Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-16
ACTOR THE VICTIM
OF FALSE WITNESS
Raymond Hitchcock Cleared in
Assault Case.
ONE GIRL BREAKS DOWN
Says Her Testimony Before Grand
Jury Was Untrue.
DEFENSE Is NOW JUBILANT
Flora Winston Says Her Story Was
Cooked Up by an Agent of
the Gerry Society.
DEFENSE Is NOW JUBILANT

Raymond Hitchcock. the actor.
was today cleared, by order OF the
court. in the case OF criminal as
sault brought against him by sew
eral girls of the lower class in
New York. One OF them broke
down on the stand and admitted
that she llad'been coached in her
story to the grand jury by all
agent OF the Gerry Society. She
had never been to the house where
the alleged assault took place. and
had met the actor only at the
theater. The defense had claimed
all along that the case was merely
one Of blacknnail.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, March 16--A sensational
development occurred TO-DAY in the trial
Of Raymond Hitchcock. the comedian.
when Justice Blanchard ordered the
acquittal of the defendant on tine in
dictment against him growing out OF
the charges of Ellen Won Hagen,
young girl. The action of the justice
was taken upon motion of Assistant
District Attorney Garvan after Flora
Winston, the prosecutions chief cor
roborating witness. had testified that
the story she told before the grand jury
was false. Several other indictments
on similar charges are still pending
against Hitchcock.
Flora Winston swore on the witness
stand today that an agent of the Gerry
Society had frightened her into NAL king
the charges against Hitchcock. He
threatened to take me away from my
home-to separate me from my mother
III L did not tell that story said the
girl in sobbing voice when asked
why she had made the charges against
Hitchcock before the grand jury.
The girl said the only person 10 whom
she had told the truth concerning her
relations with Hitchcock was her step
father 1t was after the stepfather had
been called TO the witness stand and
testified that the girl had assured him
that Hitchcock never had ill tire ed her
that Mr.. Garvan moved for the dis
missal of the case
Wishton Girls Story.
The first witness at the trial of
Raymond Hitchcock today was Flora
Winston, one of the girls who made
the complaint of assault against the
actor. AS soon as the girl took the
stand she surprised both Assistant
District Attorney Garvan and the law
yers for the defense by saying that she
had never been in the West 4lst street
house. where the alleged assault took
place, and that she had never met Hitch
cock there. 1t was on the Winston girls
testimony that the prosecution mainly re-
lied for corrobora ton Of the testimony OF
Helen Won Hagen. the complaining wit
ness When she was examined before the
grand jury last winter the Winston girl
testified that she had gone to the 41st
street house with Helen Won Haven and
that Hitchcock had there assaulted them
both
The witness was dressed entirely in
black when she took the stand today and
she wore large black picture hat which
enhanced the paleness of her face. She
said she would be eighteen years old
April next.
Coached by Gerry Agent.
When did you first meet Raymond
Hitchcock Mr.. Garvan asked.
"A year ago last September at the New
ark Theater in Newark. she replied.
When next did you meet him.?
November "a last al the Grand Opera
House
Did you not meet Hitchcock in Decem-
ber, 1906. on 9th avenue and later al a
house in 41st street, known as the house
with the stained-glass windows?'
NO, l never did," was the startling
reply.
Did you not testify before the grand
jury that you had met Hitchcock at that
house and that he there assaulted both
you and Helen Von Hagen?" Mr.. Garvan
Yes 1 did, replied the witness in
low voice
Why did YOU so testify" asked the
assistant district attorney.
We'll. | only told the grand jury what
| was forced to tell by Agent Pissara
Of the Gerry Society.
Hasty Adjournment.
The unexpected statement of the Whis-
ton girl had all the effect of bono
thrown among the district attorneys
forces Mr. Garvan told Justice Blan-
chard that he was completely taken by
and he asked for a haf-hour's
adjournment so that he could confer with
District Attorney Jerome as to what steps
he would take. This request was
granted.
In giving her testimony the Winston
girl spoke In Il low voice that scarcely
reached the jury. When MIR. Garvan asked
her about her testimony before the grand
jury regarding the alleged assault she
bowed her head and started to cry.
After the Agent.
THE shoe is now on the other foot"
said Lawyer Fnomme OF the defenses
forces. Before We get through with this
case the whole truth will come out and
il will put the Gerry Society's agents in
4 very unfavorable light. We said at the
beginning that this was a case of black
nail and we still maintain ii.
After consultation with District At
orney Jerome Mr.. Garvan ordered De-