Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-10
HITCHCOCK ON TRIAL
Actor Appears in Court Today
for His Hearing.
SURPRISE FOR DEFENSE
Case Proceeds Under Different In
dictment Than Planned.
AN ADJOURNMENT REFUSED
Six Indictments Stand Against the
observation-disclosures Won Hagen
Charges Him With Assault.
IN ADJOURNMENT REFUSED

NEW YORK. March 1O.-When the trial
Of Raymond Hitchcock, the comedian.
was called before Justice Blanchard in
the supreme court today. the defense was
taken by surprise at the indctment-one
OF the six against the defendant-which
Assistant District Attorney Caravan an
nounced as the one on which the actor
would be tried. John B. Stanchfeld.
joIrnment.
II was informed only last Thursday"
said Mr.. Stanchfield. that the defendant
Winston. and now Mr.. Caravan announces
that he intends to proceed on one Of the
other indictments. the Helen Won Hagen
Indictment. I ask the court that the
Winston indictment be dismissed forth
with or that we proceed to trial on it."
Justice Blanchard denied the motion to
dismiss the Winston Indictment. and after
a short delay to allow Hitchcock's coun-
sci time to confer the trial began.
Young Girls His Accusers.
The so-called von-Hagen indictment
charges the defendant with attacking
Helen Won Hagen, fifteen years old, in
house on 41st street December %, 1906.
The other girls who made similar
charges against the comedian are Elsie
voecks. twelve years old, and Flora
Winston, sixteen years old.
The three girls were in charge of Gerry
Society officers, and were kept in the
judges chambers today. ready to be call
ed as witnesses when they are wanted.
Several talesmen were examined with
out obtaining a juror.
John B. Stanchfield will defend Hitch
cock. and several other lawyers are as
ISOLATED with him for the defense.
Conspiracy Is Alleged.
1t is thought that the defense will try
to show that the charges made against
the actor were unfounded in fact and
conspiracy. Assistant District Attorney
Garvan will take care Of the peoples
side.
There are six indictments against the
defendant, based upon the complaint Of
three young girls, the Won Hagen and
old, respectively, and a third girl who
is sixteen years old. The indictments
accuse the actor with improper conduct
with these girls at his home in Great
Hitchcock disappeared for about two
weeks after the indictments were filed
and then returned and surrendered him.
self to the district attorney. He was
greatly broken in health at that time, but
recuperated sufficiently to 60 on tour with
1.-The Yankee Tourist
Confident of Vindication.
Hitchcock has fully recovered his health,
and declares he is confident that he will
be entirely indicated.
The case had been assigned for trial
several weeks ago, but there had been
several postponements for various causes
upon motion Of the defense. An effort
to have still another adjournment was
made today by Hitchcock's counsel. but
Justice Blanchard overruled the motion
and directed that the selection OF jury
be commenced without delay.
Hitchcock arrived at the courtroom
early, accompanied by his wife, who Is
known on the stage as Flora Zabelle, and
his counsel.
Mrs. Hitchcock Kept Out Of Court.
Mrs. Hitchcock was not permitted to en-
ter the courtroom. however. but was es-
corted to the anteroom in which Evelyn
Nesbit Thaw spent much of her time dur
ing the trial Of her husband for the muir
der of Stanford White.
On orders from Justice Blanchard all
the doors leading to the courtroom were
closely guarded and only those having
some direct interest in the case were
permitted to enter. A big crowd had
gathered in the corridors before the OPEN
ing Of court, but all were turned away.
The work of selecting jury proved to
be very tedious. When the noon recess
was taken only two jurors had been Sc
lected. Both were married men. Each
said in reply to questions of counsel that
they have little girls of their own.