Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-25
CLARENCE H. GILBERT
AND MOTHER ARRESTED
Charged With Making False Anida.
Wits to Secure Exemption From
Military Service.
OWNS VALUABLE PROPERTY

Young Gilbert Says Mother Is Not
Dependent on His Labor, but on
His Assistance in Managing Her
Hotel and Other Properties.
Evincing their intention OF prosecut.
ing to the finish all seeming violations
OF the selective draft act. Federal au-
thoritics yesterday placed under ar
rest Clarence Henry Gilbert. thirty-o ono
years old. manager Of the Gilbert Hotel:
his mother. Mrs. Jennie B. Gilbert, and
Joe Pinguc. a barber, on the charge OF
swearing to alleged false affidavits with
respect to the claim Of Clarence II. Gil.
hert for exmeption from, military SER
vice on the ground OF having depen-
dent widowed mother. 81
All three were given preliminary
hearing before Commissioner Flegen-
heimer yesterday afternoon at 2 o'clock.
and released on bail Of $1,000 guaran-
teeing their appearance before the COM
missioner next Wednesday afternoon at
3 o'clock. John Hirschberg gave bail
for Mrs. Gilbert and Pingue. and Mrs.
Gilbert stood bail for her son. Clarence
Gilbert
Giibert's claim for exemption was
filed with the Local Exemption Board
No. 3, OF which Harvey E. Atkinson is
chairman. The warrant. which covered
the arrest OF all three persons, was
sworn out by Edward r. Wilcox. spe-
cial employee Of the Department OF
Justice. at the instance OF Harvey e.
Atkinson and Julian Bpissieu1. who are
members of the local exemption board
CLAIMED EXEMPTION ON GROUND
=. ,.zy OBJ DEPENDENT MOTHER
Gilbert. who was drafted in the first
quota of Richmond men in Division No
3. claimed exemption on the ground OF
having dependent mother. His
| mother and Pingue made supporting
afidavits. On the other hand, the gov
ernment made investigation that led
them to believe that Mrs. Gilbert is not
dependent upon her son for support
Government representatives assert that
Mrs. Gilbert is the owner Of the Gilbert
Hotel, which is valued at about $4,000
and of about $4,000 OF first-mortgage
bonds on real estate in this city, from
| which she derives a large income an
nually. Joe Pingue. 404 East Clay
Street, is owner OF the hotel barber
shop.
The warrant on which Gilbert.
Plngue and Mrs. Gilbert were arrested
charges them with violation Of sec
ton of the selective draft act OF
May 1s. 1917. Specifically. it charges
that they "feloniously made false state
ments upon their oaths before one
]. w. King. notary public, as to the
| fitness and liability of one Clarence
Henry Gilbert. under the provisions of
tho said act OF Congress. for that
purpose"
The arrest was made yesterday
morning about IL o'clock by Deputy
United States Marshal Carter Harri-
son. When the deputy marshal entered
| the hotel to make the arrest, he found
Gilbert in the lobby, and told him
to notify his mother, who was up
stairs. to make haste and come at once
| to the United States marshafs office.
Then he escorted Gilbert and Pingue
to the marshars Office, and after the
arrival OF Mrs. Gilbert, they were
given a preliminary hearing before
Commissioner Flegenheimer. When
arrested. neither Gilbert, his mother,
nor Pingue could be induced to make
a statement. They said 1t would be
time enough to talk when the case
came up.
SAYS MOTHER DEPENDS ON HIM
TO MANAGE HER BUSINESS
However, when questioned last even
| ing, Gilbert consented to make a state
ment. He denied that he was afraid
to serve in the army. He said that he
already has one brother. nineteen years
DID, who was corporal In the First
Virginia Field Artillery, at Fort
Oglethorpe. Ga. He Furthermore added
that he had two sisters. one eleven and
the other sixteen years old, and that
since his mother knew nothing at all
about business. the direction OF busi-
ness affairs naturally deyolved upon
| him.
Furthermore. he denied that he had
claimed exemption on the ground that
his mother was dependent on his labor
He said that the statement that his
mother was owner OF the hotel and
certain securities was untrue and un-
authorized MY mother is merely ad-
ininistratrix Of the estate left by my
father. and knows nothing at all about
the business. No. she Is not dependent
upon my labor. but 1t is upon the wise
and discreet management of tho hotel
and other business affairs that she is
dependent"
When! the case comes before the
court, there will be an interesting
situation. Harry NJ. Smith. Jr.. has
been retained by the defendants to
represent their interest, while his son
Hiram NJ. Smith. United States assist.
ant district attorney, will represent the
interest OF tho government. It will
not be tho first time that father and
son have appeared against each othel
in the local courts. Is. ~