Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-06-14
ADMITS HE IS GUILTY
Plea of Hume H. West, Under
Fraud Charges.
BEFORE CRIMINAL COURT
Confesses to False Pretenses in Sc
curing Bonds From Bankers.
THEFT OF MONEY ORDERS
Jail Sentence Imposed Under One
Indictment, the Other Awaits
Further Investigation.
BEFORE CRIMINAL COURT
THEFT OF MONEY ORDERS

Hume II. West, alias Lieut.. Commander
Henry knowlson. L. S. N, who was ar
rested In Baltimore last April. attired as
Catholic priest. pleaded guilty today
before Chief Justice Clabaugh in Crimina
Court No. 2 OF securing bonds from Crane
Paris s Co. and diamond ring from
Gait & Co on cashiers checks which
proved to be valueless.
West also entered plea OF guilty to an
additional indictment charging the lar
ceny OF blank money orders from sub
station at drug store on North Capitol
street. and with filling in and cashing g
number Of the orders.
At the request of the prosecution the
chief justice postponed until next Friday
the imposition Of sentence on the false
pretenses charges. covering the securing
Of the bonds and ring On the first
the larceny Of the blank money orders.
Chief Justice Clabaugh sent West to
Jail for four months.
Result Of Agreement.
The changing Of the plea by West fol
lowed a consultation at the bench be-
tween his counsel. Wilton j. Lambert
United States Attorney Wilson. Assistant
United States Attorney Proctor and the
chief Justice. The case against Yves,
was called for trial, and Mr.. LANDER,
asked q postponement, saying the de-
tense was not prepared for trial. He de-
ciared three important witnesses for thu
defense were absent from the city. HI
asked that the case go over until fall
United States Attorney Wilson then pro
posed the conference at the bench.
Mr.. Lambert, 1t is understood. ex
planned to the court that the defense
hat hod cd.
dicted to the use Of drug. which, he
claimed. had affected the mind Of his
client. He agreed. however. that a plea
of guilty would be entered IL q jai
sentence were imposed on the money.
order charge, and that the court make
investigation before Friday of certain
circumstances connected with the false.
pretense indictment.
According to the indictment. filed No.
vember Is last. West forged two cashiers
checks on the Powell Trust Company OF
Newport News. Va; one for 5000. pay
able to Crane. Paris & CO.. and the
other for $3.50 to order Of Gait & Co
October 10 last, 1t is charged, West visit.
ed the banking house of Crane, Paris 4
Co. and, representing himself as a naya
officer, negotiated the purchase of SIX
MISUNDERSTANDING United States bonds
West later, 1t Is alleged. visited the jew
elry shop and. after selecting a diamond
ring. gave the jeweler the other ALLEGED
No trace Of West was found by the DO
lice for several months, when he wa.
located near Boston. His identification
was in doubt when the detectives frs
discovered him. and when they returned
to the house a few hours later West had
gone.
Poses as Catholic Priest.
In April last a man CARRIED as a Cath
allie priest was apprehended in Baltimor,
on suspicion. The suspect. who proved
to be West. insisted on his clerical ca
pacity. and requested to be taken befor,
Cardinal Gibbons for Identification. Aft
er a conversation with the accused the
cardinal declared the man an impostor.
While held in jail in Baltimore Yves
attempted to escape, and was found ly
ing near the outer wall OF the penal in
stitution suffering from sprained ankle
The Baltimore authorities surrendered
West to the local police. and he has beer
in Jail awaiting trial
West. who is large man Of handsom,
mien. bore himself well in court thi.
morning. He smiled several times in tn,
course of conversation with his counsel
Near the prisoner, in the courtroom. sa
his wife, who is a Washington woman
and daughter of one-time prominent
member Of the local bar.