong.
Home Secretary Akers-Dougias, inves
tisahng ss.e case, found that while th'
prcponderating evidence against Becl
was his supposed identity with Smith
the court threw all evidence against thi
out Of court. and thus deprived the mar
Of the one chance he had Of acduittal-
After Beck had been convicted. eVi
dence was produced 10 show that Smith
was Hebrew, while Beck was not. Pu
even this did nothing for the Wronget
man He was allowed to wear clothing
which signihed that he was a first-teru
prisoner instead Of q second, but no new
trial was given to him.
The immediate result Of all the aEita
ton was an offer of the government
damages he might bring for his wrong
ful conviction. This money, on the ad
vice OF his friends, ne refused 20 accept
Now commission OF three has beel
appointed to make a complete investiga
ton of the case, and report where tn
responsibility lies.