The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-28
MRS. TRAUTMAN FREE
Case Of Mistaken Identity,
Says Magistrate Finn.
ACCUSER IS ALSO LIBERATED
Charges of Assault Sworn Out, but
Later Withdrawn, and Hogan
Great Crowd Surrounds Courthouse
While Case Is Heard in Secret.

New York, Dec 27-In a manner con-
sidered by her friends as little short of n
triumph. Mrs. Jeanne Trautman, wife OF
DIT. Alexander Trautman. Of 369 Lexing
ton avenue. was indicated this afternoon
by Magistrate Finn In the Jefferson Mar
ket Police Court Of the charge made
against her by Peter J. Hogan, who &C
cused her Of having robbed him Of Sl3
on Fifth avenue last Saturday night
Magistrate Finn said it was his opin-
ion that it was a decided case Of mis-
taken identity. Evidence bore him out.
he continued. A grave and irrepara5le
injustice. he declared. had been done the
defendant, and he was gratiied to De
able TO grant an honorable discharge to
Mrs TTautman.
Hogan made a poor witness. He re-
peatedly contradicted himself. and at
times his answers were pitiable. IN one
breath he declared that he visited the
Y. NJ. c. A. building, thinking he might
have lost his money there. With the
next be switched. and swore that the de-
PENDANT, whom he identified positively.
had taken the bills.
Charges of Assault Made.
On the advice Of counsel. Mrs. Traut-
man swore out charges Of assault against
Hogan, after she had been freed. but
later. after an open consultation with her
husband. withdrew them.
What good can come from prosecuting
this fanatical fellow? He is clearly not
Of sound mind. Even If pecuniary redress
were considered. what show have you to
get back at a little 81 week clerk?"
said DIT. TTautman.
In the eleventh hour Inspector Nc
Laughlin's sleUths arrested the alleged
double of the prisoner Kittie Watson.
known to the police as Buffalo Kittie"
Hogan said he had never seen her before.
She was discharged.
Before and throughout the hearing
great crowds of people gathered about
the courthouse. When it was time for
Hogan 20 leave. despite the fact that
there were twenty policemen on duty on
Sixth avenue directly in front Of the
place, he was smuggled out a rear door.
With TWO husky policemen at his heels
and accompanied by his lawyer, Hogan,
pale and trembling, took Il on a run for
passing trolley car a block below on
Sixth avenue.
Hearing Held I'm Secret.
Owing to the mass of humanity, mostly
women. Magistrate Finn ordered the
hearing in his private examination room.
Hogan arrived first, accompanied by
his counsel, jeremiah OLeary. So many
friends Of the TraUtmans seemed DESTROYS
Of personally interviewing him that the
police hid him away in the reporters
room.
Mrs Trautman, a decided brunette, tall
and fine in appearance. arrived a few
minutes later, accompanied by her hus-
band and three attorneys. ex-Assistant
Corporation Counsel Robert Wensley.
Thomas F. Gilroy. and Prof George
Calm, or the Yale University law school.
Mrs. Trautman wore q black three
quarter-length coat with a velvet collar,
black hat trimmed with ostrich plumes.
white stock, and a white Ascot tie, set
OF by a large gold stick pin Through
out the ordeal she appeared composed.
She displayed the only signs OF emotion
when the magistrate. in well chosen
words. declared her not guilty and ex-
pressed his sympathy in her misfortune.