Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-18
WADD|LL GRANTS
HAbEAS CORPUS
Orders Superintendent Whitaker
to Produce in Court Sufragists
Now in Workhouse.
DATE SET IS NOVEMBER II
Petition Alleges Various Indigni-
ties-Says Woven Were Ac-
corded Inhuman Treatment.
DATE SET is NOVEMBER 27

corpus for the release OF the thirty
one suffrage pickets arrested in front
OF the White House. was presented to
Judge Edmund Waddill, Jr in the
United States District Court, yesterday
afternoon By Matthew O'Brien, a Wash
ington lawyer. and at o'clock yester-
day Judge Waddill ordered the writ
Issued, and cited Superintendent Whit
aEcr. of Occoquan. to present the
petitioners before him on November
81 at 1880 o'clock at Alexandria, and
TO show cause for their detention.
The petition was presented to bring
about the release of the woman's
Party militants on the ground that 1t
is contrary to law to force District of
Columbia prisoners to serve terms in
Virginia. The women. according to the
allegations in the petition, were ac-
corded inhuman treatment. were denied
medical attention. have been assaulted
and their clothing removed. have been
denied communication with their
friends or counsel. and subjected to
many other alleged cruelties
Mr.. OBrien calmly read the petition
to the court. 1t created the pro-
foundest sensation among the listeners.
and when he concluded the judge de-
derins any decision. Mr.. O'Brien stated
that he is prepared to place the women
on the stand and have them, under
oath. tell Of the conditions and the
treatment which are set forth in the
petition.
COUNSEL FOR WOMEN MAKES
STATEMENT OF WHAT HE SAW
With the petition is sworn state
ment by Mr.. O'Brien, in which he mar
rates what he saw at the prison after
he was allowed admittance. He states
in the petition that he was at first
denied the right to see the women
prisoners. and that 1t was not until
he applied for and received an order
from Alexander Muldowny, Judge of
the Washington Police Court. that he
was allowed to see his clients. He
swears that when he entered the prison
Mrs. Lewis was suffering from a
severe cold and was not given medical
treatment. that the superintendent re-
fused to allow Mrs. Lcwis's physician
to treat her, and that from what she
saw he is thoroughly convinced that
the women are being brutally treated.
The action is brought against w. H,
Whitaker, superintendent of the Dis
trict of Columbia workhouse. ct Deco
quan. in Virginia. The text OF the pe-
tition is as follows:
That your petitioners arc now con-
fined and unlawfully restrained u;
their liberty by the respondent in said
workhouse at Occoquan, in the State
of Virginia, within the jurisdiction of
this court, and are being subjected 10
cruel and unIsua' treatment by the re-
spondent and subjected to indignitics
and punished by the respondent un-
lawfully.
ORDERED COMMITTED TO
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA JAIL
THAT your petitioners are held by
the respondent unlawfully by reason
OF tho fact that they are not sentenced
| to the institution over which the re-
spondent is superintendent by any
court. and the respondent has no COM
mitmcnt from any court authorizing
him TO hold them in his custody.
"That your petitioners we're convicted
in the Police Court of the District of
Columbia OH the charge OF unlawful
assembly, and sentenced by the court
to pay IL fine of $25 each. in default OF
the payment OF said fine were ordered
committed to Jail in this District of
Columbia to simple Imprisonment. that
thereafter without warrant OF law they
| were removed to Occoquan and confined
in the workhouse and compelled to don
convict Garb and forced to work.
THAT since their arrival at Deco
quan, on the 18th day of November,
| they have been placed In punishment
cells. kept in solitary confinement. de-
MED the right to see counsel or friends
denied the right to receive or send out
4
municatc with any one outside of the
institution, and cannot communicate
with friends. relatives or counsel in
any way except by order of the court.
NOT ALLOWED TO
CONSULT WITH COUNSEL
THAT there is now pending against
your petitioners a case in the Police
| Court of the District Of Columbia. and
their counsel has been denied the right
to SEQ them that they might arrange
for their defense in that case. and the
attorney presenting the petition was
| forced to get an order of court be-
fore the respondent would permit him
TO communicate with his clients.
That since the arrival OF your petit
TONERS at Occoquan as aforesaid. they
have been brutally treated by tho re-
'PN''"SHe hhu VIC WIN dlC oci
wants of the respondent; that they were
placed in punishment cells because
they refused TO answer questions pro-
pounded to them by the respondent
| and his agents In defiance OF their
constitutional rights.
THAT agents Of tho respondent as
saulted them and forcibly compelled
| them to go to tho punishment cells
aforesaid; that their clothing was
stripped from them forcibly by tho
agents by orders of the respondent.
THAT no food Of any kind was Of
fered them or given them until noon OF
the day following their arrival at the
workhouse aforesaid. by orders Of the
respondent.
PUNIsHMENTs NOT
INCLUDED IN SENTENCE
THAT punishment and ipdignities
aforesaid alleged were inflicted upon
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