Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-21
Nan" Patterson Entered
Formal Plea in Court Today.
OCCUPIED LITTLE TIME
MAY HAVE TO
SPEND SUMMER IN FoMBs.
Governments Case is Weak-Not
Much Credence Given Stories Of
Alleged Witnesses.
special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
NEW YORK. June 21.-'Nan" Patterson
appeared in the court of special sessions
this morning to plead to the indictment
charging her with the murder Of Caesar
Young. She pleaded not guilty. and was re-
manded to the Tombs to await trial
Mrs. Patterson's attorneys argued for an
immediate trial.
Judge Neuburger said he would gladly
grant the motion were he on the bench In
July. but as there would be a change in
judges with the end of June. he could not
make any arrangements for those who were
to follow him. There being nothing else
to do. the prisoner was remanded.
Appearance at the Bar.
Shortly after the court convened. at 1880.
the court crier called Nan Patterson"
The prisoner. who had been brought from
the Tombs a moment before, walked hur-
riedly in and took her position before the
bar with her counsel. She was dressed In
black and wore a veil which covered her
face. She stepped forward when her name
was called, and held herself erect. Her
face wore serious expression. but her de-
meanOr as she looked at the judge was not
that of guilty woman.
The proceedings occupied little less than
fifteen minutes. and the prisoner stepped
back. On her way to the Bridge OF
SighS, which connects the TOmbS with
the court. she recognized her father sit
ting on the back seat and smiled sweetiy
upon him and gently caressed him as
she passed on. A little while later in the
Tombs she was joined by her father and
the two had earnest talk for some
time.
May Spend Summer in Tombs.
1t looks as If Mrs. Patterson would
there is no possible chance for the case to
be reached before October. There is one
chance. however, for her to get free. 1t
is for her to go before the district attor-
ney and tell the whole story of the shoot
ing. This. of course. Is predicated upon the
assumption that she is innocent and pub
lie sentiment here has already acquitted
her.
AS 1t stands. the case of the government
Is weak and the absence of any direct
knowledge by the law officers of the shoot
Ing Will make 1t extremely difficult to get
a conviction Every day or so story is
printed of the finding of a witness to the
shooting. but little credence is placed in
any of them by the authorities.
There was one printed this morning set
ting forth a purported statement Of a
downtown stenographer, who saw the
tragedy She described a scuffle In the ca b
and an attempt by the woman to prevent
the man using pistol upon himself or her.
1t Is said Morgan Smith. the brother-in-
law of Mrs. Patterson, will be surrendered.
In police circles there Is little doubt ex-
pressed about the purchase of the revolt
yer. The authorities are practically Ger
tain Smith bought 1t from Pawnbroker
Stern. This being proven. efforts will be
made to learn the circumstances Of it's
possession by Mrs. Patterson or Young on
the day of the tragedy.
1t might easily have been obtained by
Young it is said. since he had the entire
of the Patterson fiat at all times. Indeed,
1t is limited he was at the house shortly pre-
ceding the tragedy.
There is every evidence at this writing
that the case will never come to trial. Mrs.
Patterson Is reported anxious to go before
story. confident that it's recital will clear
her of the offense and make her a free
woman.
Notice for Early Trial Served.
By Associate ted Press
NEW YORK. June 21.-A formal plea Of
not guilty was made by Mrs. Nan Patterson
today when she was arraigned in the court
of general sessions. charged with the muir
der Of Caesar Young, the bookmaker.
At the same time counsel for Mrs. Pat
terson served notice the district attor-
ney that a motion would be made for the
court to direct an early trial for the de-
fendant He said that the physical condi-
ton of Mrs. Patterson was such that it was
he would like 10 have the trial held in July
to sit next month and that it would hardly
be fair to ask another judge to hear the
case. He suggested that counsel confer and
arrange for early trial