Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-20
WILLIAM H. HARRISON
PAYS FINE Of $100
Latter Held to Be Guilty Of Only
Technical Contempt.
MIR. PIERCE NOTES AN APPEAL
Justice Wright In. Passing Sentence
Compliments Two Grand Jurors
for Giving the Court
Information.

Three months incarceration in Jail
was the sentence imposed today by
Justice Wright in Criminal Court No.
/ on William a. Pierce. lumber mer-
chant. of 216 18th street northwest.
adjudged by the court guilty Of con-
Finch, member of the grand jury.
Pierce noted an appeal from the judg-
ment and sentence to the District
Court of Appeals and was released on
. ne-thousand- dollar bail bond pend
ing the decision of the appellate court
William H. Harrison, commission mer-
chant. CT oO5 b street northwest. was ad-
judged guilty of a technical contempt
only in inquiring of Leonard Daniel. a
member of the grand jury, concerning
what had been done about the Pickford
case. The court found mitigating cir
cumstances in the case of Harrison and
imposed a fine of 500. which was paid.
Apologies to Court.
When Harrison had been called on by
the court TO make any desired statement
before sentence he reiterated his lack of
intention to corrupt the grand juror,
Daniel. or tn obstruct in any manner
the administration of justice. He said:
If have been guilty Of any contempt.
and your honor finds that have, never
intended it, and offer every apology to
the court
Mr.. Pierce before sentence made no
apology. but referred to his untarnished
record Of twenty-five years as a citizen
in Washington.
He said:
Il have lived in Washington twenty
.'haye- ever been in court and the first
time l have ever been accused OF any
charge. ! have tried to live straight
and upright afe and have always en-
deavored 10 do the best 1 could TO my,
fellow-man and to everybody
Attorney a. 8. Worthington, for Pierce
had urged on the court that the Supreme
Court Of the United States In the recent
cases OF the sheriff and other state Of
ncers of Tennessee, adjudged in con-
tempt. had intimated that in proceed
ing like the one at bar. not relating to
disobedience Of a court order. the re-
spondent might purge himself OF con-
tempt by his answer under oath denying
the charge.
He claimed that further proceedings
for perjury would have to be resorted to
for punishment il the return were false,
Justice wright's Remarks.
Justice Wright in announcing his de-
ctsion said:
would permit a corruptionist after the
preparation of a contempt of court to
be able to say that the court was SO
hot 4 nnt.yA not oc1r hfryni
his motives were low enough to enable
him to lie about it.
II cannot see any theory where a de-
NAL under oath can deprive the court of
the power to inquire into the facts in a
matter TO see If there was an attempt
made to obstruct the administration Of
Justice. In regard to Harrison's case.
there was some question in my mind as to
whether a technical contempt OF court
had been committed. Upon reflection /
have no doubt that Harrison Is tech
ing the obstruction OF justice. There Is
nothing which tends to show that he
exercised any inportunity over Danie!.
"He states that he inquired OF Daniel
whether or not, anything had been done
in the Pickford case. He did not ask hin,
20 vote In q certain way. but that re-
mark nut in the mind Of Juror Daniel
the realisation that somebody was de-
sirous that the outcome OF the delibera-
ton Of the grand jury should be in a
certain manner. He did intentionally and
knowingly put In the mind o; the grand
juror that consideration. an element thai
operated in his mind at the time he was
disoharging his duty as a grand Juror
His case presents something of mitiga-
tion- He did not impugn the testimony
Of an honorable man. He did not attack
the moral integrity OF Daniel.
The Case Of Pierce.
I'm regard to Pierce. I have no douh
q all that he sought Finch and expressed
Q determined purpose Of influencing hi.
vote In the grand jury room. That i,
what he went to see Finch for. He mad,
up his mind before he started. and h,
persisted SO that he would not permit
himself to be put or After talking ove
business AFFAIRS he went as far as h
could 20 after rebuffs had been admin
istered to him, that was to impress o,
Finch's mind the degree Of interes
Pierce had In the case. allowing Fincl
to understand that he felt IL SO deepi.
that IL. the blood Of q brother had beel
concerned he could not feel II more.
This is deliberate. premeditate,
effort to defeat the administration O
justice and the operation OF the Law
to put in the mind Of grand juro
him against the command OF his oat
and the behest OF his duty and pre-
vent the operation Of the law In tn
administration Of Justice. He also as
sailed the honor Of Finch without tn
slightest provocation.
Congratulates the Jurors.
Il think that the Jurors. Daniel an
Finch. should receive the profoundea
commendasion for their high sense OF pa
triotism In reafising that American inst
tutions depend on the administration q
justice. and are to be congratulated fc
their bravery In telling the court cor
cerning the attempts TO bring to thel
minds considerations not emanating fror
the testimony received In the grand juf
room"
Attorney Frank J. Hogan was assocfal
ed with Attorney David Rothschild su
made .stYong appeal TO the court To a
emit Harrison. He admitted the sction I
his client was an ''unwarranted int,
meddling with an AFFAIR With which 3
hsd no concern or interest"