Evening star., 1909-05-19
CARCROWD|NG DENIED
Secretary Whitehead Appears
for Washington R. & E. Co.
ENTERS NOT GUILTY PLEAS
May Be Withdrawn After Confer
ence of Officials.
JURY TRIAL IS DEMANDED
Date of Trial to Be Set Later-Capi-
tai Traction Company May
Act Tomorrow.
JURY TRIAL IS DEMANDED

Frederick j. Whitehead, secretary OF the
Washington Railway and Electric Com
pany. appeared in the Police Court today
and entered pleas of not guilty to the
five charges alleging the overcroWdms
of street cars filed yesterday afternoon.
The dates for the trial will be arranged
later in the week.
Mr.. Whitehead, as the defendant. repre-
eenting the company, and Charles Doug
las, the comany's counsel, appeared unex-
pectedly in the office of Assistant United
States Attorney Ralph Given about lO
o'clock this morning. They expressed de-
sire to enter formal pleas to the charges
Immediately in order that matters might
be facilitated with a view of disposing of
the charges against their corporation at
as early a date as possible.
The formal reading of the charges by
the court clerk was dispensed with. upon
advice of counsel Mr.. Whitehead entered
pleas of not guilty and demanded that
the cases be tried before jury. The de-
mand fer jury trials and the not guilty
pleas were made with proviso that they
could be withdrawn at any time before
trial.
Conference of Officials.
1--WE desire to have the record appear as
1t does at present for few days, at
least" said Mr.. Douglas, until the COM
pany officials have an opportunity to con-
fer on the matter. There will probably
be meeting this afternoon or tomorrow.
IF we desire to change the pleas and
demands for jury trials we shall notify
the United States attorney in due time"
The proceedings in the courtroom, which
took place before Judge Mullowny of the
United States branch. lasted but a Few
minutes. At their conclusion Mr.. White
head and Mr.. Douglas left the building.
Neither would discuss the charges
against their company at the present
time.
1t could not be learned definitely today
at what time the Capital Traction Com
pany officials will appear for arraign-
ment 1t in expected they will confer with
MIR. Given some time today or tomorrow,
and the formal pleading will take place
the latter part of the week.
1t is expected the pleas OF the Capital
Traction Company will be the same as
those Of the Washington Railway and Elec-
trio system. The ten cases are equally
divided. there being five against eacn
corporation.
Cases Strong, Says Given.
'I do not care to give out the exact
nature Of our testimony today" said MIR.
Given. when interviewed on the subject.
1T is specific, however, and to the
point
do you consider the cases strong
ones?'' he was asked.
"Well, yes. Some Of them, I believe,
are very strong. They will, at least. show
up most unsatisfactory conditions in
street-car service
1t was intimated the testimony of the
interstate commerce commission nspec-
tors will show that cars. with a seating
capacity of 40. 80 and 60 persons, were
crowded and jammed far in excess of
this number. in addition to the rear plat
forms being packed with passengers to
such an extent that entrance was either
impossible or extremely difficult.
1t will be one of the objects of the pros
ecution to show that travelling under the
conditions complained of upon the several
dates named in the informations created
great personal discomfort to the passen-
gers, and that after a car had been load
ed to its capacity no efforts were made
by the car crews to avoid packing"
The five cases against the Washington
Railway and Electric system allege ex-
cessive crowdng in three instances on the
Anacostia and Potomac River line. the
Connecticut avenue line and the Bright
wood line.