Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-14
TO PROBE THE CHARGES
ALLEGED CASE OF ASSAULT AT
JAIL.
District Attorney Beach Preparing to
Make vestigation-Warden
Harris Statement.

In reference to the views expressed yes
terday by Justice Prtchard. in Criminal
Court No. l. on the subject of the alleged
brutal treatment of Ada Cross, colored, a
prisoner by officers at the District jail,
Warden Harris of the Jail has made the
following statement:
II am sorry that Justice Prtchard did
not have all the facts in the case before
him before he made his statement in court,
because no one has a higher appreciation
of his intention to treat everybody fairly
than 1 have, and believe if he had had all
the facts his statement would not have been
what it appears.
Il knew about the case at the time it &C.
Cured, because the rules of the Jail are
such that a written statement of the
womans conduct and what was done to
her had to be made and put upon my
desk. The matron had occasion to put
another woman in the cell with Ada Cross
BECAUSE of the crowded condition of the
institution. There was no attempt to put
two prisoners in the cell with the woman.
however, as she says. The woman did not
want a cell mate, and took blanket and
tied the door so securely that the matron
could not get 1T open. She called for an
officer to assist her. but when Capt. Rams
dell came he was no more successful, and
finally officer Hawkins one of the guards
was called, and succeeded In getting the
door open.
The woman fought SO ferociously that the
officers were obliged to put their hands
upon her. In their efforts to control her
the woman caught Hawkins in such way
that he was compelled to strike her to save
himself from serious bodily harm. She
was all this time exhibiting the most vio-
lent temper and using frightful language,
and there was no other punishment that
they could have administered that would
have been less liable to injure her than to
put the handouts on her and let her stand
up to post. She was released as soon as
she promised to behave herself.
Some of the statements attributed to the
Cross woman are absolute falsehoods on her
part. Her remark that she was struck in
the mouth when she said she was going to
tell the Judge of her treatment Is entirely
without foundation, / am informed by the
officers. The prisoners statement that she
feared additional punishment because She
told the court was without warrant. No
such conduct would be tolerated by the
management from any officer
"However, notwithstanding all this I
agree with Justice Pritchard that IL on the
occasion referred to the woman was unnec-
essarily punished the matter should not be
overlooked. 1 am in favor Of the fullest
investigation"
Will Investigate Charges.
Mr.. Morgan H. Beach, United States at
torney for the District of Columbia, said
today to a Star reporter that in compliance
with the request made yesterday by Justice
Pritchard he and Mr.. Peyton Gordon, one
of his assistants, will Investigate the
charge advanced by Ada Cross that she
had been brutally treated by guards al the
jail. The parties concerned will be sum-
moned to the office of the United States at
torney for the District Of Columbia. Mr..
Beach has been told that the jail OFF,
cials are anxious that the fullest possible
investigation shall be made, and that they
will do all in their power to aid with the
same.
Mr.. Beach will report the result of his
investigation to Justice Pritchard. Section
1896 of the code of law for the District pro-
vides:
ut shall be the duty of the Supreme
Court of the District to make such rules
for the government and discipline Of the