Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-15
THREE ARRESTS MADE
ON PERJURY CHARGES
Mr.. and Mrs. Franck Alleged to Have
Sworn Falsely to Secure
His Exemption.
POLICEMAN SMITH INVOLVED
Government Agents Assert That Mrs.
Franck Has Property Which
Brings Her In an Income Of $4,000
Per Year, and So Is Not Dependent.

Charged with perjury. in swearing
to an alleged false AFFIDAVIT filed in an
effort to secure exemption from the
national army. on the ground OF having
dependent wife. Otto Z. Franck,
thirty years old. locomotive engineer
on the Richmond. Fredericksburg and
Potomac Railroad. and his wife, Laura
F'ranck. residing at 2025 West Grace
Street, and James j. Smith, F-anck's
brothcr-in-law, member Of the Rich
mond police force residing at 7ls West
Marshall Street were arrested by Dep
uty United States Marshal Carter Har-
rison yesterday morning.
AS stated in The Times-Dispatch
yesterday the warrants for the ar
rests Of these peresons were issued
Monday evening. but were not actually
served until yesterday morning. All
three were released under $1,000 bail,
for their appearance for preliminary
hearing before Commissioner FIegen-
heimer Tuesday afternoon at 3 o'clock.
The warrant on which all three were
arrested charged them with violating
section of an act of Congress, ap-
proved May Is. 1917. The warrant
charges specifically that they did un-
lawfully and feloniously make i false
statement upon their oath before one
j. a. Purdie. notary public, at Rich
mond, Va. as to fitness or liability of
the said Otto E. Franck under the pro-
visions of the said act of Congress for
the purpose Of aiding the said Otto E.
franck to evade the requirements Of
the said act Of Congress and the regu-
latiohs pursuant thereto"
WARRANTS FOLLOW FILING
OF EXEMPTION CLAIM
The warrants for Mr.. and Mrs. Franck
and James ]. Smith were sworn out by
the Federal authorities at the instance
of the members of the exemption board
in District No. 2. The officers Of this
board are w. H. Ellerson, chairman.
trate J. A. Purdie and Henry E. Tres
non. Commissioner of Revenue, are
other witnesses named in the warrant
Federal officials stated yesterday that
the accused persons have not been
singled out as special cases. subject
to prosecution. but that they are hop
ing that this case will serve as warn
ing to dissuade any one from claiming
At the time that Franck was ar
rested. which was about 10 o'clock yes
terday morning. Mrs Franck was not
at home. Deputy United States Mar
shall Harrison left word that she should
come Immediately to the United States
marshars office. In the Federal Build
Ing. and then proceeded to arrest
Smith. In a short while Mrs F'ranck
presented herself. escorted by her
sister. both Of whom were in heavy
mourning.
CLAIM MRS. FRANK HAS
INCOME OF $4,000
The government officials assert that
Franck and his wife and Smith swore
to an affida1it that Franck was not
liable to military service on the ground
that he had dependent wife. On the
other hand. they say that Mrs. Franck
is the owner OF real estate that brings
her an annual income of about $4,000.
Smith, however, says that he merely
swore that he believed that Mrs Tranck
was dependent upon her husband for
support, but that he did not state that
he had any positive information on
that score. lie emphasized that he de-
ciared that 1t was his belief
Mr.. and Mrs. Franck denied that they
had made any false statements. and
asserted Mrs. Franck's property was so
heavily involved that her income was
not large enough to support here. At
'rney Edgar B. English was retained
by them as counsel. He said that he
understood that Mrs. Franck was de-
pendent upon her husband for her sup
port. since sho had not begun to de-
rive an income from her property that
could support her.