The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-01-20

brother had also been picked up by
Slatcho and were at Blue Island. Slateho
and his companions retired to another
tent. and after some apparent delibera-
ton came back and. according to Mitch
els story told him that his brother
uncle. and himself had all been found
guilty, and would have to pay 5000 for
their release
Heavy Ransom Paid.
All questions as to the charge against
them were unavailing. Mitchell told
Slatcho he had about 800, which he Of
fered TO give up.
The offer was refused, and Mitchell's
brother was finally released. while Joe
Mitchell declares he and his uncle were
held hostages until the 5000 was paid
The brother collected the money from the
gypsy elan to which the Mitchells be-
longed and it was paid to Slatcho and
his men Slatcho got upon a table.
warned the Mitchells against making a
complaint, fred off a revolver to acceutu-
ate his phrases. and ordered them out OF
the camp
The gypsies showed Mr.. Scott all their
charges and asked him to get them an
audience with the President. Their peti-
ton to the President reads:
ITO the President: We, the undersigned
gypsies Of the United States, do earnestly
request you 70 take away from Leo
Slatcho. alias Demetro. his authority as
king and boss and ruler of all gypsies in
America. All camps IN the United States
object to him as ruler He is imposing
upon us. We want il stopped"
The petition was signed by Peter Youn-
owitch and over "a hundred other gypsIes
from all over the country.
John George. in one affidavit claims
the king took $1,000 from him al Thorn
ton, H. He followed the king. hoping
to recover il. The kings brother trailed
along and had George arrested at Kansas
City on the charge of stealing 500, the
only money George had left The king
told him that if he would give up the
800 the case against him would be dis
missed and that he would return him
the $4,000 later. He consented. The case
was dismissed, but he never got "a cent
back, George AYERS.
Joe and Zeck Mitchell, in afHdavits,
claim they were touched" for 5000 by
the king at Blue Island John Joe says
that the king made him produce 4.l00 in
Chicago Michael Yatts. Nennett Yatts.
and Tony Mitchell swore that they were
relieved of $500 $500, and $500, respect
lively, in New York. These afiid3vits all
accompany the petition to the President.
On the advice of friends in Kansas.
Mitchell and his party came to Washing
ton. They are all jong-haired, gaudily
dressed individuals. and were mistaken
for Indians by the d0orkeepers Of the
House. None of them speak English.
but have sort Of pigeon-English of their
own, which needs Interpretation 10 De
They sought out Representa-
tive Scott and told MIN they wanted
SlatCho suppressed. Mr. Scott told them
they had a remedy az law I'm Chicago. but
they We're unable 10 understand his the
DRY Of government
You are the law-making body" said
and you can do nothing
Mr. Scott said Congress could not help
them out nor could the President.
Then there is "a President and a king
in this country. and the President cannot
keep the king from roaming around and
robbing poor gypsies?" asked Youno-
witch.
want BIue-FibbOned Letter.
Finally the gypsies said they wanted
letter from President Roosevelt. with Il
seal and blue ribbons, and his name at
tached, saying that Slatcho was not king
OF the gypsies. did not have the power
of life and death over them. and that he
had no commission from the President or
anybody under him TO boss them They
wanted "A declaration that he was an i'm
poster, and that he could De punished Il
lac continued to extort money and threaten
bodily harm.
Representative Scott told them the
President could give them no relief. ana
advised them 10 complain O. the auth0ri-
ties of Cook County, III. He told them
they had evidently been badly swindleI.
and the only way to reach the king was
through criminal proceedings Mr. Scott
wrote letter to the prosecuting attorney
at Chicago, urging him 20 investigate the
matter and prosecute the king 81 che
facts, as told in the afIidavIts. were found
10 be true. He sent the letter by the