The Washington times., 1905-06-08
Court Frees Baroness
Upon Her Rec0gnizance
Too Ill to Stand or to Speak Aloud Mme
DewitZ-SaImo Pleads Guilty to lndCt-
ment for Larceny.

es-but-I-am-so- sorry-to say
it"
Slowly and painfully, and with that
one brief sentence punctuated with
sobs, Baroness DEWITT -Salmo. indicted
under the name of Alice Niesscn, yes
terday indicated her Willingness to plead
guilty to the charge of stealing several
articles of clothing from Mrs William
A. Slater. of .1731 L street northwest, by
whom for a short time she was employed
as maid. The scene occurred IN Grim
ina Court No. I. shortly after o'clock
yesterday afternoon, upon the conclusion
of the days proceedings in the trial 81
William G. Crawford. 1t IVES by special
arrangement of counsel, prompted by
regard for her serious physical condi-
ton. that the baroness arraignment
was planned for yesterday.
Unable to walk, stand or even sit in
a chair alone, the baroness was brought
to the Court House by Warden Harris
OF the District Jail, in his private car
riage, and supported into the court room
by the Warden on one side. ard her
husband, the Baron DEWITT on the
other. Apparently all her weight, as
she walked, was borns by her husband.
who literally carried her. Even when
she was seated before the bar the baron
was unable for an instant to relax his
attention. but supported her head, which
she seemed too weak to uphold
Court Attendants Affected.
Even the court attendants. hardened
by years of witnessing pathetic scenes,
were unable to gaze upon the harrow
ing scene without sluddering. The
bright and vivacious baroness of three
short weeks ago was transformed into
an emaciated, prematurely aged woman,
whose delicate frame was shaken at
brief intervals with the hacking cough
which indicates pulmonary tuberculosis.
Her face was drawn, and her eyes dull
expressionless.
After a few moments wait, Justice
Wright took the bench, and as soon as
he saw the condition of the woman, and
learned from District Attorney Beach
that it was the understanding that she
would plead guilty, and that the Dis
trict Attorneys office would recommend
that all formaiities of the arraignment.
plea and recogniZance be dispensed with.
ASK the man by her side If he is the
womans husband?" the Justice said
When the question was repeated to him
the baron nodded his assent.
ASK him II it is the understanding
that his wife shall plead guilty."
Again the baron nodded his head-but
throughout the ordeal xas not sufficient
TO prevent him Quailing under the
! thought that the assent legally made
his wife felon, and he broke down
entirely
rs the woman able to understand and
and, when. reassured on the point by
District Attorney Beach. he directed that
the query, whether she was wiling tG
plead guilty be repeated to her.
| In a whisper only was the baroness
| able to reply. and translating more from
| the movement of her lips than from any
actual sound the District Attorney gave
| TO the court the WCmanS heSitat1ng
answer-that she would plead guilty, but
with great sorrow at being obliged to
| do it
Justice Wright then ordered sentence
| suspended and directed Clerk Smith to
enter the recognizance in formal man
ner, without requiring the baroness to
answer the stated questions.
| Again assisted by her husband and by
| Warden Harris. the baroness made her
| way to the warden's carriage, and in
| it she was driven to the home Of Mrs
| Thomas d. Adams, IL Fourth street
| southeast. Mrs. Adams has taken great
| interest in the case, and the Baron and
| Baroness DEWITT will be her guests I'M
| til the latter is strong enough to travel
! Seen just before the arrangement 70,
| his wifes arraignment, and when III
realized that by her entering 4 plea ot
| guilty her release could thus be secured
i the Baron DEWITT said:
| do 1t at once. The whole world may
believe her guilty. but / know the truth
down here | know she could not dc
! such thing and with the impulsive
ness peculiar to his race he tapped hi:
! heart
"If 1 thought she would steal so much